Publication Cover
The Journal of Positive Psychology
Dedicated to furthering research and promoting good practice
Volume 10, 2015 - Issue 6
11,652
Views
422
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Articles

The effect of contact with natural environments on positive and negative affect: A meta-analysis

&
Pages 507-519 | Received 15 Apr 2014, Accepted 10 Nov 2014, Published online: 13 Jan 2015

References

  • Appleton, J. (1975). The experience of landscape. New York, NY: Wiley.
  • Arnett, J. J. (2006). The psychology of emerging adulthood: What is known, and what remains to be known? In J. J. Arnett & J. L. Tanner (Eds.), Emerging adults in America: Coming of age in the 21st century (pp. 303–330). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. doi:10.1037/11381-01310.1037/11381-000
  • Arnett, J. J. (2007). Emerging adulthood: What is it, and what is it good for? Child Development Perspectives, 1, 68–73. doi:10.1111/j.1750-8606.2007.00016.x10.1111/j.1750-8606.2007.00016.x
  • Barton, J., & Pretty, J. (2010). What is the best dose of nature and green exercise for improving mental health? A multi-study analysis. Environmental Science and Technology, 44, 3947–3955. doi:10.1021/es903183r10.1021/es903183r
  • *Berman, M. G., Jonides, J., & Kaplan, S. (2008). The cognitive benefits of interacting with nature. Psychological Science, 19, 1207–1212. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02225.x10.1111/psci.2008.19.issue-12
  • *Berman, M. G., Kross, E., Krpan, K. M., Askren, M. K., Burson, A., Deldin, P. J., … Jonides, J. (2012). Interacting with nature improves cognition and affect for individuals with depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 140, 300–305. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2012.03.01210.1016/j.jad.2012.03.012
  • Berto, R. (2005). Exposure to restorative environments helps restore attentional capacity. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 25, 249–259. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2005.07.00110.1016/j.jenvp.2005.07.001
  • Borenstein, M., Hedges, L. V., Higgins, J. P. T., & Rothstein, H. R. (2009). Introduction to meta-analysis. Chichester: Wiley.10.1002/9780470743386
  • Borenstein, M., Hedges, L. V., Higgins, J. P. T., & Rothstein, H. R. (2011). Comprehensive meta-analysis: A computer program for meta-analysis [Computer software]. Englewood, NJ: Biostat Inc.
  • Bowler, D. E., Buyung-Ali, L. M., Knight, T. M., & Pullin, A. S. (2010). A systematic review of evidence for the added benefits to health of exposure to natural environments. BMC Public Health, 10. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-10-45610.1186/1471-2458-10-456
  • Bratman, G. N., Hamilton, J. P., & Daily, G. C. (2012). The impacts of nature experience on human cognitive function and mental health. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1249, 118–136. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06400.x10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06400.x
  • Carver, C. S., & Scheier, M. F. (1990). Origins and functions of positive and negative affect: A control process view. Psychological Review, 97, 19–35. doi:10.1037/0033-295X.97.1.1910.1037/0033-295X.97.1.19
  • Chang, C., Hammitt, W. E., Chen, P., Machnik, L., & Su, W. (2008). Psychophysiological responses and restorative values of natural environments in Taiwan. Landscape and Urban Planning, 85, 79–84. doi:10.1016/j.landurbplan.2007.09.01010.1016/j.landurbplan.2007.09.010
  • Clore, G. L. (1994). Why emotions are felt. In P. Ekman & R. Davidson (Eds.), The nature of emotion: Fundamental questions (pp. 103–111). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
  • Cochran, W. (1954). The combination of estimates from different experiments. Biometrics, 10, 101–129. doi:10.2307/300166610.2307/3001666
  • Cohen, J. (1992). A power primer. Psychological Bulletin, 112, 155–159. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.112.1.15510.1037/0033-2909.112.1.155
  • Cole, D. N., & Hall, T. E. (2010). Experiencing the restorative components of wilderness environments: Does congestion interfere and does length of exposure matter? Environment and Behavior, 42, 806–823. doi:10.1177/001391650934724810.1177/0013916509347248
  • Davidson, R. J. (1993). The neuropsychology of emotion and affective style. In M. Lewis & J. M. Haviland (Eds.), Handbook of emotions (pp. 143–154). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
  • de Silva, P., Rachman, S. S., & Seligman, M. E. (1977). Prepared phobias and obsessions: Therapeutic outcome. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 15, 65–77. doi:10.1016/0005-7967(77)90089-410.1016/0005-7967(77)90089-4
  • Dickersin, K., & Berlin, J. A. (1992). Meta-analysis: State-of-the-science. Epidemiologic Reviews, 14, 154–176.
  • Diener, E. (2012). New findings and future directions for subjective well-being research. American Psychologist, 67, 590–597. doi:10.1037/a002954110.1037/a0029541
  • Diener, E. (2013). The remarkable changes in the science of subjective well-being. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 8, 663–666. doi:10.1177/174569161350758310.1177/1745691613507583
  • Duval, S., & Tweedie, R. (2000). Trim and fill: A simple funnel-plot-based method of testing and adjusting for publication bias in meta-analysis. Biometrics, 56, 455–463. doi:10.1111/j.0006-341X.2000.00455.x10.1111/j.0006-341X.2000.00455.x
  • Egger, M., Smith, G., Schneider, M., & Minder, C. (1997). Bias in meta-analysis detected by a simple, graphical test. British Medical Journal, 315, 629–634. doi:10.1136/bmj.315.7109.62910.1136/bmj.315.7109.629
  • Evans, G. W., & McCoy, J. (1998). When buildings don’t work: The role of architecture in human health. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 18, 85–94. doi:10.1006/jevp.1998.008910.1006/jevp.1998.0089
  • Fordyce, M. W. (1977). Development of a program to increase personal happiness. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 24, 511–521. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.24.6.51110.1037/0022-0167.24.6.511
  • Frijda, N. H. (1994). Emotions are functional, most of the time. In P. Ekman & R. Davidson (Eds.), The nature of emotion: Fundamental questions (pp. 112–122). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
  • Hagerhall, C. M. (2001). Consensus in landscape preference judgements. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 21, 83–92. doi:10.1006/jevp.2000.018610.1006/jevp.2000.0186
  • *Hartig, T., Böök, A., Garvill, J., Olsson, T., & Gärling, T. (1996). Environmental influences on psychological restoration. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 37, 378–393. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9450.1996.tb00670.x10.1111/j.1467-9450.1996.tb00670.x
  • *Hartig, T., Evans, G. W., Jamner, L. D., Davis, D. S., & Gärling, T. (2003). Tracking restoration in natural and urban field settings. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 23, 109–123. doi:10.1016/S0272-4944(02)00109-310.1016/S0272-4944(02)00109-3
  • *Hartig, T., Mang, M., & Evans, G. W. (1991). Restorative effects of natural environment experiences. Environment and Behavior, 23, 3–26. doi:10.1177/001391659123100110.1177/0013916591231001
  • *Hartig, T., Nyberg, L., Nilsson, L., & Gärling, T. (1999). Testing for mood congruent recall with environmentally induced mood. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 19, 353–367. doi:10.1006/jevp.1999.014210.1006/jevp.1999.0142
  • Hartig, T., van den Berg, A. E., Hagerhall, C. M., Tomalak, M., Bauer, N., Hansman, R., ... Waaseth, G. (2011). Health benefits of nature experience: Psychological, social, and cultural processes. In K. Nilsson, M. Sangster, C. Gallis, T. Hartig, S. de Vries, K. Seeland, & J. Schipperijn (Eds.), Forest, Trees, and Human Health (pp. 127–168). Dordrecht: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-90-481-9806-1_5
  • Hedges, L. V., & Olkin, I. (1985). Statistical methods for meta-analysis. Orlando, FL: Academic Press.
  • Hedges, L. V., & Vevea, J. L. (1998). Fixed- and random-effects models in meta-analysis. Psychological Methods, 3, 486–504. doi:10.1037/1082-989X.3.4.48610.1037/1082-989X.3.4.486
  • Higgins, J. P., Thompson, S. G., Deeks, J. J., & Altman, D. G. (2003). Measuring inconsistency in meta-analyses. British Medical Journal, 327, 557–560. doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7414.55710.1136/bmj.327.7414.557
  • *Johansson, M., Hartig, T., & Staats, H. (2011). Psychological benefits of walking: Moderation by company and outdoor environment. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 3, 261–280. doi:10.1111/j.1758-0854.2011.01051.x
  • Kaplan, R. (1983). The role of nature in the urban context. Human Behavior & Environment: Advances in Theory & Research, 6, 127–161.
  • Kaplan, S. (1995). The restorative benefits of nature: Toward an integrative framework. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 15, 169–182. doi:10.1016/0272-4944(95)90001-210.1016/0272-4944(95)90001-2
  • Kaplan, R. (2001). The nature of the view from home: Psychological benefits. Environment and Behavior, 33, 507–542. doi:10.1177/0013916012197311510.1177/00139160121973115
  • Kaplan, R., Kaplan, S., & Brown, T. (1989). Environmental preference: A comparison of four domains of predictors. Environment and Behavior, 21, 509–530. doi:10.1177/001391658921500110.1177/0013916589215001
  • Kellert, S. R. (1997). Kinship to mastery: Biophilia in human evolution and development. Washington, DC: Island Press.
  • Kellert, S. R., & Wilson, E. O. (Eds.). (1993). The biophilia hypothesis. Washington, DC: Island Press.
  • Kjellgren, A., & Buhrkall, H. (2010). A comparison of the restorative effect of a natural environment with that of a simulated natural environment. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30, 464–472. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2010.01.01110.1016/j.jenvp.2010.01.011
  • Konijnendijk, C. C. (2008). The Forest and the city. London: Springer.10.1007/978-1-4020-8371-6
  • *Lee, J., Park, B., Tsunetsugu, Y., Kagawa, T., & Miyazaki, Y. (2009). Restorative effects of viewing real forest landscapes, based on a comparison with urban landscapes. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research, 24, 227–234. doi:10.1080/0282758090290334110.1080/02827580902903341
  • *Lee, J. J., Park, B. J., Tsunetsugu, Y. Y., Ohira, T. T., Kagawa, T. T., & Miyazaki, Y. Y. (2011). Effect of forest bathing on physiological and psychological responses in young Japanese male subjects. Public Health, 125, 93–100. doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2010.09.00510.1016/j.puhe.2010.09.005
  • Lench, H. C., Flores, S. A., & Bench, S. A. (2011). Discrete emotions predict changes in cognition, judgment, experience, behavior, and physiology: A meta-analysis of experimental emotion elicitations. Psychological Bulletin, 137, 834–855. doi:10.1037/a002424410.1037/a0024244
  • Levi, D., & Kocher, S. (1999). Virtual nature: The future effects of information technology on our relationship to nature. Environment and Behavior, 31, 203–226. doi:10.1177/0013916992197206510.1177/00139169921972065
  • *Lohr, V. I., & Pearson-Mims, C. H. (2006). Responses to scenes with spreading, rounded, and conical tree forms. Environment and Behavior, 38, 667–688. doi:10.1177/001391650628735510.1177/0013916506287355
  • Lyubomirsky, S., Dickerhoof, R., Boehm, J. K., & Sheldon, K. M. (2011). Becoming happier takes both a will and a proper way: An experimental longitudinal intervention to boost well-being. Emotion, 11, 391–402. doi:10.1037/a002257510.1037/a0022575
  • Lyubomirsky, S., Sheldon, K. M., & Schkade, D. (2005). Pursuing happiness: The architecture of sustainable change. Review of General Psychology, 9, 111–131. doi:10.1037/1089-2680.9.2.11110.1037/1089-2680.9.2.111
  • Mayer, F., & Frantz, C. (2004). The connectedness to nature scale: A measure of individuals’ feeling in community with nature. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 24, 503–515. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2004.10.00110.1016/j.jenvp.2004.10.001
  • *Mayer, F., Frantz, C., Bruehlman-Senecal, E., & Dolliver, K. (2009). Why is nature beneficial?: The role of connectedness to nature. Environment and Behavior, 41, 607–643. doi:10.1177/001391650831974510.1177/0013916508319745
  • Mazzucchelli, T. G., Kane, R. T., & Rees, C. S. (2010). Behavioral activation interventions for well-being: A meta-analysis. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 5, 105–121. doi:10.1080/1743976090356915410.1080/17439760903569154
  • McMahan, E. A., & Estes, D. (2011). Measuring lay conceptions of well-being: The beliefs about well-being scale. Journal of Happiness Studies, 12, 267–287. doi:10.1007/s10902-010-9194-x10.1007/s10902-010-9194-x
  • *Nisbet, E. K., & Zelenski, J. M. (2011). Underestimating nearby nature: Affective forecasting errors obscure the happy path to sustainability. Psychological Science, 22, 1101–1106. doi:10.1177/095679761141852710.1177/0956797611418527
  • Nisbet, E. K., Zelenski, J. M., & Murphy, S. A. (2011). Happiness is in our nature: Exploring nature relatedness as a contributor to subjective well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies, 12, 303–322. doi:10.1007/s10902-010-9197-710.1007/s10902-010-9197-7
  • Öhman, A., & Mineka, S. (2001). Fears, phobias, and preparedness: Toward an evolved module of fear and fear learning. Psychological Review, 108, 483–522. doi:10.1037/0033-295X.108.3.483
  • Panksepp, J., & Biven, L. (2012). The archaeology of mind: Neuroevolutionary origins of human emotion. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Co.
  • *Park, B., Tsunetsugu, Y., Kasetani, T., Hirano, H., Kagawa, T., Sato, M., & Miyazaki, Y. (2007). Physiological effects of shinrin-yoku (taking in the atmosphere of the forest) – Using salivary cortisol and cerebral activity as indicators. Journal of Physiological Anthropology, 26, 123–128. doi:10.2114/jpa2.26.12310.2114/jpa2.26.123
  • Pretty, J., Peacock, J., Hine, R., Sellens, M., South, N., & Griffin, M. (2007). Green exercise in the UK countryside: Effects on health and psychological well-being, and implications for policy and planning. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 50, 211–231. doi:10.1080/0964056060115646610.1080/09640560601156466
  • Rosenthal, R. (1995). Writing meta-analytic reviews. Psychological Bulletin, 118, 183–192. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.118.2.18310.1037/0033-2909.118.2.183
  • Rosenthal, R. R., & DiMatteo, M. R. (2001). Meta analysis: Recent developments in quantitative methods for literature reviews. Annual Review of Psychology, 5, 259–282. doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.59
  • Rothstein, H. R., Sutton, A. J., & Borenstein, M. (Eds.). (2005). Publication bias in meta-analysis. Chichester: Wiley.
  • Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2001). On happiness and human potentials: A review of research on hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 141–166. doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.14110.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.141
  • Ryan, R. M., & Frederick, C. (1997). On energy, personality, and health: Subjective vitality as a dynamic reflection of well-being. Journal of Personality, 65, 529–565. doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.1997.tb00326.x10.1111/jopy.1997.65.issue-3
  • *Ryan, R. M., Weinstein, N., Bernstein, J., Brown, K., Mistretta, L., & Gagné, M. (2010). Vitalizing effects of being outdoors and in nature. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30, 159–168. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2009.10.00910.1016/j.jenvp.2009.10.009
  • Seligman, M. P., Steen, T. A., Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2005). Positive psychology progress: Empirical validation of interventions. American Psychologist, 60, 410–421. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.60.5.41010.1037/0003-066X.60.5.410
  • *Sheets, V. L., & Manzer, C. D. (1991). Affect, cognition, and urban vegetation: Some effects of adding trees along city streets. Environment and Behavior, 23, 285–304. doi:10.1177/001391659123300210.1177/0013916591233002
  • Sin, N. L., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2009). Enhancing well-being and alleviating depressive symptoms with positive psychology interventions: A practice-friendly meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 65, 467–487. doi:10.1002/jclp.2059310.1002/jclp.v65:5
  • *Tennessen, C. M., & Cimprich, B. (1995). Views to nature: Effects on attention. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 15, 77–85. doi:10.1016/0272-4944(95)90016-010.1016/0272-4944(95)90016-0
  • Tooby, J., & Cosmides, L. (2008). The evolutionary psychology of the emotions and their relationship to internal regulatory variables. In M. Lewis, J. M. Haviland-Jones, & L. Barrett (Eds.), Handbook of emotions (3rd ed., pp. 114–137). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
  • *Tsunetsugu, Y., Park, B., Ishii, H., Hirano, H., Kagawa, T., & Miyazaki, Y. (2007). Physiological effects of shinrin-yoku (taking in the atmosphere of the forest) in an old-growth broadleaf forest in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. Journal of Physiological Anthropology, 26, 135–142. doi:10.2114/jpa2.26.13510.2114/jpa2.26.135
  • *Ulrich, R. S. (1979). Visual landscapes and psychological well-being. Landscape Research, 4, 17–23. doi:10.1080/0142639790870589210.1080/01426397908705892
  • *Ulrich, R. S., Simons, R. F., Losito, B. D., Fiorito, E., Miles, M. A., & Zelson, M. (1991). Stress recovery during exposure to natural and urban environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 11, 201–230. doi:10.1016/S0272-4944(05)80184-710.1016/S0272-4944(05)80184-7
  • *Valtchanov, D., Barton, K. R., & Ellard, C. (2010). Restorative effects of virtual nature settings. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 13, 503–512. doi:10.1089/cyber.2009.030810.1089/cyber.2009.0308
  • *Valtchanov, D., & Ellard, C. (2010). Physiological and affective responses to immersion in virtual reality: Effects of nature and urban settings. Journal of Cybertherapy and Rehabilitation, 3, 359–374.
  • *van den Berg, A. E., Koole, S. L., & van der Wulp, N. Y. (2003). Environmental preference and restoration: (How) are they related? Journal of Environmental Psychology, 23, 135–146. doi:10.1016/S0272-4944(02)00111-110.1016/S0272-4944(02)00111-1
  • Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Tellegen, A. (1988). Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 1063–1070. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.54.6.106310.1037/0022-3514.54.6.1063
  • Wells, N. M., & Evans, G. W. (2003). Nearby nature: A buffer of life stress among rural children. Environment and Behavior, 35, 311–330. doi:10.1177/001391650303500300110.1177/0013916503035003001
  • *White, M., Smith, A., Humphryes, K., Pahl, S., Snelling, D., & Depledge, M. (2010). Blue space: The importance of water for preference, affect, and restorativeness ratings of natural and built scenes. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30, 482–493. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2010.04.00410.1016/j.jenvp.2010.04.004
  • Wilson, E. O. (1984). Biophilia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
  • Zuckerman, M. (1977). Development of a situation-specific trait-state test for the prediction and measurement of affective responses. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 45, 513–523. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.45.4.51310.1037/0022-006X.45.4.513

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.