Nature-Based Interventions for Improving Health and Wellbeing: The Purpose, the People and the OutcomesUniv Exeter, Environm & Sustainabil Inst, Penryn TR10 9EZ, Cornwall, England.
Univ Queensland, Sch Publ Hlth, Brisbane, Qld 4006, Australia.
Univ Exeter, Sch Med, European Ctr Environm & Human Hlth, Exeter EX1 2LU, Devon, England.
James Hutton Inst, Social Econ & Geog Sci, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, Scotland.
Univ East Anglia, Norwich Med Sch, Norwich NR15 1LT, Norfolk, England.
Victoria Univ Wellington, Ctr Biodivers & Restorat Ecol, Wellington 6012, New Zealand.
Univ Exeter, Sch Med, European Ctr Environm & Human Hlth, Truro TR1 3HD, England.
Univ Glasgow, Ctr Res Environm Soc & Hlth, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Lanark, Scotland.
Univ Helsinki, Dept Environm Sci, Helsinki 00014, Finland.
Barcelona Inst Global Hlth, ISGlobal, Barcelona Biomed Res Pk PRBB, Barcelona 08003, Spain.
Univ Essex, Dept Biol Sci, Colchester CO4 3SQ, Essex, England.
Deakin Univ, Sch Hlth & Social Dev, Geelong, Vic 3217, Australia.
Univ Otago, Dept Zool, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand.
Univ Michigan, Integrat Med, Ann Arbor, MI 48710 USA.
Univ Exeter, Environm & Sustainabil Inst, Penryn TR10 9EZ, Cornwall, England.
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2019 (English)In: Sports, E-ISSN 2075-4663, Vol. 7, no 6, article id 141Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Engagement with nature is an important part of many people's lives, and the health and wellbeing benefits of nature-based activities are becoming increasingly recognised across disciplines from city planning to medicine. Despite this, urbanisation, challenges of modern life and environmental degradation are leading to a reduction in both the quantity and the quality of nature experiences. Nature-based health interventions (NBIs) can facilitate behavioural change through a somewhat structured promotion of nature-based experiences and, in doing so, promote improved physical, mental and social health and wellbeing. We conducted a Delphi expert elicitation process with 19 experts from seven countries (all named authors on this paper) to identify the different forms that such interventions take, the potential health outcomes and the target beneficiaries. In total, 27 NBIs were identified, aiming to prevent illness, promote wellbeing and treat specific physical, mental or social health and wellbeing conditions. These interventions were broadly categorized into those that change the environment in which people live, work, learn, recreate or heal (for example, the provision of gardens in hospitals or parks in cities) and those that change behaviour (for example, engaging people through organized programmes or other activities). We also noted the range of factors (such as socioeconomic variation) that will inevitably influence the extent to which these interventions succeed. We conclude with a call for research to identify the drivers influencing the effectiveness of NBIs in enhancing health and wellbeing.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2019. Vol. 7, no 6, article id 141
Keywords [en]
Nature-based health interventions, green prescriptions, wilderness therapy, forest schools, green exercise
National Category
Public Health, Global Health and Social Medicine
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-390650DOI: 10.3390/sports7060141ISI: 000473799400014PubMedID: 31185675OAI: oai:DiVA.org:uu-390650DiVA, id: diva2:1343765
2019-08-192019-08-192025-02-20Bibliographically approved