Changes in experienced value of everyday occupations after nature-based vocational rehabilitation

Abstract

In the interviews, participants explained that they now had a slower pace of everyday life and that everyday occupations were more often related to nature and creativity. This could be interpreted as nature-based rehabilitation inducing changes through meaningful occupations in restorative environments, leading to a positive change in perceived values of everyday occupations.

Nature-Based Stress Management Course for Individuals at Risk of Adverse Health Effects from Work-Related Stress—Effects on Stress Related Symptoms, Workability and Sick Leave

“…These results are in line with what was found in the theme “changing dysfunctional patterns of thoughts/behaviors” by Sahlin et al [62], and also with Palsdottir et al ’s [66] results on the importance of experiencing feelings of self-reward in connection to nature and activities in nature. The results clearly showed that the participants were more responsive to their own needs, as shown for instance in their engaging in crafts and creative activities that affirmed their own value, as well as their acknowledgment of the need to indulge in “me time” to replenish their energy and power.…”

“…Also, being outdoors during daylight may play a role, as daylight is vital to our circadian rhythm and in regulating sleep and alertness. Nature-based therapy and nature contacts have been shown to significantly reduce stress symptoms [27,31,32,66]. A possible explanation for this could be that physical stress arousal has been shown to be more easily and quickly normalized in contact with nature environments with restorative qualities [26,27,67].…”

The Journey of Recovery and Empowerment Embraced by Nature — Clients’ Perspectives on Nature-Based Rehabilitation in Relation to the Role of the Natural Environment

“…In order to investigate nature’s positive effects on individuals with stress-related mental disorders, a nature-based rehabilitation (NBR) environment was developed at the Alnarp campus of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. The NBR is performed in a specially designed garden, with a selected transdisciplinary treatment team and a specially developed NBR adapted to treat stress-related mental disorders [24,30,31,32]. …”

“…The main changes were a reduction in outpatient visits to primary healthcare and a reduction in inpatient psychiatric care. Newly published results [32] show that levels of function and return to work rate increased after NBR at the Alnarp Rehabilitation Garden and that this was significantly associated with changes in the participants’ everyday lifestyles.…”

“…Other NBR for people with stress-related mental disorders has also been developed [34,35,36,37,38,39,40] and the evidence supporting NBR is accumulating, e.g., a decrease in the symptoms of the disease [32,33,37,39]. None of the above mentioned studies handle the physical environment where the NBR takes place.…”