Developing a new tool to capture the nature dose to reduce loneliness and improve quality of life

Recognition of the health benefits of nature contact has increased. Simultaneously, growing numbers of people worldwide experience loneliness. There is a movement towards prescribing nature-based activities to improve/promote social connections, health, and quality of life. Yet, what constitutes a t...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Sachs, Ashby Lavelle|||0000-0001-6237-9587, Maso-Aguado, Montse|||0000-0001-6049-459X, Bach Pages, Albert|||0000-0002-9824-9765, Opacin, Nerkez|||0000-0002-8684-1550, Hill, Nicholas|||0000-0002-6998-0559, Cattaneo, Lucie, Coll-Planas, Laura|||0000-0001-5204-8717, Johnson, Katherine|||0000-0001-7092-4426, Hidalgo, Laura, Daher, Carolyn|||0000-0002-8753-5010, Litt, Jill|||0000-0001-8593-5400, Bekessy, Sarah|||0000-0002-0503-1979
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2024
País:España
Institución:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:307777
Acceso en línea:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/307777
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1016/j.mex.2024.102969
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Nature-based intervention
Social prescribing
Loneliness
Nature dose
Mental health
Biodiversity
Environmental health Environmental psychology
Descripción
Sumario:Recognition of the health benefits of nature contact has increased. Simultaneously, growing numbers of people worldwide experience loneliness. There is a movement towards prescribing nature-based activities to improve/promote social connections, health, and quality of life. Yet, what constitutes a therapeutic nature dose is not well understood, due in part, to the lack of instruments that capture the characteristics of nature-based activities and measure 'nature dose.' We created a nature dose measurement tool to fill this gap by capturing various aspects of contact with nature and perceptions regarding park access, quality, naturalness, psychological distance to nature, and biodiversity. This tool will facilitate greater understanding of how natural areas, nature-based activities, and nature exposure reduce loneliness and promote health-related quality of life. Measuring nature dose with standardized tools and documenting benefits will generate the evidence base needed to design, implement and evaluate nature-based social interventions for improving health and quality of life.