Nature-Based Guided Imagery as an Intervention for State Anxiety

Abstract

Anxiety is a significant mental health issue in modern society and empirical research into effective interventions to address anxiety has been extensive. Spending time in nature is one approach that has demonstrated anxiolytic effects. However, in some situations and contexts spending time in nature in order to reduce anxiety symptoms may not be possible. For example, in therapeutic settings delivered in a space with no access or exposure to any nature stimuli in the immediate surrounding environment. Guided imagery (GI) has also proven to be effective for reducing anxiety symptoms. Thus, nature-based GI might help to overcome the limitation of access to nature and strengthen the impact of GI interventions. The current study investigated the effectiveness of nature-based GI on anxiety reduction. Participants (n = 48, 18 males, 30 females, Mage = 34.54, SDage = 12.91, age range = 19 – 71 years) with moderate levels of either trait or state anxiety as measured by the state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) were recruited. Participants undertook both a nature-based GI session and a traditional non-nature-based GI session and their pre- and post- state anxiety levels were measured in each GI session. It was anticipated that post state anxiety scores would be significantly lower for both GI conditions and that a significantly greater anxiety reduction would be found in the nature-based GI than the urban-based GI. A two-way analysis of variance for repeated measures revealed results that supported both hypotheses. This study was the first to compare a nature based GI intervention with a traditional (non-nature based) GI intervention. Findings indicate that nature-based GI interventions are effective anxiety management interventions that have the added benefit of being cost-effective and easily accessible.

Physical Activity Changes and Its Risk Factors among Community-Dwelling Japanese Older Adults during the COVID-19 Epidemic: Associations with Subjective Well-Being and Health-Related Quality of Life

“…When comparing indoor to outdoor PA, people who exercise outdoors reported decreased feelings of tension, confusion, anger, and depression [25]. Research has indicated that exposure to nature increases positive psychological health outcomes such as happiness, mood, and self-esteem; furthermore, it enhances vitality, and reduces stress [26]. Therefore, older adults who stayed at home were able to spend significantly more time on housework and light exercise/sports; in addition, outdoor activities such as walking and gardening may have contributed to the maintenance of SWB scores.…”

The state of the world’s urban ecosystems: What can we learn from trees, fungi, and bees?

“…Exercising outdoors and in sight of nature has additional benefits for our relationship with the natural world by reducing anxiety (Bratman et al., 2015; Hyvönen et al., 2018; Lawton et al., 2017; Niedermeier, Hartl, & Kopp, 2017; Wooller, Barton, Gladwell, & Micklewright, 2016). Even virtual reality interactions can have a positive impact for those with limited access to nature (Calogiuri et al., 2018; Nguyen & Brymer, 2018).…”

A Thematic Analysis of Multiple Pathways Between Nature Engagement Activities and Well-Being

“…Interestingly, the perceptual hierarchy in PCT can short-circuit the exterm environment and enter an imagination mode whereby stored perceptions are experienced “as if” real to the brain (Powers, 1973 ). This capacity has been used to explain the role of imagery in psychological interventions (e.g., Mansell and Hodson, 2009 ), and there is evidence that mental imagery of natural scenes may be particularly beneficial, for example in reducing state anxiety (Nguyen and Brymer, 2018 ).…”