Impact of a nature-based intervention on incarcerated women

Toews, Barb; Wagenfeld, Amy; Stevens, Julie

doi:10.1108/ijph-12-2017-0065

Cited by 21 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…In recent years, nature exposure has been advocated as a promising strategy for mental health improvement in prisons (1). Solutions such as planting works and nature images were found to help improve prisoners' emotional outcomes (18)(19)(20). Nevertheless, relevant attempts are still insufficient due to the inconvenience of nature exposure in prisons.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can Viewing Nature Through Windows Improve Isolated Living? A Pathway Analysis on Chinese Male Prisoners During the COVID-19 Epidemic

Zhang

You

et al. 2021

Front. Psychiatry

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Nature exposure is known to promote life satisfaction and well-being, and indirect exposure through windows is likely to benefit isolated populations. However, whether such type of exposure can benefit prisoners, the extremely isolated population, is unknown. In the current study, we investigated 326 male prisoners from three prisons in southwest China. Psychological variables including depression, anxiety, loneliness, distress tolerance, life satisfaction, and well-being were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), short-form UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-6), Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5), respectively. Structural equation modeling was employed to identify the pathways from the visibility of nature through windows to prisoners' life satisfaction and well-being. Our results demonstrated that visibility of nature promoted the frequency and duration of viewing nature through windows. The frequency directly affected well-being, but the duration did not effectively affect any measured variables. The visibility of nature enhanced life satisfaction mainly via direct effects but enhanced well-being mainly via indirect effects. Regarding the indirect pathways, the visibility of nature increased distress tolerance and thus reduced loneliness and mental health problems. The reduced mental health problem, in turn, promoted life satisfaction and well-being. Our findings suggest that nature exposure through windows is effective in enhancing prisoners' life satisfaction and well-being. The policymaker may need to consider nature-based solutions such as indirect nature exposure in prions to benefit isolated populations.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can Viewing Nature Through Windows Improve Isolated Living? A Pathway Analysis on Chinese Male Prisoners During the COVID-19 Epidemic

Zhang

You

et al. 2021

Front. Psychiatry

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“…The Interaction with Nature Scale (IWN) was used to measure participants' emotional state before and after the experimental condition, which was engagement in a planting party. The IWN is a simple and engaging visual analogue scale that gathers information about the emotional impact of engaging in nature-based activities without requiring a high level of reading comprehension (Toews, Wagenfeld, & Stevens, 2018). Visual analogue scales have been shown to be an effective and efficient means to gather information on factors such as pain and consumer satisfaction (Abend, Dan, Maoz, Raz, & Bar-Haim, 2014;Ismail et al, 2015).…”

Section: Design and Instrumentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The IWN measures perceived change in four emotional states: sadness-happiness, angerpeacefulness, stressed-calm, and hopelessness-hopefulness (Toews et al, 2018). Each scale is anchored with easily recognizable emoticons, a simple and universal means to convey personal feelings (Huang, Yen, & Zhang, 2008).…”

Section: Design and Instrumentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Future research should address (a) investigating the psychometric properties of the IWN; (b) measuring outcomes via biomarkers, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels, along with the IWN and over a longer duration following completion of the intervention; and (c) comparing outcomes from diverse occupation-centered interventions, such as planting and cooking or crafts activities, to explore the degree to which outcomes are associated with gardening or other factors inherent to the intervention (Toews et al, 2018). Further study is also needed to measure outcomes of brief, periodic nature-based activity in comparison to less frequent but longer activity, as well as an array of potential metrics, like the impact of such interventions on workplace mood, satisfaction, and productivity.…”

Section: Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Measuring Emotional Response to a Planting Activity for Staff at an Urban Office Setting: A Pilot Study

Wagenfeld¹,

Schefkind²,

Hock³

2019

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

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Background: Interaction with occupation-centered activities, such as gardening, is associated with improved mental health. With limited evidence supporting the effects of short-term nature-based interventions on employees' emotional states, the purpose of this research was to understand the impact of a one-time, short-term nature-based intervention on the emotional state of employees at an urban office building. Method: This pretest/posttest design study used a visual analogue emoticon assessment tool, the Interaction with Nature scale, to measure differences in the participants' emotional states before and after participating in a planting activity. Twenty-two participants engaged in the study. Each participant potted a succulent plant to display in the participant's workspace. Results: Quantitative results indicate with statistical significance that the participants were happier (t(21) = 7.1, p = .001; r s (.535), p = .010), calmer (t(21) = 3.4, p = .003; r s (.486), p = .022), and more hopeful (t(21) = 2.9, p = .009; r s (.634), p = .002) after the intervention than before the intervention. Conclusion: Findings suggest that a short-term, occupation-centered nature intervention can improve emotional state. Nature-based interventions may help to increase social interactions among staff and contribute to making a positive impact on the office workplace social context. Determining how occupation-centered nature interventions can improve emotional status and social relationships is important to consider, along with any potential implications for workforce performance. Comments The authors report that they have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

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“…Two systematic reviews/meta analyses included programmes in UK prisons, but focussed only on the effects of peer-based programmes on mental health (South et al, 2014) and on yoga/meditation (Auty et al, 2017). Although digital health and mental health interventions are now available, for Research from the UK and elsewhere, such as Australia (Heard et al, 2013) and the US (Toews et al, 2018) suggests that such programmes can be effective in improving wellbeing. Nevertheless, the systematic reviews cited above report the quality of research as poor in many cases.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Well-being programmes in prisons in England and Wales: a mixed-methods study

Turner

King

Mojtahedi

et al. 2021

IJPH

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Purpose In the past decade, there has been growing awareness of well-being and its importance and an increase in the development of activities or programmes aimed at improving well-being. The purpose of this study is to investigate what well-being programmes were being offered to prisoners in England and Wales and what benefits and other outcomes were experienced. Design/methodology/approach The study used a mixed-methods exploratory design in two phases. Phase 1 was a questionnaire survey of all adult prisons in England and Wales, completed by prison staff. In Phase 2, a sample of survey respondents took part in in-depth interviews. Findings The programmes identified in Phase 1 included physical activities, creative arts, mindfulness, horticulture, reading and animal-assisted activities. Prison staff reported a range of universally positive outcomes shared by all programmes, including enthusiasm from prisoners, enjoyment of the activities and being able to do something different from the usual prison routine. However, in Phase 2, interviewees rarely mentioned direct health and well-being benefits. The impetus for programmes was varied and there was little reference to national policy on health and well-being; this reflected the ad hoc way in which programmes are developed, with a key role being played by the Well-being Officer, where these were funded. Originality/value The literature on well-being programmes in prisons is limited and tends to focus on specific types of initiatives, often in a single prison. This study contributes by highlighting the range of activities across prisons and elucidating the perspectives of those involved in running such programmes.

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Impact of a nature-based intervention on incarcerated women

Cited by 21 publications

References 42 publications

Can Viewing Nature Through Windows Improve Isolated Living? A Pathway Analysis on Chinese Male Prisoners During the COVID-19 Epidemic

Can Viewing Nature Through Windows Improve Isolated Living? A Pathway Analysis on Chinese Male Prisoners During the COVID-19 Epidemic

Measuring Emotional Response to a Planting Activity for Staff at an Urban Office Setting: A Pilot Study

Well-being programmes in prisons in England and Wales: a mixed-methods study

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