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: Lavelle Sachs, Ashby, Masó-Aguado, Montse, Bach, Albert, Opacin, Nerkez, Hill, Nicholas, Cattaneo, Lucie, Coll Planas, Laura, Johnson, Katherine, Hidalgo, Laura, Daher, Carolyn, Litt, Jill, Bekessy, Sarah
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2024
País:España
Institución:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositorio:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:10230/68812
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10230/68812
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2024.102969
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Biodiversity
Environmental health
Environmental psychology
Loneliness
Mental health
Nature dose
Nature-based intervention
Social prescribin
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.•This tool captures the nature dose to reduce loneliness and promote quality of life.•Constructs range from park quality and access, to mood, to biodiversity perceptions.•The standardized nature dose tool will help design nature-based social interventions.