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Bebbington J, Blasiak R, Larrinaga C, Russell S, Sobkowiak M, Jouffray JB, Österblom H. Shaping nature outcomes in corporate settings. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20220325. [PMID: 38643791 PMCID: PMC11033053 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Transnational companies have substantive impacts on nature: a hallmark of living in the Anthropocene. Understanding these impacts through company provision of information is a precursor to holding them accountable for nature outcomes. The effect of increasing disclosures (of varying quality) is predicated on 'information governance', an approach that uses disclosure requirements to drive company behaviour. However, its efficacy is not guaranteed. We argue that three conditions are required before disclosures have the possibility to shape nature outcomes, namely: (1) radical traceability that links company actions to outcomes in particular settings; (2) developing organizational routines, tools and approaches that translate strategic intent to on-the-ground behaviour; and (3) mobilizing and aligning financial actors with corporate nature ambitions. While disclosure is key to each of these conditions, its limits must be taken into account and it must be nested in governance approaches that shape action, not just reporting. This article is part of the theme issue 'Bringing nature into decision-making'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Bebbington
- Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business, University of Lancaster, LA1 4YW, UK
| | - Robert Blasiak
- Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carlos Larrinaga
- Departamento de Economía y Administración de Empresas, Universidad de Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Castilla y León, Spain
| | - Shona Russell
- Department of Management, University of St Andrews Business School, St Andrews, KY16 9AJ, UK
| | | | - Jean-Baptiste Jouffray
- Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
- Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Henrik Österblom
- Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
- Anthropocene Laboratory, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, SE-104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
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Malhi Y, Daily GC. Bringing nature into decision-making. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20220313. [PMID: 38643790 PMCID: PMC11033046 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yadvinder Malhi
- Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
- Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
| | - Gretchen C. Daily
- Natural Capital Project, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences and Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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Vatn A, Pascual U, Chaplin-Kramer R, Termansen M, Arias-Arévalo P, Balvanera P, Athayde S, Hahn T, Lazos E. Incorporating diverse values of nature in decision-making-theory and practice. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20220315. [PMID: 38643788 PMCID: PMC11033051 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Values play a significant role in decision-making, especially regarding nature. Decisions impact people and nature in complex ways and understanding which values are prioritised, and which are left out is an important task for improving the equity and effectiveness of decision-making. Based on work done for the IPBES Values Assessment, this paper develops a framework to support analyses of how decision-making influences nature as well as whose values get prioritised. The framework is used to analyse key areas of environmental policy: a) the present model for nature protection in market economies, b) the role of valuation in bringing nature values into decisions, and c) values embedded in environmental policy instruments, exemplified by protected areas for nature conservation and payments for ecosystem services. The analyses show that environmental policies have been established as mere additions to decision-making structures that foster economic expansion, which undermines a wide range of nature's values. Moreover, environmental policies themselves are also focused on a limited set of nature's diverse values. This article is part of the theme issue 'Bringing nature into decision-making'.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Vatn
- Faculty of Landscape and Society, Department of International Environment and Development Studies, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, 1432 Norway
| | - U. Pascual
- Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), Spain, Scientific Campus of the University of the Basque Country, Sede Building 1, 1st floor, 48940 Leioa Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Plaza Euskadi 5, 48009 Bilbao, Spain
- Centre for Development and Environment, University of Bern, Mittelstrasse 43, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - R. Chaplin-Kramer
- Global Science, World Wildlife Fund, 131 Steuart Street, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA
- Institute on the Environment, St Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - M. Termansen
- Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - P. Arias-Arévalo
- Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Económicas, Universidad del ValleCiudad Universitaria Meléndez, Calle 13 # 100-00, Código postal 760042, Cali, Colombia
| | - P. Balvanera
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo. Postal 27-3, Santa Maria de Guido, 58090 Morelia Michoacán, Mexico
| | - S. Athayde
- Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies and Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center, Florida International University. 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - T. Hahn
- Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Universitetsv. 10A, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - E. Lazos
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sociales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cd. Universitaria, 04510 Ciudad de México, Mexico
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Hazell J, Clarke E. Nurturing future leaders for nature: the example of the UK's National Education Nature Park. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20220330. [PMID: 38643784 PMCID: PMC11033047 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
This piece reviews the evidence on the effect that engaging with nature has on school-age children's future attitudes and behaviour towards nature. It also looks into the impact engaging with nature has on children and young people's physical, mental and personal development and the evidence on how much time children in England are spending in natural environments. It then presents a UK Government project, the National Education Nature Park (NENP), intended to increase children in England's access to nature by developing nature spaces within the grounds of educational institutions. It concludes with suggestions for how the implementation of the NENP could be used to learn more about the effect that engaging with nature has on children alongside understanding how school-based nature projects could benefit the local environment. This article is part of the theme issue 'Bringing nature into decision-making'.
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Eichholtzer AC, Driscoll DA, Patrick R, Galletta L, Lawson J. The co-benefits of biodiversity citizen science for well-being and nature relatedness. Appl Psychol Health Well Being 2024; 16:515-536. [PMID: 37876142 DOI: 10.1111/aphw.12502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Human well-being is dependent on the health of our planet. Biodiversity-related citizen science supports conservation research, and there is increasing interest in its potential as a health co-benefits intervention. This randomized controlled study investigates the health co-benefits of biodiversity citizen science participation. Seventy participants were randomly assigned to a citizen science project or control group for an 8-month period. Both groups completed pre- and post-intervention surveys, evaluating nature relatedness, self-efficacy related to biodiversity loss, subjective well-being, and climate change anxiety. A subset (N = 13) of participants engaged in the citizen science project also took part in focus group discussions. The intervention group reported a significant increase in nature relatedness and self-efficacy to help address issues of biodiversity loss. Although no significant changes were observed for other well-being or anxiety scales, most participants reported positive outcomes related to mental or physical well-being in focus groups. There were stronger positive effects for participants without previous environmental volunteering experience. These results suggest that citizen science participation has the potential to contribute to Planetary Health goals, with sustained co-benefits for well-being and nature relatedness. Future interventions evaluating co-benefits should consider previous environmental volunteering experience and focus on participants with little experience to maximize health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne C Eichholtzer
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
| | - Don A Driscoll
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rebecca Patrick
- School of Population and Global Health, Melbourne University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lorenzo Galletta
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
| | - Justin Lawson
- School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
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Castellar JAC, Popartan LA, Pucher B, Pineda-Martos R, Hecht K, Katsou E, Nika CE, Junge R, Langergraber G, Atanasova N, Comas J, Monclús H, Pueyo-Ros J. What does it take to re nature cities? An expert-based analysis of barriers and strategies for the implementation of nature-based solutions. J Environ Manage 2024; 354:120385. [PMID: 38382435 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
This paper uses an expert-based methodology to survey the barriers and strategies related to the implementation of nature-based solutions (NBS). The ambition of the paper is to offer a bird's eye overview of the difficulties encountered by NBS deployment and ways to overcome them. With a wide participation of 80 experts from COST Action Circular City, we identify barriers specific to 35 pre-defined NBS of the following four categories: Vertical Greening Systems and Green Roofs; Food and Biomass Production; Rainwater Management; and Remediation, Treatment, and Recovery. The research sheds light on how a major interdisciplinary - yet predominantly technically-oriented - community of scientists and practitioners views this important topic. Overall, the most relevant barriers are related to technological complexity, lack of skilled staff and training programs and the lack of awareness that NBS is an option. Our results highlight concerns related to post implementation issues, especially operation and maintenance, which subsequently affect social acceptance. The paper identifies a "chain" effect across barriers, meaning that one barrier can affect the existence or the relevance of other barriers. In terms of strategies, most of them target governance, information, and education aspects, despite the predominantly technical expertise of the participants. The study innovates with respect to state-of-the-art research by showing a fine-grained connection between barriers, strategies and individual NBS and categories, a level of detail which is not encountered in any other study to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana A C Castellar
- University of Girona, Girona, Catalonia, Spain; Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA-CERCA), Emili Grahit 101, 17003, Girona, Catalonia, Spain; CETAQUA, Water Technology Centre, Crta. Esplugues, 75 08940, Cornellà de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lucia Alexandra Popartan
- LEQUIA, Institute of the Environment, Universitat de Girona, c/ Maria Aurèlia Capmany 69, 17003, Girona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Bernhard Pucher
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Department of Water, Atmosphere and Environment, Institute of Sanitary Engineering and Water Pollution Control, Muthgasse 18, 1190, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Rocío Pineda-Martos
- University of Seville, School of Agricultural Engineering (ETSIA), Department of Aerospace Engineering and Fluid Mechanics, Urban Greening and Biosystems Engineering Research Group (NatUrIB), Ctra. de Utrera, km.1, 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - Katharina Hecht
- Department of Biology/Department of Real Estate & Campus, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Evina Katsou
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University London, Uxbridge Campus, Middlesex, UB8 3PH, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Chrysanthi Elisabeth Nika
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University London, Uxbridge Campus, Middlesex, UB8 3PH, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Ranka Junge
- Institute of Natural Resource Sciences, ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Grüntal, 8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Günter Langergraber
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Department of Water, Atmosphere and Environment, Institute of Sanitary Engineering and Water Pollution Control, Muthgasse 18, 1190, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nataša Atanasova
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering, Jamova 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Joaquim Comas
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA-CERCA), Emili Grahit 101, 17003, Girona, Catalonia, Spain; LEQUIA, Institute of the Environment, Universitat de Girona, c/ Maria Aurèlia Capmany 69, 17003, Girona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Hèctor Monclús
- LEQUIA, Institute of the Environment, Universitat de Girona, c/ Maria Aurèlia Capmany 69, 17003, Girona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Josep Pueyo-Ros
- University of Girona, Girona, Catalonia, Spain; Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA-CERCA), Emili Grahit 101, 17003, Girona, Catalonia, Spain
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Cottam R, Cazalis R, Vounckx R. The local-global relationship of nature. Biosystems 2023; 232:105012. [PMID: 37659677 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2023.105012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
In the light of possible advance in the elucidation of emergence in natural systems we address the likelihood of an overriding relationship between the local and the global in Nature. We consider the possible views of an abstract conglomeration of entities, and whether a global representation can be established. This leads to a consideration of the problem in natural contexts to establish a relationship between local and global properties. We describe the application of a model-hierarchical representation to a biological cell, and its implications in terms of subjective and objective viewpoints. We conclude by stating the concluded relationship between local and global properties in Nature, in that control is exercised not only from local-to-global, but also from global-to-local.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ron Cottam
- The Living Systems Project, Dept. of Electronics and Informatics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Roland Cazalis
- Département 'Sciences, Philosophies, Sociétés', Université de Namur, rue de Bruxelles, 61, 5000, Namur, Belgium
| | - Roger Vounckx
- The Living Systems Project, Dept. of Electronics and Informatics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
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Ocklenburg S. The positive effects of time spent in nature on stress: considering climate change. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3169-3170. [PMID: 37311828 PMCID: PMC10618082 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02122-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Ocklenburg
- Department of Psychology, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
- ICAN Institute for Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
- Biopsychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
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Litleskare S, Calogiuri G. Nature visits during the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway: Facilitators, motives, and associations with sociodemographic characteristics. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1138915. [PMID: 36992896 PMCID: PMC10040678 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1138915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has been linked to increased mental health issues and reduced well-being. Researchers also reports increased frequency of nature visits during the pandemic, proposing it may mitigate some of these negative consequences. Using the case of Norway, a country with ample access to nature and relatively low levels of pandemic-related restrictions, this study sought to (i) understand how the COVID-19 crisis impacted patterns of nature visits and specific nature-based activities, (ii) examine how these patterns varied among different population groups and levels of restrictions, and (iii) explore the motives and facilitators for increased frequency of nature visits.MethodsThe data were retrieved from a national cross-sectional survey conducted in June 2021, which was designed to assess participants (n = 1,005, age > 15 years) habits in relation to nature visits and outdoor recreation since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, and associated factors.ResultsThe results showed that 32 % of participants increased their frequency of nature visits during the crisis, while 11 % experienced a decrease. Multivariate logistic regression revealed significant positive associations between increased frequency of nature visits and longer duration of lockdown restrictions (OR [95% CI] = 2.35 [1.28–4.29] and 4.92 [2.77–8.74] for a few weeks and several months of lockdown, respectively). Increased frequency of nature visits was also more likely among women, younger respondents, and individuals from high-income households. A Cochran's Q test showed that the most common motive for increased frequency of nature visits was “To be physically active” (74%). The most commonly reported facilitators were the possibility of using natural environments as an alternative to gyms and organized sports alongside having more time available (58 and 49%, respectively).ConclusionThese findings suggest that nature visits provided important opportunities for physical activity during the COVID-19 crisis, but also that the mental health benefits of nature visits during such times may be under-communicated. This highlights the importance of access to natural environments to promote physical activity and health, but also suggests that campaigns that specifically communicate the beneficial effects of nature visits during lockdowns or similar stressful situations might help people cope with the situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sigbjørn Litleskare
- Department of Public Health and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Social and Health Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Elverum, Norway
- *Correspondence: Sigbjørn Litleskare
| | - Giovanna Calogiuri
- Department of Public Health and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Social and Health Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Elverum, Norway
- Department of Nursing and Health Sciences, Centre for Health and Technology, University of South-Eastern Norway, Drammen, Norway
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Antonio MCK, Keaulana S, Keli‘iholokai L, Felipe K, Vegas JK, Pono Research Hui W, Limu Hui W, Ho-Lastimosa I. A Report on the Ke Ola O Ka 'Āina: 'Āina Connectedness Scale. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023; 20:3302. [PMID: 36833999 PMCID: PMC9960334 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Optimal health from a Native Hawaiian worldview is achieved by being pono (righteous) and maintaining lōkahi (balance) with all our relations, including our relationships as Kānaka (humankind) with 'Āina (land, nature, environment, that which feeds) and Akua (spiritual realm). The purpose of this study is to explore the role of 'Āina connectedness in Native Hawaiian health and resilience to inform the development of the 'Āina Connectedness Scale. Qualitative methods were conducted with 40 Native Hawaiian adults throughout Hawai'i. Three themes emerged: (1) 'Āina is everything; (2) Connection to 'Āina is imperative to health; and (3) Intergenerational health, healing, and resilience are reflected through intergenerational connectedness with 'Āina. Qualitative findings, supplemented with a scoping review of land, nature, and cultural connectedness scales, led to the development of the 'Āina Connectedness Scale, which examined the degree to which people feel connected to 'Āina, with implications for future research. 'Āina connectedness may address concerns related to health disparities that stem from colonization, historical trauma, and environmental changes and better our understanding of Native Hawaiian health by fostering stronger ties to land. Resilience- and 'Āina-based approaches are critically important to health equity and interventions that aim to improve Native Hawaiian health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mapuana C. K. Antonio
- Native Hawaiian and Indigenous Health, Office of Public Health Studies, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
- Office of Public Health Studies, Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Samantha Keaulana
- Office of Public Health Studies, Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | | | - Kaitlynn Felipe
- Department of Social Work, Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Jetney Kahaulahilahi Vegas
- Office of Public Health Studies, Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | | | | | | | - Ilima Ho-Lastimosa
- Ke Kula Nui O Waimānalo, Waimānalo, HI 96795, USA
- College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
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Hjort M, Mau M, Høj M, Roessler KK. The Importance of the Outdoor Environment for the Recovery of Psychiatric Patients: A Scoping Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023; 20:2240. [PMID: 36767605 PMCID: PMC9915437 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: Research has shown that patients with mental health diagnoses experience less anxiety and depressive symptoms and higher levels of 'well-being' when they spend time in natural environments as part of their treatment. It has been suggested that there is a relationship between the outdoor settings and the recovery of psychiatric patients. Recovery describes an individual process, which can vary from person to person. (2) Methods: This scoping review examined the relationship between the physical environment and the recovery of psychiatric patients. Systematic searches in three online databases, namely Medline, Embase, and PsycINFO, were performed using a selection of psychiatric, environmental, and recovery terms and included both quantitative and qualitative studies. In general, 'well-being' serves as an overarching indicator when it comes to research on how outdoor settings can affect mental health. Well-being was expressed in terms of mood, social relations, and autonomy. (3) Results: A total of 8138 records were screened, 85 studies were included for full-text reading, and five articles were included in the final analysis. The review showed in general that outdoor settings, more specifically gardening, contact with nature, and a safe environment can be related to the well-being of patients on psychiatric wards. (4) Conclusions: The five reviews allow us to conclude that outdoor settings can be seen as a comprehensive resource for mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikkel Hjort
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark
| | - Martin Mau
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark
- Health, Social Work and Welfare Research, UCL University College, 5230 Odense, Denmark
| | - Michaela Høj
- Mental Health Center Ballerup, Competence Center for Rehabilitation and Recovery, 2750 Ballerup, Denmark
| | - Kirsten K. Roessler
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark
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Nesbitt L, Quinton J. Invited Perspective: Nature Is Unfairly Distributed in the United States-But That's Only Part of the Global Green Equity Story. Environ Health Perspect 2023; 131:11301. [PMID: 36696104 PMCID: PMC9875855 DOI: 10.1289/ehp12536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lorien Nesbitt
- Department of Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jessica Quinton
- Department of Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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14
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Jung Y, Walther DB. Neural Representations in the Prefrontal Cortex Are Task Dependent for Scene Attributes But Not for Scene Categories. J Neurosci 2021; 41:7234-7245. [PMID: 34103357 PMCID: PMC8387120 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2816-20.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural scenes deliver rich sensory information about the world. Decades of research has shown that the scene-selective network in the visual cortex represents various aspects of scenes. However, less is known about how such complex scene information is processed beyond the visual cortex, such as in the prefrontal cortex. It is also unknown how task context impacts the process of scene perception, modulating which scene content is represented in the brain. In this study, we investigate these questions using scene images from four natural scene categories, which also depict two types of scene attributes, temperature (warm or cold), and sound level (noisy or quiet). A group of healthy human subjects from both sexes participated in the present study using fMRI. In the study, participants viewed scene images under two different task conditions: temperature judgment and sound-level judgment. We analyzed how these scene attributes and categories are represented across the brain under these task conditions. Our findings show that scene attributes (temperature and sound level) are only represented in the brain when they are task relevant. However, scene categories are represented in the brain, in both the parahippocampal place area and the prefrontal cortex, regardless of task context. These findings suggest that the prefrontal cortex selectively represents scene content according to task demands, but this task selectivity depends on the types of scene content: task modulates neural representations of scene attributes but not of scene categories.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Research has shown that visual scene information is processed in scene-selective regions in the occipital and temporal cortices. Here, we ask how scene content is processed and represented beyond the visual brain, in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). We show that both scene categories and scene attributes are represented in PFC, with interesting differences in task dependency: scene attributes are only represented in PFC when they are task relevant, but scene categories are represented in PFC regardless of the task context. Together, our work shows that scene information is processed beyond the visual cortex, and scene representation in PFC reflects how adaptively our minds extract relevant information from a scene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaelan Jung
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G3, Canada
| | - Dirk B Walther
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G3, Canada
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15
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Toll ET. Tiny Art Show. Am J Med 2021; 134:1058-1059. [PMID: 33933443 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2021.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth T Toll
- The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.
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16
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Jiménez-Pazos B. Darwin's perception of nature and the question of disenchantment: a semantic analysis across the six editions of On the Origin of Species. Hist Philos Life Sci 2021; 43:57. [PMID: 33852096 PMCID: PMC8046690 DOI: 10.1007/s40656-021-00373-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This body of work is motivated by an apparent contradiction between, on the one hand, Darwin's testimony in his autobiographical text about a supposed perceptual colour blindness before the aesthetic magnificence of natural landscapes, and, on the other hand, the last paragraph of On the Origin of Species, where he claims to perceive the forms of nature as beautiful and wonderful. My aim is to delve into the essence of the Darwinian perception of beauty in the context of the Weberian concept of "disenchantment of the world", assumed as a possible conceptual axis that enables the unravelling of the core of this contrast of perceptions. In acknowledging the theory of evolution as one of the most prominent scientific theories likely to have contributed to disenchantment, a number of questions arise: Is disenchantment compatible with aesthetic experience and sensibility before natural beauty? Was it Darwin's disenchanted conception of the world that led him to believe he was colour blind? To answer these questions, a computer-assisted semantic analysis of lexical frequency and variability, most especially focused on aesthetic-emotional and religious or spiritual adverbs and adjectives, has been undertaken across the six editions of The Origin. The semantic analysis demonstrates that, although disenchanted, Darwin's descriptions of, mainly, the adaptational excellence of living beings, reflect an aesthetically enriched perception of nature. It is concluded that Darwin's perceptual colour blindness, then, might be based on a confusion rooted in the equation of equality between aesthetic sensibility in nature and the perception of its beauty as part of the vestigia Dei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara Jiménez-Pazos
- IAS-Research - Centre for Life, Mind and Society. Philosophy Department, University of the Basque Country, San Sebastián, Spain.
- Facultad de Educación, Filosofía y Antropología, Universidad del País Vasco, Avenida de Tolosa 70, 20018, San Sebastián, Guipúzcoa, Spain.
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17
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Buxton RT, Pearson AL, Allou C, Fristrup K, Wittemyer G. A synthesis of health benefits of natural sounds and their distribution in national parks. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2013097118. [PMID: 33753555 PMCID: PMC8040792 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2013097118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Parks are important places to listen to natural sounds and avoid human-related noise, an increasingly rare combination. We first explore whether and to what degree natural sounds influence health outcomes using a systematic literature review and meta-analysis. We identified 36 publications examining the health benefits of natural sound. Meta-analyses of 18 of these publications revealed aggregate evidence for decreased stress and annoyance (g = -0.60, 95% CI = -0.97, -0.23) and improved health and positive affective outcomes (g = 1.63, 95% CI = 0.09, 3.16). Examples of beneficial outcomes include decreased pain, lower stress, improved mood, and enhanced cognitive performance. Given this evidence, and to facilitate incorporating public health in US national park soundscape management, we then examined the distribution of natural sounds in relation to anthropogenic sound at 221 sites across 68 parks. National park soundscapes with little anthropogenic sound and abundant natural sounds occurred at 11.3% of the sites. Parks with high visitation and urban park sites had more anthropogenic sound, yet natural sounds associated with health benefits also were frequent. These included animal sounds (audible for a mean of 59.3% of the time, SD: 23.8) and sounds from wind and water (mean: 19.2%, SD: 14.8). Urban and other parks that are extensively visited offer important opportunities to experience natural sounds and are significant targets for soundscape conservation to bolster health for visitors. Our results assert that natural sounds provide important ecosystem services, and parks can bolster public health by highlighting and conserving natural soundscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel T Buxton
- Department of Biology, Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6 Canada;
| | - Amber L Pearson
- Department of Geography, Environment and Spatial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823
- Department of Public Health, University of Otago, 6242 Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Claudia Allou
- James Madison College, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823
| | - Kurt Fristrup
- Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division, National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO 80525
| | - George Wittemyer
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
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18
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Qiu M, Sha J, Scott N. Restoration of Visitors through Nature-Based Tourism: A Systematic Review, Conceptual Framework, and Future Research Directions. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18:ijerph18052299. [PMID: 33652652 PMCID: PMC7956513 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18052299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Visiting natural environments could restore health and contribute to human sustainability. However, the understanding of potential linkages between restoration of visitors and nature-based tourism remains incomplete, resulting in a lack of orientation for researchers and managers. This study aimed to explore how visitors achieve restoration through nature by analyzing published literature on tourism. Using a systematic review method, this study examined destination types, participant traits, theoretical foundations, and potential restorative outcomes presented in 34 identified articles. A new framework that synthesizes relevant research and conceptualizes the restorative mechanisms of nature-based tourism from a human–nature interaction perspective was developed. Owing to the limitations in the theories, methods, cases, and the COVID-19 pandemic, interdisciplinary methods and multisensory theories are needed in the future to shed further light on the restoration of visitors through nature-based tourism. The findings provide a theoretical perspective on the consideration of nature-based tourism as a public-wellness product worldwide, and the study provides recommendations for future research in a COVID-19 or post-COVID-19 society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyuan Qiu
- College of Economics and Management, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China;
| | - Ji Sha
- College of Business Administration, Jiangsu Vocational Institute of Commerce, Nanjing 211168, China;
| | - Noel Scott
- Gold Coast Campus, Griffith Business School, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-0422691057
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19
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Meis-Harris J, Borg K, Jorgensen BS. The construct validity of the multidimensional AIMES connection to nature scale: Measuring human relationships with nature. J Environ Manage 2021; 280:111695. [PMID: 33298399 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Over the last decades, a plethora of nature connectedness measures have been developed, including unidimensional scales and others claiming to be multidimensional scales. Recently, Ives et al. (2018) conceptualised connection with nature as five general categories including attachment, cognition/identity, materialistic consumption, experiential components, and spiritual connection to nature. The current research presents a theory-driven approach to scale construction capturing the five factors similar to those described by Ives et al. (2018); the AIMES scale. The scale was developed in cooperation with practitioners and academics working in the field of human-nature interactions and its construct validity was tested with a representative sample of 3090 Victorians. Confirmatory factor analysis reinforced the five-factor model, showing that all factors correlated but were statistically distinct from one another. The second-order factor model also provided support for connection with nature as an overarching variable that can find expression to various degrees in the five primary factors. Finally, we found associations between the AIMES-factors and conceptually related measures of environmental values, environmental behaviours, environmental awareness, and time spent in nature. A short version of the scale is also presented for use in evaluation where brevity is required without compromising reliability and validity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Meis-Harris
- BehaviourWorks Australia, Monash Sustainable Development Institute, 8 Scenic Boulevard, Monash University, Clayton VIC, 3800, Australia.
| | - Kim Borg
- BehaviourWorks Australia, Monash Sustainable Development Institute, 8 Scenic Boulevard, Monash University, Clayton VIC, 3800, Australia.
| | - Bradley S Jorgensen
- BehaviourWorks Australia, Monash Sustainable Development Institute, 8 Scenic Boulevard, Monash University, Clayton VIC, 3800, Australia.
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20
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Mell I, Whitten M. Access to Nature in a Post Covid-19 World: Opportunities for Green Infrastructure Financing, Distribution and Equitability in Urban Planning. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18:1527. [PMID: 33562711 PMCID: PMC7915572 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18041527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Covid-19 changed the way many people viewed and interacted with the natural environment. In the UK, a series of national lockdowns limited the number of places that individuals could use to support their mental and physical health. Parks, gardens, canals and other "green infrastructure" (GI) resources remained open and were repositioned as "essential infrastructure" supporting well-being. However, the quality, functionality and location of GI in urban areas illustrated a disparity in distribution that meant that in many cases communities with higher ethnic diversity, lower income and greater health inequality suffered from insufficient access. This paper provides commentary on these issues, reflecting on how planners, urban designers and environmental organizations are positioning GI in decision-making to address inequality. Through a discussion of access and quality in an era of austerity funding, this paper proposes potential pathways to equitable environmental planning that address historical and contemporary disenfranchisement with the natural environment in urban areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Mell
- Department of Planning & Environmental Management, School of Environment, Education & Development, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Meredith Whitten
- Department of Geography and Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science, London WC2A 2AE, UK;
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21
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Raffn J, Lassen F. Politics of Nature: The board game. Soc Stud Sci 2021; 51:139-164. [PMID: 33406988 DOI: 10.1177/0306312720983907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Here we introduce the board game Politics of Nature, or PoN as it is now known. Inspired by the work of Bruno Latour, PoN offers an alternative take on co-existence by implementing a flat political ontology in a gamified meeting protocol. PoN does not suggest that humans have no special abilities, only that humans at the outset, are bestowed with no more rights than other kinds of beings. Designed to enable people of all walks of life to playfully unpack and resolve controversies, PoN provides a space where beings can have their existence renegotiated. The aim of PoN is to play as a team to explore and decide on potential good common worlds in which more indispensable beings can exist than if the status quo is continued. By playing PoN iteratively through rounds, each having four stages, the players gradually construct PoN - a planet mirroring 'real worlds'. The four stages provide a novel combination of identification, representation, meditation, prioritization, mapping, individual and group ideation, proposal formulation, and decision-making; only to ask the players to challenge and change PoN to fit their requirements after each round. What follows is taken directly from the manual.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Raffn
- Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Denmark
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22
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Carter L, Mankad A, Hobman EV, Porter NB. Playing God and tampering with nature: popular labels for real concerns in synthetic biology. Transgenic Res 2021; 30:155-167. [PMID: 33502671 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-021-00233-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Public engagement in science with diverse cross-sections of the community is considered a critical aspect of responsible biotechnological innovation. While the research community shows willingness to engage with both ambivalent and supportive audiences about potentially disruptive technological advances, there is less enthusiasm for engaging with groups who hold deeply opposing views to such advances. 'Playing God' and 'tampering with nature' are popular examples of intrinsic objections often made in opposition to the development or use of novel genetic technologies. Historically appearing in arguments against the pursuit of genetically modified organisms in agriculture and food industries, intrinsic objections have previously been labelled by the science community as inconsistent, non-scientific, and vague. Now found in a range of innovation contexts, the domain of synthetic biology appears to attract such objections consistently. We present the findings from a large Australian study (N = 4593) which suggests 'playing God' objections and their variants can be multilayered and, at times, accompanied by meaningful information about risk perceptions. We use qualitative analysis of open-ended responses from an online survey to show how these objections are articulated in response to selected synthetic biology applications across environmental and health domains. Our research invites a rethink of how the synthetic biology community perceives, and engages with, people who express intrinsic objections. These people may additionally hold extrinsic concerns that may be potentially addressed, or at least reasonably considered, through dialogue. We offer some concluding remarks for engaging with publics who employ these types of arguments to communicate unease with aspects of technology development and use.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Carter
- CSIRO Land and Water, Dutton Park, QLD, Australia.
| | - A Mankad
- CSIRO Land and Water, Dutton Park, QLD, Australia
| | - E V Hobman
- CSIRO Land and Water, Dutton Park, QLD, Australia
| | - N B Porter
- CSIRO Land and Water, Wembley, WA, Australia
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23
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Batey M, Hughes DJ, Crick L, Toader A. Designing creative spaces: an experimental examination of the effect of a nature poster on divergent thinking. Ergonomics 2021; 64:139-146. [PMID: 32819209 DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2020.1811398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This paper reports the results of an independent samples experiment designed to examine the effects of the presence of a large poster depicting a natural woodland scene on individual performance on two Divergent Thinking tasks. In comparison to the no-poster control condition, the presentation of a large poster depicting a nature scene was found to lead to greater levels of creativity as rated by judges who were blind to the experimental design. The effects of the large poster on Divergent Thinking were found to hold when controlling for Openness-to-Experience and Mood. Exploratory analyses of participant ratings of room characteristics indicated that the mechanism underlying the posters' effect related to elevated stimulation. Practitioner summary: This study compared the effects of presenting a large poster depicting a natural woodland scene (experimental condition) versus no poster (control condition) on individual creative thinking. Three judges, who were unaware of the design of the study, did not know the participant responses were from two different conditions and who did not facilitate the experiment rated the responses of the participants who were exposed to the large poster as significantly more creative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Batey
- People and Performance, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | - David J Hughes
- Organisational Psychology, University of Manchester Alliance Manchester Business School, Manchester, UK
| | - Lana Crick
- PricewaterhouseCoopers International Ltd, London, UK
| | - Andra Toader
- Organisational Psychology, University of Manchester Alliance Manchester Business School, Manchester, UK
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24
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One year of Nature Cancer. Nat Cancer 2021; 2:1-2. [PMID: 35121896 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-020-00170-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
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25
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Ertl T. Does Mother Nature Know Better Than We Do? Psychiatr Danub 2021; 33:294. [PMID: 34795166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Tibor Ertl
- University of Pécs, Medical School, Pécs, Hungary,
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26
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Hoogendoorn G, Sütterlin B, Siegrist M. Tampering with Nature: A Systematic Review. Risk Anal 2021; 41:141-156. [PMID: 33141501 DOI: 10.1111/risa.13619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Tampering with nature has been shown to be a strong, and sometimes even the strongest, predictor of the risk perception and acceptance of various technologies and behaviors, including environmental technologies, such as geoengineering. It is therefore helpful to understand what tampering with nature is as a construct, to which factors it relates, and when a technology or behavior is perceived as such. By means of a systematic review, we show that very little systematic research has been conducted on tampering with nature. Because tampering with nature has not yet been clearly defined, no systematic operationalization of tampering with nature has been used in the current literature. We show that tampering with nature is often used interchangeably with other constructs, such as naturalness. Based on the literature, we suggest that tampering with nature is related to and possibly influenced by three other constructs, which are naturalness, morality, and controllability. We discuss the influence of tampering with nature on the acceptance and risk perception of various technologies and behaviors and make suggestions for future research needs in order to better understand this construct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gea Hoogendoorn
- ETH Zürich, Institute for Environmental Decisions (IED), Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Michael Siegrist
- ETH Zürich, Institute for Environmental Decisions (IED), Zürich, Switzerland
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27
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Chaudhury P, Banerjee D. "Recovering With Nature": A Review of Ecotherapy and Implications for the COVID-19 Pandemic. Front Public Health 2020; 8:604440. [PMID: 33363096 PMCID: PMC7758313 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.604440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Connection with nature has been considered beneficial for psychological well-being since times of evolution. Differences in Indian and Western thoughts have viewed natural elements in different lights, varying between eco-centrism to anthropocentrism. The intrusion of technology and digitalized lives as a result of globalization has decreased connectedness with nature. Ecotherapy is a novel form of psychotherapeutic technique based on explicit environmental or ecological interventions. Social and therapeutic horticulture, animal-assisted interventions, care farming, green exercise, environmental conservation and wilderness therapy are some of the ecosystem-based approaches used in mental health. Based on the principles of positive and client-centered psychology, ecotherapy-related techniques have been shown to be effective in medical disorders like hypertension, obesity, post-surgical recovery and psychosocial conditions like depression, stress reduction, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), attention deficit hyperkinetic disorder (ADHD) and adjustment disorders. The principles of ecotherapy have been integrated into other psychotherapeutic techniques for better efficacy. This review attempts provides an overview of techniques, applications and challenges related to ecotherapy in psychology. The implications of its use during the ongoing Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) crisis, social isolation and consequent psychosocial aftermath are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pourabi Chaudhury
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry (IOP), Kolkata, India
| | - Debanjan Banerjee
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, India
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28
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Fernández M, Cebrián G, Regadera E, Fernández MY. Analysing the Relationship between University Students' Ecological Footprint and Their Connection with Nature and Pro-Environmental Attitude. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17:ijerph17238826. [PMID: 33261045 PMCID: PMC7730122 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17238826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
In the last decade, universities worldwide have adopted various measures intended to promote sustainability in higher education and include it in the curriculum. However, although this paradigm shift appears to be contributing to students’ acquisition of the knowledge, skills and values necessary to fight for a more sustainable world, serious global crises such as the present SARS-CoV-2 pandemic oblige us to rethink our behaviour and spur us to accelerate the move towards a deep-seated commitment to the environment and people. Therefore, the aims of this study were (a) to explore consumption habits in students at four Spanish universities by analysing their individual ecological footprint (EF); (b) to develop indices of connection with nature and a pro-environmental attitude and to determine relationships between these indices and students’ consumption. Among other factors, our results showed that private university students have a higher EF than public university students; that food consumption has the greatest impact on individuals’ EF; and that those who consume more sustainably do not show a more pro-environmental attitude or feel a greater connection with nature. Therefore, we conclude that there was no apparent direct relationship between study participants’ convictions and their daily behaviour. There is a pressing need in education to demonstrate the connection between our actions and their environmental impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Fernández
- Department of Education, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Campus Sant Cugat, Josep Trueta, Sant Cugat del Vallès, 08195 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-935-042-000
| | - Gisela Cebrián
- Department of Pedagogy, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Campus Sescelades, 43007 Tarragona, Spain;
| | - Elisa Regadera
- School of Communication, Campus Barcelona, Inmaculada 22, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 08017 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - M. Yolanda Fernández
- Department of Social Sciences, Universidad Europea Miguel de Cervantes, Calle del Padre Julio Chevalier, 2, 47012 Valladolid, Spain;
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29
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Patel MD, Donovan SM, Lee SY. Considering Nature and Nurture in the Etiology and Prevention of Picky Eating: A Narrative Review. Nutrients 2020; 12:nu12113409. [PMID: 33171966 PMCID: PMC7694604 DOI: 10.3390/nu12113409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Children are often categorized as picky eaters by parents and caregivers for their rejection of foods, such as vegetables, and for exhibiting other difficult mealtime behaviors. However, there are several factors that contribute to these mealtime behaviors, including early feeding practices (i.e., breastfeeding, introduction to solid food), repeated exposure to novel foods, and genetic taste sensitivity to certain compounds. Using the online database of PubMed, a review of the literature on the development of picky eating in children, its outcomes, and intervention strategies was conducted. This review groups the developmental contributors to picky eating into the categories of nature and nurture and explores the interaction between the two. This paper will also summarize the potential outcomes of picky eating and the various strategies that are currently recommended to mitigate picky eating in young children. However, there is a lack of longitudinal work targeting consistent picky eating behaviors that have the potential to impact long-term food preferences and dietary variety. Future intervention strategies should address the factors that influence the development of picky eating on an individual level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meera D. Patel
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA;
| | - Sharon M. Donovan
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition and Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA;
| | - Soo-Yeun Lee
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition and Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-217-244-9435
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Soroye P, Lynch K, Dalu T, Ware J, Troutman A, Matiwane A, Patterson A. Black in Nature. Cell 2020; 183:556-558. [PMID: 33125878 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The uplifting Twitter trend #BlackInNature highlights the stories of Black people in the outdoors, many of whom are life scientists who perform research in the field. We asked #BlackInNature scientists to share their experiences and motivations to get outside.
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Hopman RJ, LoTemplio SB, Scott EE, McKinney TL, Strayer DL. Resting-state posterior alpha power changes with prolonged exposure in a natural environment. Cogn Res Princ Implic 2020; 5:51. [PMID: 33108586 PMCID: PMC7591649 DOI: 10.1186/s41235-020-00247-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to environments that contain natural features can benefit mood, cognition, and physiological responses. Previous research proposed exposure to nature restores voluntary attention - attention that is directed towards a task through top down control. Voluntary attention is limited in capacity and depletes with use. Nature provides unique stimuli that do not require voluntary attention; therefore, the neural resources needed for attention to operate efficiently are theorized to restore when spending time in nature. Electroencephalography reflects changes in attention through fluctuations in power within specific frequencies. The current study (N = 29) measured changes in averaged resting state posterior alpha power before, during, and after a multiday nature exposure. Linear mixed-effects models revealed posterior alpha power was significantly lower during the nature exposure compared to pre-trip and post-trip testing, suggesting posterior alpha power may be a potential biomarker for differences related to exposure to natural and urban environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel J Hopman
- Center for Cognitive and Brain Health, Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, 805 Columbus Ave, 670 ISEC, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Sara B LoTemplio
- Department of Psychology, University of Utah, 380 S. 1530 E. RM 502, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Emily E Scott
- Department of Psychology, University of Utah, 380 S. 1530 E. RM 502, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Ty L McKinney
- Department of Psychology, University of Utah, 380 S. 1530 E. RM 502, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - David L Strayer
- Department of Psychology, University of Utah, 380 S. 1530 E. RM 502, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
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Pretty J, Barton J. Nature-Based Interventions and Mind-Body Interventions: Saving Public Health Costs Whilst Increasing Life Satisfaction and Happiness. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17:E7769. [PMID: 33114167 PMCID: PMC7660642 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17217769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
A number of countries have begun to adopt prevention pays policies and practices to reduce pressure on health and social care systems. Most affluent countries have seen substantial increases in the incidence and costs of non-communicable diseases. The interest in social models for health has led to the growth in use of social prescribing and psychological therapies. At the same time, there has been growth in application of a variety of nature-based and mind-body interventions (NBIs and MBIs) aimed at improving health and longevity. We assess four NBI/MBI programmes (woodland therapy, therapeutic horticulture, ecotherapy/green care, and tai chi) on life satisfaction/happiness and costs of use of public services. These interventions produce rises in life satisfaction/happiness of 1.00 pts to 7.29 (n = 644; p < 0.001) (for courses or participation >50 h). These increases are greater than many positive life events (e.g., marriage or a new child); few countries or cities see +1 pt increases over a decade. The net present economic benefits per person from reduced public service use are £830-£31,520 (after 1 year) and £6450-£11,980 (after 10 years). We conclude that NBIs and MBIs can play a role in helping to reduce the costs on health systems, while increasing the well-being of participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jules Pretty
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Jo Barton
- School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK;
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van Houwelingen-Snippe J, van Rompay TJL, Ben Allouch S. Feeling Connected after Experiencing Digital Nature: A Survey Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17:ijerph17186879. [PMID: 32967093 PMCID: PMC7559801 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17186879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Digital nature can provide a substitute for real nature for those who have limited access to green space, or are confined to their homes, for example during the worldwide COVID-19 lockdown. In a large-scale online survey, respondents (N = 1203) watched videos of digital nature, varying in terms of type of nature (wild versus tended nature) and spaciousness. Results show a significant increase of feelings of connectedness to the community after watching digital nature. Furthermore, tended nature scenes elicited more social aspirations than wild nature scenes. A multiple regression model further shows that living further away from nature was a significant predictor for loneliness scores, while number of nature interactions during a week was not. Results of this study confirm the importance of nature interaction for mental and social wellbeing for the general population and stress the potential of digital nature as a complementary strategy. These findings are of particular relevance to those who lack access to nature due to old age and related mobility constraints or a lockdown.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas J. L. van Rompay
- Communication Science, University of Twente, De Zul 10, 7522 NJ Enschede, The Netherlands;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +31-(0)53-489-3607
| | - Somaya Ben Allouch
- Digital Life Research Group, University of Applied Sciences Amsterdam, Wibautstraat 2, 1091 GM Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
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Oswald TK, Rumbold AR, Kedzior SGE, Moore VM. Psychological impacts of "screen time" and "green time" for children and adolescents: A systematic scoping review. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0237725. [PMID: 32886665 PMCID: PMC7473739 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Technological developments in recent decades have increased young people's engagement with screen-based technologies (screen time), and a reduction in young people's contact with nature (green time) has been observed concurrently. This combination of high screen time and low green time may affect mental health and well-being. The aim of this systematic scoping review was to collate evidence assessing associations between screen time, green time, and psychological outcomes (including mental health, cognitive functioning, and academic achievement) for young children (<5 years), schoolchildren (5-11 years), early adolescents (12-14 years), and older adolescents (15-18 years). Original quantitative studies were identified in four databases (PubMed, PsycInfo, Scopus, Embase), resulting in 186 eligible studies. A third of included studies were undertaken in Europe and almost as many in the United States. The majority of studies were cross-sectional (62%). In general, high levels of screen time appeared to be associated with unfavourable psychological outcomes while green time appeared to be associated with favourable psychological outcomes. The ways screen time and green time were conceptualised and measured were highly heterogeneous, limiting the ability to synthesise the literature. The preponderance of cross-sectional studies with broadly similar findings, despite heterogeneous exposure measures, suggested results were not artefacts. However, additional high-quality longitudinal studies and randomised controlled trials are needed to make a compelling case for causal relationships. Different developmental stages appeared to shape which exposures and outcomes were salient. Young people from low socioeconomic backgrounds may be disproportionately affected by high screen time and low green time. Future research should distinguish between passive and interactive screen activities, and incidental versus purposive exposure to nature. Few studies considered screen time and green time together, and possible reciprocal psychological effects. However, there is preliminary evidence that green time could buffer consequences of high screen time, therefore nature may be an under-utilised public health resource for youth psychological well-being in a high-tech era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tassia K. Oswald
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Robinson Research Institute, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Alice R. Rumbold
- Robinson Research Institute, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- SAHMRI Women and Kids, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Sophie G. E. Kedzior
- Robinson Research Institute, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Vivienne M. Moore
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Robinson Research Institute, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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Swami V, Barron D, Todd J, Horne G, Furnham A. Nature exposure and positive body image: (Re-)examining the mediating roles of connectedness to nature and trait mindfulness. Body Image 2020; 34:201-208. [PMID: 32604023 PMCID: PMC7320863 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have reported a significant association between nature exposure and positive body image, but understandings of the mechanisms that help to explain this link remain nascent. Here, we considered the extent to which trait mindfulness and connectedness to nature, respectively, mediate the aforementioned relationship both in parallel and serially. An online sample of 398 participants (199 women, 196 men, 3 other; age M = 28.1 years) from the United Kingdom completed measures of self-reported nature exposure, mindful awareness and acceptance, connectedness to nature, and body appreciation. Results indicated that inter-correlations between scores on all measures were significant and positive. Following the elimination of non-significant pathways, path analysis resulted in an adequately-fitting model in which the direct relationship between nature exposure and body appreciation was significant. In addition, connectedness to nature - but not trait mindfulness - significantly mediated the direct relationship. Finally, we also found evidence of a serial mediation, where the association between nature exposure and body appreciation was mediated by mindful awareness followed by connectedness to nature. The implications of these results for scholarly and practitioner understanding of the impact of nature exposure on positive body image are discussed in conclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viren Swami
- School of Psychology and Sport Science, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Centre for Psychological Medicine, Perdana University, Serdang, Malaysia.
| | - David Barron
- Centre for Psychological Medicine, Perdana University, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Jennifer Todd
- School of Psychology and Sport Science, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - George Horne
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian Furnham
- Department of Leadership and Organizational Behaviour, Norwegian Business School, Oslo, Norway
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Thomson LJ, Morse N, Elsden E, Chatterjee HJ. Art, nature and mental health: assessing the biopsychosocial effects of a 'creative green prescription' museum programme involving horticulture, artmaking and collections. Perspect Public Health 2020; 140:277-285. [PMID: 32449492 PMCID: PMC7498904 DOI: 10.1177/1757913920910443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To assess the biopsychosocial effects of participation in a unique, combined arts- and nature-based museum intervention, involving engagement with horticulture, artmaking and museum collections, on adult mental health service users. METHODS Adult mental health service users (total n = 46 across two phases) with an average age of 53 were referred through social prescribing by community partners (mental health nurse and via a day centre for disadvantaged and vulnerable adults) to a 10-week 'creative green prescription' programme held in Whitworth Park and the Whitworth Art Gallery. The study used an exploratory sequential mixed methods design comprising two phases - Phase 1 (September to December 2016): qualitative research investigating the views of participants (n = 26) through semi-structured interviews and diaries and Phase 2 (February to April 2018): quantitative research informed by Phase 1 analysing psychological wellbeing data from participants (n = 20) who completed the UCL Museum Wellbeing Measure pre-post programme. RESULTS Inductive thematic analysis of Phase 1 interview data revealed increased feelings of wellbeing brought about by improved self-esteem, decreased social isolation and the formation of communities of practice. Statistical analysis of pre-post quantitative measures in Phase 2 found a highly significant increase in psychological wellbeing. CONCLUSION Creative green prescription programmes, using a combination of arts- and nature-based activities, present distinct synergistic benefits that have the potential to make a significant impact on the psychosocial wellbeing of adult mental health service users. Museums with parks and gardens should consider integrating programmes of outdoor and indoor collections-inspired creative activities permitting combined engagement with nature, art and wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- LJ Thomson
- UCL Division of Biosciences, University College
London, London, UK
| | - N Morse
- School of Museum Studies, University of
Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - E Elsden
- UCL Division of Biosciences, University College
London, London, UK
| | - HJ Chatterjee
- UCL Division of Biosciences, University College
London, 507B Darwin Building, London WC1E 6BT, UK
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Schwarzmüller-Erber G, Stummer H, Maier M, Kundi M. Nature Relatedness of Recreational Horseback Riders and Its Association with Mood and Wellbeing. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17:ijerph17114136. [PMID: 32531937 PMCID: PMC7312614 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17114136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Connectedness to nature and nature contact can provide many benefits to humans, like stress reduction, recovery from illness, and increased positive emotions. Likewise, recreational horseback riding is a widespread sports activity with the potential to enhance physical and psychological health. Yet, the influence of connectedness to nature on the wellbeing of older aged recreational horseback riders has not been investigated so far. The aim of the present study therefore was to explore the relationship between nature relatedness and physical, psychological and social wellbeing and happiness. The study sample was composed of Austrian recreational horseback riders aged 45 years and older, who were compared with dog owners and people without pets (n = 178). We found significantly higher nature relatedness, significantly higher overall wellbeing and a significantly better mood rating in recreational horseback riders compared to people without pets and similar scores compared to dog owners. Physical wellbeing is correlated with overall nature relatedness in horseback riders and dog owners, but no correlation was found in people without pets. A structural equation model shows a direct relationship between nature relatedness and mood in horseback riders and an indirect relationship through pet attachment in dog owners. The results suggest the activity with horses and dogs in nature environments is a source of wellbeing, enjoyment, self-confidence and social contacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Schwarzmüller-Erber
- Department of General Practice and Family Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15/1, 1090 Vienna, Austria;
- Health Sciences, University of Applied Sciences FH Campus Wien, Favoritenstrasse 226, 1100 Vienna, Austria
- Correspondence:
| | - Harald Stummer
- Institute for Management & Economics in Health Care, UMIT, 6060 Hall i.T., Austria;
- Faculty of Business, University Seeburg Castle, Seeburgstraße 8, 5201 Seekirchen/Wallersee, Austria
| | - Manfred Maier
- Department of General Practice and Family Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15/1, 1090 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Michael Kundi
- Department of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15/1, 1090 Vienna, Austria;
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Escribano-Cabeza M. Fish and fishpond. An ecological reading of G.W. Leibniz's Monadology §§ 63-70. Hist Philos Life Sci 2020; 42:23. [PMID: 32519195 DOI: 10.1007/s40656-020-00319-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
One of Leibniz's most original ideas is his conception of the living individual as a hierarchical network of living beings whose relationships are essential to the proper functioning of its organic body. This idea is also valid to explain any existing order in nature that depends on the set of relationships of living beings that inhabit it. Both ideas are present in the conception of the natural world that Leibniz presents in his Monadology (§§ 63-70) through his idea of biological infinitism. According to this idea, nature consists of infinite theatres (some within others and some unfolding from others) where living beings unfold their vital functions. Through this idea Leibniz defines both the biological complexity of nature and the living individual, which is in turn a portion of nature that unfolds from an infinite set of inferior living beings. The thesis that I defend in this work is that this Leibnizian understanding of the living individual and the natural complexity that includes infinite hierarchical levels of individuality has a marked ecological sense, as we would say today. This Leibnizian metaphysics of individuality that we could call biological is also interesting in light of the recent studies in the philosophy of biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Escribano-Cabeza
- Department of Logic and Philosophy of Science, University of the Basque Country, San Sebastian-Donostia, 20018, Spain.
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Sharma S, Das J, Braje WM, Dash AK, Handa S. A Glimpse into Green Chemistry Practices in the Pharmaceutical Industry. ChemSusChem 2020; 13:2859-2875. [PMID: 32212245 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202000317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In this Minireview, the importance and implementation of green chemistry practices in the pharmaceutical industry are illustrated. With notable examples, some of the most important industrial organic transformations are discussed along with their applications in the synthesis of drug molecules. A brief comparison between traditional unsustainable methods and modern green methods is made to shed light on the economic and environmental benefits of greener methods. Finally, green chemistry practices in the pharmaceutical industries of India and China are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudripet Sharma
- Department of Chemistry, University of Louisville, 2320 S. Brook St., Louisville, KY, 40292, USA
| | - Jagattaran Das
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan, HP, India
- School of Pharmacy & Emerging Sciences, Baddi University of Emerging Sciences and Technologies, Baddi, HP, India
| | - Wilfried M Braje
- AbbVie (Deutschland) GmbH & Co. KG, Medicinal Chemistry, Neuroscience Discovery Research, Knollstrass, 67061, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Ashutosh K Dash
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan, HP, India
| | - Sachin Handa
- Department of Chemistry, University of Louisville, 2320 S. Brook St., Louisville, KY, 40292, USA
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Song MK, Bang KS, Kim S, Lee G, Jeong Y. Effects of an Urban Forest-Based Health Promotion Program on Children Living in Group Homes. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv 2020; 58:18-29. [PMID: 32286663 DOI: 10.3928/02793695-20200406-01] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Children living in foster care group homes are more likely to have physical, mental, and social health problems due to parental abuse, neglect, and family breakdown. The purpose of the current study was to develop and apply the urban forest-based health promotion program on children living in group homes in Korea to investigate its effects on perceived health, psychological health, and connectedness to nature. Eight children (mean age = 12.13 [SD = 1.25] years) from three group homes participated in the study. The intervention was conducted individually for each group home once per week for 8 weeks. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analyzed. Participants showed significant improvement in restoration. Six themes were identified that reflect participants' experience and the effectiveness of the urban forest-based health promotion program. This program may be considered a possible intervention to promote children's psychosocial health and connectedness to nature. Continuous efforts are needed to further examine the program's effectiveness. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 58(6), 18-29.].
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Casetta E. Making sense of nature conservation after the end of nature. Hist Philos Life Sci 2020; 42:18. [PMID: 32356016 DOI: 10.1007/s40656-020-00312-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The concept of nature in Western thought has been informed by the assumption of a categorical distinction between natural and artificial entities, which goes back to John Stuart Mill or even Aristotle. Such a way of articulating the natural/artificial distinction has proven unfit for conservation purposes mainly because of the extent and the pervasiveness of human activities that would leave no nature left to be conserved, and alternative views have been advanced. In this contribution, after arguing for the importance of the concept of naturalness as a guide for conservation, I will try to provide an account of the natural/artificial distinction suited to contemporary conservation framing. Focusing on a particular kind of objects that I suggest to name "environmental objects", I propose and defend the view of "naturalness as independence" according to which the more or less an environmental object's identity conditions and survival depend on human intervention, the more or less that object is artificial or natural, respectively. According to this view, conserving environmental objects will equate to maintaining or improving their naturalness (vis-à-vis their artefactualness) or even originating artificial objects that may become new natural objects. This view has the advantage, on the one hand, of providing a rationale for a distinction which is not only part of how people think, but also pervasive in conservation practices and policies and, on the other hand, of accounting for the global pervasiveness of human intervention in the so-called natural world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Casetta
- Department of Philosophy and Education, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
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박 승. 'Innate Nature' and 'Complete Nature': The Catholic Natural Family Planning Program and the Competition of Natural Methods in Mid-1970s Korea. Uisahak 2020; 29:81-120. [PMID: 32418977 PMCID: PMC10556349 DOI: 10.13081/kjmh.2020.29.81] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This article reviews the competition of two natural family planning methods in the mid-1970s when the Catholic Natural Family Planning program was underway in Korea. The Catholic Church, emphasizing the natural law, has recommended Natural Family Planning (NFP), a method of regulating childbirth by abstinence during the fertile period, since the mid-twentieth century. However, a group of gynecologists working at St. Mary's Hospital, a Catholic general hospital in Korea, questioned the utility of NFP. As an alternative, they proposed the method of Ovulation Regulation (OR), which regulates the menstrual cycle by inducing ovulation with steroids agents. This seemed to be no different than contraception with oral contraceptives disapproved of by the Catholic Church, but many doctors who advocated OR thought that this could be a new 'natural' family planning method to replace NFP. What is noteworthy here is the fact that not only NFP advocates, but also OR advocates attempted to justify their methods based on the authority of the 'nature.' In the debate over natural family planning methods, nature's legitimacy was given premise, not the object of doubt. Rather, the issue was the definition of nature. First, 'nature' in NFP signifies 'innate nature,' which excludes human intervention. According to this point of view, OR with steroids agents could not be natural. On the contrary, a group of doctors who advocated OR considered nature 'primal completeness.' If the natural order of the menstrual cycle could be restored, the artificial intervention of the administration of steroids was not a problem. Thus, both groups defended their arguments by redefining nature, rather than raising an issue of nature itself. The competition between 'innate nature' and 'complete nature,' a proxy war between NFP and OR, resulted in the victory of the former as the meaning of nature became fixed. Advocates of NFP pointed out that OR inhibits other physiological functions in the process of inducing ovulation, suggesting that the idea of 'complete nature' could never be achieved. The meaning of nature could no longer be controversial. Since the intervention was unnatural, nature meant innateness, the absence of intervention. Accordingly, the Catholic Bishops of Korea approved the Billings Method, a kind of the NFP, as the official family planning method, and gynecologists at St. Mary's Hospital of Korea also focused on the development and supplementation of the Billings Method. In short, the debate over the methods of natural family planning in mid1970s Korea was a clash of 'innate nature' and 'complete nature.' As a result, this confirmed the limitations of medical practice and reconfirmed the power of magisterium, the church's authority over medical practice.
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Wray A, Martin G, Ostermeier E, Medeiros A, Little M, Reilly K, Gilliland J. Physical activity and social connectedness interventions in outdoor spaces among children and youth: a rapid review. Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can 2020; 40:104-115. [PMID: 32270668 PMCID: PMC7197641 DOI: 10.24095/hpcdp.40.4.02] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The rise in sedentary behaviour, coupled with the decline in overall mental health among Canadian children and youth in recent decades, demonstrates a clear need for applied research that focusses on developing and evaluating cross-disciplinary interventions. Outdoor spaces provide opportunities for physical activity and social connectedness, making them an ideal setting to address these critical health concerns among children and youth. METHODS We conducted a rapid review of peer-reviewed (n = 3096) and grey literature (n = 7) to identify physical activity and/or social connectedness outdoor space interventions targeted at children and youth (19 years and under) in Australia and New Zealand, Canada, Europe and the United States. We determined if interventions were effective by analyzing their research design, confidence intervals and reported limitations, and then conducted a narrative synthesis of the effective interventions. RESULTS We found 104 unique studies, of which 70 (67%) were determined to be effective. Overall, 55 interventions targeted physical activity outcomes, 10 targeted social connectedness outcomes and 5 targeted both. Play (n = 47) and contact with nature (n = 25) were dominant themes across interventions, with most taking place in a school or park. We report on the identifying features, limitations and implications of these interventions. CONCLUSION The incorporation of natural and play-focussed elements into outdoor spaces may be effective ways to improve physical activity and social connectedness. There is a considerable need for more Canadian-specific research. Novel methods, such as incorporating smartphone technology into the design and evaluation of these interventions, warrant consideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Wray
- Human Environments Analysis Lab, Department of Geography, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gina Martin
- Human Environments Analysis Lab, Department of Geography, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Emma Ostermeier
- Human Environments Analysis Lab, Department of Geography, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alina Medeiros
- Human Environments Analysis Lab, Department of Geography, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Malcolm Little
- Human Environments Analysis Lab, Department of Geography, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kristen Reilly
- Human Environments Analysis Lab, Department of Geography, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jason Gilliland
- Human Environments Analysis Lab, Department of Geography, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
- School of Health Studies, Department of Paediatrics, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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45
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Raimi KT, Wolske KS, Hart PS, Campbell-Arvai V. The Aversion to Tampering with Nature (ATN) Scale: Individual Differences in (Dis)comfort with Altering the Natural World. Risk Anal 2020; 40:638-656. [PMID: 31613025 DOI: 10.1111/risa.13414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Revised: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
People differ in their comfort with tampering with the natural world. Although some see altering nature as a sign of human progress, others see it as dangerous or hubristic. Across four studies, we investigate discomfort with tampering with the natural world. To do so, we develop the Aversion to Tampering with Nature (ATN) Scale, a short scale that is the first to directly measure this discomfort. We identify six activities that people believe tamper with nature (geoengineering, genetically modified organisms, pesticides, cloning, gene therapy, and nanoparticles) and show that ATN scores are associated with opposition to these activities. Furthermore, the ATN Scale predicts actual behavior: donations to an anti-tampering cause. We demonstrate that ATN is related to previously identified constructs including trust in technology, naturalness bias, purity values, disgust sensitivity, aversion to playing God, and environmental beliefs and values. By illuminating who is concerned about tampering with nature and what predicts these beliefs, the ATN Scale provides opportunities to better understand public opposition to technological innovations, consumer preferences for "natural" products, and strategies for science communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin T Raimi
- University of Michigan, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kimberly S Wolske
- University of Chicago, Harris School of Public Policy, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - P Sol Hart
- University of Michigan, Communication and Media | Program in the Environment, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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46
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van Houwelingen-Snippe J, van Rompay TJL, de Jong MDT, Ben Allouch S. Does Digital Nature Enhance Social Aspirations? An Experimental Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17:ijerph17041454. [PMID: 32102456 PMCID: PMC7068908 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17041454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Loneliness and social isolation are increasingly recognized as important challenges of our times. Inspired by research hinting at beneficial effects of interacting with nature on social connectedness and opportunities provided by ambient technology to simulate nature in a rich and engaging manner, this study explored to what extent digital nature projections can stimulate social aspirations and related emotions. To this end, participants (N = 96) were asked to watch, individually or in pairs, digital nature projections consisting of animated scenes which were either dense or spacious and depicting either wild or tended nature. Subsequently, they filled out a questionnaire comprising measures for social aspirations, awe and fascination. Results show that spacious scenes elicited significantly higher social aspiration and awe scores, especially when watching alone. Design implications are discussed for making digital nature accessible for people with limited access to real nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josca van Houwelingen-Snippe
- Communication Science, University of Twente, De Zul 10, 7522 NJ Enschede, The Netherlands; (T.J.L.v.R.); (M.D.T.d.J.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +31-534891741
| | - Thomas J. L. van Rompay
- Communication Science, University of Twente, De Zul 10, 7522 NJ Enschede, The Netherlands; (T.J.L.v.R.); (M.D.T.d.J.)
| | - Menno D. T. de Jong
- Communication Science, University of Twente, De Zul 10, 7522 NJ Enschede, The Netherlands; (T.J.L.v.R.); (M.D.T.d.J.)
| | - Somaya Ben Allouch
- Digital Life Centre, University of Applied Sciences Amsterdam, Wibautstraat 2, 1091 GM Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
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47
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Hinsley S. Planetary Health Research Digest. Lancet Planet Health 2020; 4:e54-e55. [PMID: 32112747 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(20)30042-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
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48
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van Wyhe J. Johann Gaspar Spurzheim: The St. Paul of phrenology. J Hist Neurosci 2020; 29:5-16. [PMID: 31710573 DOI: 10.1080/0964704x.2019.1683430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Franz Joseph Gall's wayward discipline Johann Gaspar Spurzheim greatly modified Gall's original system and introduced it to the English-speaking world. Through an active program of itinerant lecturing, publishing and converting disciplines, Spurzheim made phrenology. He also developed a philosophy of following the laws of nature that was adopted and further promoted by his disciple, George Combe. Combe's book The Constitution of Man (1828) became one of the best-selling works of its genre in the nineteenth century. Thus Spurzheim, never particularly original, exercised an enormous influence on nineteenth-century culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- John van Wyhe
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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49
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Eling
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Stanley Finger
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, and Program in History of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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50
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Garcia D, Guard E, Thumann K. Building an Outdoor Urgent Care Clinic During a Pandemic: One Clinic's Experience. Fam Pract Manag 2020; 27:14-19. [PMID: 32929946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
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