Cumulative Frequency of Nature Dose: How Continuous and Regular Forest Walking Improves Nature Relatedness, Restorativeness, and Learning Engagement in College Students

Wan-Yu Chou and Shih-Han Hung
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Wan-Yu Chou: Graduate Institute of Landscape Architecture and Recreation Management, National Pingtung University of Science & Technology, Pingtung 912301, Taiwan
Shih-Han Hung: Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106032, Taiwan

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 20, 1-12

Abstract: Forest is a natural resource that provides natural walking as a popular leisure activity for urban residents. From the perspective of “dose of nature”, continuous contact with natural environments and engagement in natural activities can gradually promote positive health benefits. This study aims to explore the “cumulative frequency of nature dose” through regular forest walking. Ten college students were recruited to walk once a week for 30 min in the campus forest. Eight weeks of forest walking experiences were collected by administering questionnaires on nature relatedness, mental health, restorativeness, and learning engagement before the first walk, as well as after the fourth and the eighth walks. The findings of this study revealed that regular forest activities can induce accumulated natural benefits. By taking at least 30 min of forest walks once a week continuously for eight weeks, the subjects improved their mental health, increased learning engagement in school, gained more attention recovery and reflection experiences, and re-established a relationship with nature. In addition, different doses of natural benefits were observed for different cumulative processes.

Keywords: college student; cumulative frequency; exposure to nature; forest walking; human-nature experience; natural benefits; nature dose; nature relatedness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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