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How does nature exposure make people healthier?: Evidence for the role of impulsivity and expanded space perception

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  • Meredith A Repke
  • Meredith S Berry
  • Lucian G Conway III
  • Alexander Metcalf
  • Reid M Hensen
  • Conor Phelan

Abstract

Nature exposure has been linked to a plethora of health benefits, but the mechanism for this effect is not well understood. We conducted two studies to test a new model linking the health benefits of nature exposure to reduced impulsivity in decision-making (as measured by delay discounting) via psychologically expanding space perception. In study 1 we collected a nationwide U.S. sample (n = 609) to determine whether nature exposure was predictive of health outcomes and whether impulsive decision-making mediated the effect. Results indicated that Nature Accessibility and Nature Exposure From Home significantly predicted reduced scores on the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales (DASS) (p

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  • Meredith A Repke & Meredith S Berry & Lucian G Conway III & Alexander Metcalf & Reid M Hensen & Conor Phelan, 2018. "How does nature exposure make people healthier?: Evidence for the role of impulsivity and expanded space perception," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(8), pages 1-20, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0202246
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202246
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    1. Meredith S Berry & Mary M Sweeney & Justice Morath & Amy L Odum & Kerry E Jordan, 2014. "The Nature of Impulsivity: Visual Exposure to Natural Environments Decreases Impulsive Decision-Making in a Delay Discounting Task," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(5), pages 1-7, May.
    2. de Vries, Sjerp & van Dillen, Sonja M.E. & Groenewegen, Peter P. & Spreeuwenberg, Peter, 2013. "Streetscape greenery and health: Stress, social cohesion and physical activity as mediators," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 26-33.
    3. Rudd, Melanie & Vohs, Kathleen D. & Aaker, Jennifer, 2012. "Awe Expands People's Perception of Time, Alters Decision Making, and Enhances Well-Being," Research Papers 2095, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business.
    4. Christopher Chabris & David Laibson & Carrie Morris & Jonathon Schuldt & Dmitry Taubinsky, 2008. "Individual laboratory-measured discount rates predict field behavior," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 37(2), pages 237-269, December.
    5. Kuo, F.E. & Faber Taylor, A., 2004. "A potential natural treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Evidence from a national study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 94(9), pages 1580-1586.
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    1. Andreea Orîndaru & Mihaela Constantinescu & Claudia-Elena Țuclea & Ștefan-Claudiu Căescu & Margareta Stela Florescu & Ionel Dumitru, 2020. "Rurbanization—Making the City Greener: Young Citizen Implication and Future Actions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-20, September.
    2. Larissa Samaan & Leonie Klock & Sandra Weber & Mirjam Reidick & Leonie Ascone & Simone Kühn, 2024. "Low-Level Visual Features of Window Views Contribute to Perceived Naturalness and Mental Health Outcomes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(5), pages 1-35, May.
    3. Migle Baceviciene & Rasa Jankauskiene, 2022. "The Mediating Effect of Nature Restorativeness, Stress Level, and Nature Connectedness in the Association between Nature Exposure and Quality of Life," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-15, February.
    4. Linda Powers Tomasso & Jie Yin & Jose Guillermo Cedeño Laurent & Jarvis T. Chen & Paul J. Catalano & John D. Spengler, 2021. "The Relationship between Nature Deprivation and Individual Wellbeing across Urban Gradients under COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-20, February.
    5. Lisette Ibanez & Sébastien Roussel, 2022. "The impact of nature video exposure on pro-environmental behavior: An experimental investigation," Post-Print hal-03847453, HAL.
    6. Thivya Laxshmy Raman & Nor Akmar Abdul Aziz & Sam Shor Nahar Yaakob, 2021. "The Effects of Different Natural Environment Influences on Health and Psychological Well-Being of People: A Case Study in Selangor," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-14, August.
    7. Yating Song & Xuefei Lin, 2022. "The Effects of Exercise and Social Interaction in Different Natural Environments on the Mental Health of Urban Residents," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-15, October.
    8. Shahar Almog & Nichole M. Scaglione & JeeWon Cheong & Jillian M. Rung & Andrea Vásquez Ferreiro & Meredith S. Berry, 2022. "Spending Time in Nature Serves as a Protective Factor against Problematic Alcohol Use: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-14, October.
    9. Migle Baceviciene & Rasa Jankauskiene & Viren Swami, 2021. "Nature Exposure and Positive Body Image: A Cross–Sectional Study Examining the Mediating Roles of Physical Activity, Autonomous Motivation, Connectedness to Nature, and Perceived Restorativeness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-16, November.
    10. Angelo Panno & Annalisa Theodorou & Giuseppe Alessio Carbone & Evelina De Longis & Chiara Massullo & Gianluca Cepale & Giuseppe Carrus & Claudio Imperatori & Giovanni Sanesi, 2021. "Go Greener, Less Risk: Access to Nature Is Associated with Lower Risk Taking in Different Domains during the COVID-19 Lockdown," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-17, September.
    11. Argyro Anna Kanelli & Margarita Kokkinaki & Marios-Dimitrios Sinvare & Chrisovalantis Malesios & Panayiotis G. Dimitrakopoulos & Olga-Ioanna Kalantzi, 2023. "Keep Calm and Go Out: Urban Nature Exposure, Mental Health, and Perceived Value during the COVID-19 Lockdown," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-20, May.
    12. Sandra Wajchman-Świtalska & Alina Zajadacz & Marcin Woźniak & Roman Jaszczak & Cezary Beker, 2022. "Recreational Evaluation of Forests in Urban Environments: Methodological and Practical Aspects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-20, November.
    13. Hansen Li & Xing Zhang & Shilin Bi & Haowei Liu & Yang Cao & Guodong Zhang, 2021. "Green Exercise: Can Nature Video Benefit Isometric Exercise?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-12, May.
    14. Hansen Li & Haowei Liu & Zongqian Yang & Shilin Bi & Yang Cao & Guodong Zhang, 2020. "The Effects of Green and Urban Walking in Different Time Frames on Physio-Psychological Responses of Middle-Aged and Older People in Chengdu, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-18, December.

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