IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i5p4280-d1082860.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Understanding Connections between Nature and Stress among Conservation-Engaged Adolescents Using Photovoice Methodology

Author

Listed:
  • Kim Hartley

    (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA)

  • Jonelle Prideaux

    (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA)

  • Lisa M. Vaughn

    (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
    Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, 3230 Eden Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA)

Abstract

While the literature supports positive associations between nature and adolescent mental health, mechanisms are not well understood, and assessment of nature varies widely among existing studies. To partner with the most insightful informants, we enrolled eight adolescent participants from a conservation-informed summer volunteer program, applying qualitative photovoice methodology to understand their use of nature to relieve stress. Across five group sessions, participants identified four themes: (1) Nature shows us different aspects of beauty; (2) nature helps us relieve stressful experiences by balancing our senses; (3) nature gives us space to find solutions; and (4) we want to find time to enjoy nature. At the conclusion of the project, youth participants reported that the research experience was overwhelmingly positive, enlightening, and inspired appreciation of nature. We found that, while our participants unanimously reported that nature relieved their stress, prior to this project, they were not always intentional in seeking time in nature for this purpose. Through the photovoice process, these participants noted the usefulness of nature for stress relief. We conclude with recommendations for leveraging nature to decrease adolescent stress. Our findings are relevant for families, educators, students, healthcare professionals, and anyone who works with or cares for adolescents.

Suggested Citation

  • Kim Hartley & Jonelle Prideaux & Lisa M. Vaughn, 2023. "Understanding Connections between Nature and Stress among Conservation-Engaged Adolescents Using Photovoice Methodology," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-12, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:4280-:d:1082860
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/5/4280/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/5/4280/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gert-Jan Vanaken & Marina Danckaerts, 2018. "Impact of Green Space Exposure on Children’s and Adolescents’ Mental Health: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-17, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. William L. Rice & Sarah Y. Michels & Miranda Foster & Jon Graham & Peter Whitney & Jennifer M. Thomsen, 2023. "Exploring the Impacts of Protected Areas’ Attributes on Pediatric Health: The Case for Additional Research beyond Greenspace," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-19, August.
    2. Kirsten McEwan & Vanessa Potter & Yasuhiro Kotera & Jessica Eve Jackson & Sarah Greaves, 2022. "‘This Is What the Colour Green Smells Like!’: Urban Forest Bathing Improved Adolescent Nature Connection and Wellbeing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-12, November.
    3. Phi-Yen Nguyen & Thomas Astell-Burt & Hania Rahimi-Ardabili & Xiaoqi Feng, 2021. "Green Space Quality and Health: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-38, October.
    4. Megan Rowley & Raluca Topciu & Matthew Owens, 2022. "A Systematic Review of Mechanisms Underpinning Psychological Change Following Nature Exposure in an Adolescent Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-22, October.
    5. Amber L. Pearson & Catherine D. Brown & Aaron Reuben & Natalie Nicholls & Karin A. Pfeiffer & Kimberly A. Clevenger, 2023. "Elementary Classroom Views of Nature Are Associated with Lower Child Externalizing Behavior Problems," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(9), pages 1-14, April.
    6. Adrian Buttazzoni & Leia Minaker, 2023. "Associations between adolescent mental health and pedestrian- and transit-oriented urban design qualities: Evidence from a national-level online Canadian survey," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 60(10), pages 1968-1986, August.
    7. Ahmed Tarek Zaky Fouad & Danielle Sinnett & Isabelle Bray & Rachael McClatchey & Rebecca Reece, 2023. "Measures of Greenspace Exposure and Their Association to Health-Related Outcomes for the Periods before and during the 2020 Lockdown: A Cross-Sectional Study in the West of England," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-18, March.
    8. Hania Rahimi-Ardabili & Thomas Astell-Burt & Phi-Yen Nguyen & Juan Zhang & Yu Jiang & Guang-Hui Dong & Xiaoqi Feng, 2021. "Green Space and Health in Mainland China: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-22, September.
    9. Yijun Zhang & Suzanne Mavoa & Jinfeng Zhao & Deborah Raphael & Melody Smith, 2020. "The Association between Green Space and Adolescents’ Mental Well-Being: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-26, September.
    10. Martine Shareck & Eliana Aubé & Stephanie Sersli, 2023. "Neighborhood Physical and Social Environments and Social Inequalities in Health in Older Adolescents and Young Adults: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(8), pages 1-20, April.
    11. Asier Anabitarte & Gonzalo García-Baquero & Ainara Andiarena & Nerea Lertxundi & Nerea Urbieta & Izaro Babarro & Jesús Ibarluzea & Aitana Lertxundi, 2021. "Is Brief Exposure to Green Space in School the Best Option to Improve Attention in Children?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-13, July.
    12. Yukako Tani & Takeo Fujiwara & Genichi Sugihara & Masamichi Hanazato & Norimichi Suzuki & Masaki Machida & Shiho Amagasa & Hiroshi Murayama & Shigeru Inoue & Yugo Shobugawa, 2022. "Neighborhood Beauty and the Brain in Older Japanese Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-10, December.
    13. Melissa VanSickle & Christopher Coutts, 2022. "Considerations for Children’s Nature Connection and Park Environmental Justice in Western Societies," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-12, August.
    14. Ao Wang & Ziran Meng & Bing Zhao & Fan Zhang, 2024. "Using Social Media Data to Research the Impact of Campus Green Spaces on Students’ Emotions: A Case Study of Nanjing Campuses," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-16, January.
    15. Yunlong Niu & Mastura Adam & Hazreena Hussein, 2022. "Connecting Urban Green Spaces with Children: A Scientometric Analysis Using CiteSpace," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-23, August.
    16. Yunjin Wang & Cheryl Desha & Savindi Caldera & Tanja Beer, 2024. "Roles of Urban Green Spaces for Children in High-Density Metropolitan Areas during Pandemics: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-24, January.
    17. Lee, Eun Kyung & Donley, Gwendolyn & Ciesielski, Timothy H. & Freedman, Darcy A. & Cole, Megan B., 2023. "Spatial availability of federally qualified health centers and disparities in health services utilization in medically underserved areas," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 328(C).
    18. Zhengkai Zhang & Hanjiang Zhang & Huan Yang & Bingzhi Zhong, 2023. "Home Greenery: Alleviating Anxiety during Lockdowns with Varied Landscape Preferences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-14, October.
    19. Katharina Stahlmann & Emily Mena & Ronny Kuhnert & André Conrad & Gabriele Bolte, 2022. "Social Inequalities in the Association between Social Infrastructure and Mental Health: An Observational Cross-Sectional Analysis of Children and Adolescents in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-18, June.
    20. Zheng Xian & Tomoki Nakaya & Kun Liu & Bing Zhao & Junhua Zhang & Jiao Zhang & Yuxuan Lin & Jinguang Zhang, 2024. "The effects of neighbourhood green spaces on mental health of disadvantaged groups: a systematic review," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-19, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:4280-:d:1082860. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.