A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Nature-Based Mindfulness: Effects of Moving Mindfulness Training into an Outdoor Natural Setting

Dorthe Djernis, Inger Lerstrup, Dorthe Poulsen, Ulrika Stigsdotter, Jesper Dahlgaard and Mia O’Toole
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Dorthe Djernis: Department of Geoscience and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, C 1958 Frederiksberg, Denmark
Inger Lerstrup: Department of Landscape Architecture and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 230 53 Alnarp, Sweden
Dorthe Poulsen: Department of Geoscience and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, C 1958 Frederiksberg, Denmark
Ulrika Stigsdotter: Department of Geoscience and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, C 1958 Frederiksberg, Denmark
Jesper Dahlgaard: Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, N 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
Mia O’Toole: Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Aarhus University, C 8000 Aarhus, Denmark

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 17, 1-19

Abstract: Research has proven that both mindfulness training and exposure to nature have positive health effects. The purpose of this study was to systematically review quantitative studies of mindfulness interventions conducted in nature (nature-based mindfulness), and to analyze the effects through meta-analyses. Electronic searches revealed a total of 25 studies to be included, examining 2990 participants. Three analyses were conducted: Nature-based mindfulness interventions evaluated as open trials (k = 13), nature-based mindfulness compared with groups in non-active control conditions (k = 5), and nature-based mindfulness compared with similar interventions but without contact with nature (k = 7). The overall combined psychological, physiological, and interpersonal effects from pre- to post-intervention were statistically significant and of medium size ( g = 0.54, p < 0.001). Moderation analyses showed that natural environments characterized as forests/wild nature obtained larger numerical effects than environments characterized as gardens/parks, as did informal mindfulness compared with formal mindfulness. The small number of studies included, as well as the heterogeneity and generally low quality of the studies, must be taken into consideration when the results are interpreted. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42017065639.

Keywords: nature contact; mindfulness; meditation; nature-based therapy; intervention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

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