Group Nature-Based Mindfulness Interventions: Nature-Based Mindfulness Training for College Students with Anxiety

Luke A. Vitagliano (), Kelly L. Wester, Connie T. Jones, David L. Wyrick and Amber L. Vermeesch
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Luke A. Vitagliano: Department of Counseling and Educational Development, University of North Carolina Greensboro, 1400 Spring Garden Street, Greensboro, NC 27412, USA
Kelly L. Wester: Department of Counseling and Educational Development, University of North Carolina Greensboro, 1400 Spring Garden Street, Greensboro, NC 27412, USA
Connie T. Jones: Department of Counseling and Educational Development, University of North Carolina Greensboro, 1400 Spring Garden Street, Greensboro, NC 27412, USA
David L. Wyrick: Department of Public Health Education, University of North Carolina Greensboro, 1400 Spring Garden Street, Greensboro, NC 27412, USA
Amber L. Vermeesch: Department of Family and Community Nursing, School of Nursing, University of North Carolina Greensboro, 1007 Walker Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27402, USA

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 2, 1-18

Abstract: The mental health crisis across college campuses is accelerating, with anxiety listed as the top mental health issue for undergraduate college students. Although evidence suggests the COVID-19 pandemic escalated the mental health crisis on college campuses, pre-COVID-19 anxiety among college students was on the rise. Research supports Mindfulness Based Interventions (MBIs) to reduce anxiety among college students. Additionally, exposure to natural environments, which are accessible to students on college campuses, is effective in reducing anxiety. While brief nature-based mindfulness interventions appear effective in reducing anxiety among college students, these interventions are often offered in isolation without social interaction among group members and lack intentional integration of mindfulness and nature-related theories. The purpose of this work is to describe a framework for integrating the use of Mindfulness and Attention Restoration Theory (ART) in an innovative psychoeducational group intervention, Nature-Based Mindfulness Training © (NBMT), for college students with anxiety. In conclusion, we argue for the need to intentionally integrate mindfulness and nature into nature-based mindfulness interventions as an effective and sustainable means to reduce anxiety. Limitations and areas for future research are described.

Keywords: anxiety; college students; COVID-19; mental health; mindfulness; nature; attention restoration theory (ART); Nature-Based Mindfulness Training © (NBMT) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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