Nature Exposure, Even as Little as 10 Minutes, is Likely to Yield Short-Term Benefits for Adults with Mental Illness: A Meta Analysis

Abstract

Existing research suggests that nature exposure positively affects mental health, but has not answered important questions about nature’s specific impact on adults with mental illness. Intentional exposure to nature could be a means for mental illness symptom relief. The present study was a meta-analysis to answer the question: what are the effects of nature exposure on the social, mental, and physical health of adults with mental illness? The present review included all studies relevant to the study research questions that collected quantitative data on nature exposure experiences using validated instruments for at least two time points on each participant and which were published between 1990 and 2020. Analyses showed significant, moderate effect sizes for all studies and smaller, but significant, effect sizes for studies with control groups regarding the impact of nature exposure on adults with mental illness. Analyses also yielded important information regarding the effect size of the type of nature dosage, nature setting, nature-based activity, type of mental illness, and other variables. Health care implications of the present study include the importance of prescribing nature exposure to adult populations. Nature exposure does not require the oversight of health care professionals, is accessible, and is affordable. Focusing on increasing humans’ exposure to nature has the potential to ease overstrained health care systems throughout the globe. Key Words: nature exposure—nature immersive experiences—mental illness—adult mental health