Exposure to nature can strengthen an individual’s sense of connectedness (i.e., emotional/cognitive bonds to the natural world) and enhance psychological restoration (e.g., feeling relaxed/refreshed). To date, there have been few large studies looking at the role that type and quality of natural environments may have on these outcomes. The present study used data from a large survey in England (sample analyzed = 4,515), which asked participants to recall a recent visit to nature. After controlling for covariates, respondents recalled greater connectedness to nature and restoration following visits to rural and coastal locations compared with urban green space, and to sites of higher environmental quality (operationalized by protected/designated area status, for example, nature reserves). A series of structural equation analyses provided evidence for a bidirectional association between connectedness and restoration. Consideration of the psychological benefits associated with different types and quality of environment has implications for human health, environmental management, and conservation.
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ZealousGhost on November 25th, 2017 at 18:53 UTC »
If I'm in the costal or rural areas I'm most likely on vacation. Lurking variable?
I_am_BrokenCog on November 25th, 2017 at 18:32 UTC »
This is the sort of "limited scope" reports which plague us today.
People in general are very inexperienced with "urban gardens", and in comparison those gardens are a horribly pale imitation of "real" spaces.
Until people don't have the "real" space to compare with, of course they will prefer those real spaces to an urban garden.
enternationalist on November 25th, 2017 at 12:55 UTC »
No, it concluded that people generally tended to recall that their trips to these place made them feel more relaxed and connected to nature. This does not establish a causal link.