The role of nature in emotion regulation processes: An evidence-based rapid review
Vitale and Bonaiuto 2024 report the results of a literature review that synthesizes findings from 27 publications that describe the effects of nature-related experiences on emotion regulation and psychological well-being. The review examined research from various countries, including the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the US, Japan and Turkey,. Many studies focused on the effects of direct nature exposure, such as forest walks, therapeutic gardening, and urban park visits, while others examined indirect exposure through images, videos, or virtual-reality simulations. The main findings suggest that interactions with nature improve psychological wellbeing by promoting adaptive emotion regulation strategies such as mindfulness and cognitive reappraisal and decreasing rumination and worrying. These results provide further evidence for the benefits of therapeutic gardening and nature-based interventions for individuals struggling with mental health challenges.
The studies included in the review involved participants with a range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and high levels of stress, as well as populations at risk of social isolation.
The types of interventions varied across studies, with direct nature engagement, such as guided forest walks, urban park visits, and gardening, being the most effective for improving emotional regulation, including decreasing rumination and worry, and enhancing the use of adaptive emotion regulation strategies such as mindfulness and cognitive reappraisal. For example, a study performed in the USA showed that individuals who took a 90-minute walk in a park experienced reduced neural activity in brain regions associated with rumination, whereas those walking in an urban setting did not show the same effect. A German study linked access to green spaces with enhanced brain activity related to emotion regulation. Other studies tested the impact of virtual nature experiences and found that even simulated exposure could reduce stress and worry. While direct engagement with nature had the strongest effects, these findings highlight potential applications for individuals with limited mobility or access to outdoor environments.
Vitale and Bonaiuto 2024: The role of nature in emotion regulation processes: An evidence-based rapid review. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 96, 102325
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