Humans and Nature: How Knowing and Experiencing Nature Affect Well-Being

TLDR

Ecosystems supply essential material resources for human well‑being, yet the cultural and intangible connections to nature—though increasingly quantified—require greater focus. The study aims to synthesize multidisciplinary research on how intangible, cultural connections to nature influence human well‑being, to inform decisions that benefit people and ecosystems. The authors categorize nature connections by the channels—knowing, perceiving, interacting, living—and by the well‑being domains they influence, such as physical, mental, spiritual health, inspiration, and identity. The review reveals wide methodological heterogeneity, robust evidence for mental and physical health benefits, limited evidence for other domains, and overall concludes that knowing and experiencing nature enhances happiness and health.

Abstract

Ecosystems provide many of the material building blocks for human well-being. Although quantification and appreciation of such contributions have rapidly grown, our dependence upon cultural connections to nature deserves more attention. We synthesize multidisciplinary peer-reviewed research on contributions of nature or ecosystems to human well-being mediated through nontangible connections (such as culture). We characterize these connections on the basis of the channels through which such connections arise (i.e., knowing, perceiving, interacting with, and living within) and the components of human well-being they affect (e.g., physical, mental and spiritual health, inspiration, identity). We found enormous variation in the methods used, quantity of research, and generalizability of the literature. The effects of nature on mental and physical health have been rigorously demonstrated, whereas other effects (e.g., on learning) are theorized but seldom demonstrated. The balance of evidence indicates conclusively that knowing and experiencing nature makes us generally happier, healthier people. More fully characterizing our intangible connections with nature will help shape decisions that benefit people and the ecosystems on which we depend.