Wondering Awe Is the Mediator of the Link Between Experience of Nature and Psychological Wellbeing—Relevance for Public Health

Arndt Büssing (), Julia Wilhelm and Daniela Rodrigues Recchia
Additional contact information
Arndt Büssing: Professorship Quality of Life, Spirituality and Coping, Department of Health, University of Witten/Herdecke, 58313 Herdecke, Germany
Julia Wilhelm: Professorship Quality of Life, Spirituality and Coping, Department of Health, University of Witten/Herdecke, 58313 Herdecke, Germany
Daniela Rodrigues Recchia: Professorship Quality of Life, Spirituality and Coping, Department of Health, University of Witten/Herdecke, 58313 Herdecke, Germany

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 11, 1-14

Abstract: Background: Access to green spaces is crucial for public health. For psychological health, the ability to pause in fascination or wondering awe (as an indicator of mindful resonance with nature) appears particularly relevant. However, it remains unclear whether non-interventional experience of nature is directly related to wellbeing or requires a mediator. Methods: A cross-sectional anonymous survey was conducted among 491 participants (74% women; mean age 51 ± 13 years) with standardized instruments (NR-6, ENS, GrAw-7, GQ-6, WHO-5). Results: Experience of Nature (r = 0.56) and Nature-Relatedness (r = 0.55) are strongly associated with Awe/Gratitude, while only Awe/Gratitude is moderately related to Wellbeing (r = 0.42). Mediator analyses revealed that the relationship between Experience of Nature and Wellbeing is significantly mediated by Awe/Gratitude (β = 2.28, p < 0.001). This highlights the central role of this resource through which nature experiences promote wellbeing. Regression analyses confirmed Awe/Gratitude as the best predictor of Wellbeing, followed by Gratitude disposition, and sporting outside (R 2 = 0.25). Conclusions: Merely being in nature does not substantially affect well-being. Rather, mindful perception of nature as a space where modern public health practices, such as mindful walking, are particularly effective, is essential. From a public health and urban planning perspective, accessible, quiet, and aesthetically engaging green spaces that attract and fascinate people should be prioritized to foster such restorative experiences.

Keywords: experience of nature; nature-relatedness; wellbeing; gratitude; wondering awe; availability of green spaces; sporting activities; hiking and trolling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/11/1679/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/11/1679/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:11:p:1679-:d:1788046

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().