Contact with Nature in Social Deprivation during COVID-19: The Positive Impact on Anxiety

Abstract

The 2019 outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) had a devastating impact on millions of people worldwide. Following the constantly changing course of the pandemic, the Italian government massively restricted public and private life to prevent the further spread of the virus. Unfortunately, lockdown policies negatively impacted many people’s mental and physical health. Numerous studies recognized an essential role of urban green areas in promoting human well-being. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of personal dispositions towards nature, measured using the connectedness to nature scale (CNS) and actual contact with green spaces (CwN) on human well-being (i.e., anxiety) and medicine intake during COVID-19 lockdowns. A total of 637 Italian residents answered a survey aimed at gathering information about the above variables. A series of path analyses were performed. The results showed that the CNS was positively associated with the CwN, and the latter, in turn, was negatively associated with anxiety. Finally, anxiety was positively related to medicine intake. In sum, these results identify the positive role of person–nature relationships for individual well-being during COVID-19 restrictions.

Recognizing Patterns of Nature Contact Associated with Well-Being: An Exploratory Cluster Analysis

“…This study reinforces the critical importance of nature contact for mental well-being, a thesis consistently corroborated by the recent academic literature. Grounded in the previous work of Ningtyas et al [ 1 ], Fornara et al [ 3 ], James et al [ 16 ], and Costa et al [ 17 ], and complemented by Özgüner (2019), this research not only corroborates the restorative effects of engaging with natural environments on mitigating symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression but also significantly extends these insights. By delving into the nuanced relationship between diverse patterns of nature contact and mental health outcomes, this study unveils the complex dynamics underlying this interaction, suggesting that the psychological benefits derived from nature are not universally consistent across different demographics but are influenced by the intensity, frequency, and type of nature engagement.…”

“…This separation poses significant 2 of 14 implications for mental health, especially given the expanding body of evidence indicating that nature contact supports psychological well-being. Fornara et al [3] have shown how contact with nature can significantly reduce anxiety during times of social deprivation, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the resilient role of nature in urban settings.…”