Interactions with Nature, Good for the Mind and Body: A Narrative Review

Dahlia Stott, DeAndra Forde, Chetan Sharma, Jonathan M. Deutsch, Michael Bruneau, Jennifer A. Nasser, Mara Z. Vitolins and Brandy-Joe Milliron ()
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Dahlia Stott: Nutrition Sciences Department, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
DeAndra Forde: Nutrition Sciences Department, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Chetan Sharma: Department of Kinesiology, Health, Food & Nutritional Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, WI 54751, USA
Jonathan M. Deutsch: Department of Food and Hospitality Management, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Michael Bruneau: Health Sciences Department, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Jennifer A. Nasser: Nutrition Sciences Department, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Mara Z. Vitolins: Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
Brandy-Joe Milliron: Nutrition Sciences Department, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 3, 1-26

Abstract: Interacting with nature may promote mental and physical health. There are multiple ways to interact with nature: indirectly, incidentally, and intentionally. How these types of interactions with nature may be associated with mental and physical health status and health behaviors is unclear. The purpose of this narrative review is to (1) describe the relationship between interactions with nature (indirect, incidental, and intentional) and mental and physical health outcomes and behaviors, (2) identify gaps in the literature, and (3) provide recommendations for future research. Considerable evidence suggests that interacting with nature, indirectly and intentionally, is associated with improvements in mental health and physical exhibitions of mental status. Furthermore, intentionally interacting with nature is associated with engagement in physical activity and gardening is associated with fruit and vegetable consumption. Research suggests that incidentally interacting with nature may be associated with positive mental health status. More research is needed to understand the relationships between incidental interactions with nature and physical health status and behaviors; as well as among all types of interactions with nature and physical health disorders, sleep, and dietary behaviors.

Keywords: interaction with nature; green space; mental health; physical health; health behaviors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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