‘That is a place where I would want to go’: investigating digital nature to enhance social wellbeing among older adults

Abstract

Feelings of disconnectedness and social isolation among older adults are increasingly recognised as important challenges of our times. Interestingly, nature interaction can stimulate social connectedness and enhance perceived social support, indicating that nature can contribute to social wellbeing. However, nature may not always be around or accessible for older adults. In such cases, digital nature could provide an alternative means for enjoying nature's benefits. To identify limitations and restrictions that older adults experience with respect to nature interaction, and to explore preferences with respect to digital nature and their potential for influencing social wellbeing, two studies are reported: a qualitative study comprising focus groups with Dutch care centre residents (N = 26) and a subsequent quantitative study (N = 200) testing effects of digital landscapes on social wellbeing measures. Findings from the focus groups indicate that opportunities for nature interaction and preferences for digital nature vary with mobility restrictions, whereas findings from the quantitative study testify to the potential of digital nature for enhancing social wellbeing and related emotions. These findings extend research on how (digital) nature interventions can contribute to the social wellbeing of older adults and pinpoint essential nature characteristics important for doing so.

Designing digital nature for older adults: A mixed method approach

“…In line with the aforementioned literature showing that older adults value logistic nature characteristics, such as well-maintained paths and places to sit down 36 and tended rather than wild nature, 24 arguably social aspiration and emotion scores are higher for participants who experienced a simulated walk through a tended, rather than wild, nature scene. As for the overall effect of nature interaction on feeling connected, we hypothesized an increase in feeling connected (pre- vs postexposure) for older adults in the present study.…”

“…To further explore the impact of digital nature, a study was conducted in which older adults were exposed to digital nature designed based on research findings stressing the importance of spaciousness, safety, and comfort perceptions. 24 Using both quantitative and qualitative research methods, the present undertaking not only aims at pinpointing essential nature characteristics but also aims at identifying person-related and contextual variables that influence digital nature experience so as to provide initial guidelines for the implementation of digital nature in the lives of older adults.…”

“… 19 , 34 For instance, a spacious nature setting resembling an open field was associated with higher levels of social aspirations compared to a dense digital nature setting. 35 However, a follow-up study with older adults could not replicate these findings, 24 arguably because spacious settings lack the more intimate, secure character associated with more secluded nature settings.…”

“… 36 Additionally, in an online survey, independent adults aged over 55 years old experienced more social aspirations when being exposed to a tended nature scene (including the presence of benches, well-maintained walking paths and other cues signaling human presence) compared to a wild nature scene. 24 Hence, rather than being attuned to opportunities for excitement and exploration (that are more readily associated with wild and vast nature 37 , for an older population, concerns for safety and comfort might prevail due to aforementioned mobility restrictions and related reductions in autonomy.…”

Discussion of Purchasing Virtual Digital Nature and Tourism

“…It has been suggested that contact with nature is important for mental and social well-being [7,8] but that a certain "quantity" of interaction with nature is necessary, and that interaction with nature in digital space has a positive impact on people's well-being. This suggests that digital nature has great potential as a complementary strategy for people who are less mobile and have less frequent contact with nature or interactions with others, or for older people with mobility difficulties [9][10][11].…”