The Physical Activity Environment, Nature-Relatedness and Wellbeing

Josh Furjes-Crawshaw, Ihirangi Heke, Tim Jowett and Nancy J. Rehrer ()
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Josh Furjes-Crawshaw: School of Physical Education Sport & Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
Ihirangi Heke: Waikato Tainui, 279 School Rd. Te Arai, Auckland 0974, New Zealand
Tim Jowett: Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
Nancy J. Rehrer: School of Physical Education Sport & Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 2, 1-16

Abstract: This study explored the relationship between the physical activity (PA) environment, nature affinity and wellbeing. An online survey was used incorporating the Nature-Relatedness Scale (NR-6), EQ-5D health questionnaire, WHO-5 wellbeing questionnaire and International Physical Activity Questionnaire—Short Form (IPAQ-SF), with additional questions on PA environment and connection to place ( n = 179). Statistical analyses were conducted using generalised linear mixed effects and quantile regression. PA in nature was correlated with wellbeing, with each additional bout of PA in nature associated with an increase in EQ-5D score of 3.13 and an increase in WHO-5 score of 5.62, ( p = 0.0058, η p 2 = 0.074; p < 0.0001, η p 2 = 0.089, resp. (medium effect sizes)). PA indoors was also positively associated with physical and psychological wellbeing ( p = 0.0192, η p 2 ₌ 0.018; p = 0.0009, η p 2 = 0.03, resp. (small effect sizes)), but PA in nature had a greater effect than PA indoors on both physical ( p = 0.008) and psychological wellbeing ( p = 0.001). There was a significant interaction between nature-relatedness and PA in nature on wellbeing ( p = 0.0002), indicating a difference in the association between nature-relatedness and both physical and psychological wellbeing, i.e., there was a greater effect of PA in nature on wellbeing in those with greater nature-relatedness. Nature-relatedness was also associated with physical activity in nature ( p ≤ 0.0001).

Keywords: environment; exercise; green space; health; nature-relatedness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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