Database

The articles in the database below represent a curated selection from our NHA (full) members and Executive Committee. Rather than being a comprehensive database, like what you would find on a mainstream database, this is a limited and curated list of articles gathered by our member. To be included, these peer-reviewed articles and resources must meet specific criteria, ensuring a foundation of quality. Articles included cover a diverse array of study types—experiments, qualitative research, and meta-analyses—all exploring the intricate relationship between nature and well-being. Priority is accorded to works addressing DEIJ matters or fostering consensus on vital topics. If you would like to submit an article to be featured in the database, please email manager@naturehealthalliance.org

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Research Article

Different types of virtual natural environments enhance subjective vitality through restorativeness

Authors:Annalisa Theodorou, Luciano Romano, Gregory N. Bratman, Giuseppe A. Carbone, Roberta Rodelli, Gianluca Casagrande and Angelo Panno | | Journal of Environmental Psychology | Volume 87: 101981

The body of evidence supporting the psychological benefits of exposure to virtual nature, such as increased mood and decreased stress, is rapidly growing.

Research Article

Applying an ecosystem services framework on nature and mental health to recreational blue space visits across 18 countries

Authors:Joanne K. Garrett, Mathew P. White, Lewis R. Elliott, James Grellier, Simon Bell, Gregory N. Bratman, Theo Economou, Mireia Gascon, Mare Löhmus, Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, Ann Ojala, Anne Roiko, Matilda A. van den Bosch, Catharine Ward Thompson and Lora E. Fleming | | Scientific Reports | Scientific Reports: 2209

The effects of ‘nature’ on mental health and subjective well-being have yet to be consistently integrated into ecosystem service models and frameworks.

Research Article

Measuring affect and complex working memory in natural and urban environments

Authors:Emily E. Scott, Kaedyn W. Crabtree, Amy S. McDonnell, Sara LoTemplio, Glen D. McNay and David L. Strayer | | Frontiers in Psychology | Volume 14: 1039334

Research suggests that spending time in natural environments is associated with cognitive and affective benefits, while increased use of technology and time spent in urban environments are associated with depletion of cognitive resources and an increasing prevalence of mental illness.

Research Article

Daily exposure to virtual nature reduces symptoms of anxiety in college students

Authors:Matthew H.E.M. Browning, Seunguk Shin, Gabrielle Drong, Olivia McAnirlin, Ryan J. Gagnon, Shyam Ranganathan, Kailan Sindelar, David Hoptman, Gregory N. Bratman, Shuai Yuan, Vishnunarayan Girishan Prabhu and Wendy Heller | | Scientific Reports | Scientific Reports: 1239

Exposure to natural environments offers an array of mental health benefits. Virtual reality provides simulated experiences of being in nature when outdoor access is limited. Previous studies on virtual nature have focused mainly on single "doses" of virtual nature. The effects of repeated exposure remain poorly understood.

Research Brief

The Bayou Greenway Study: Living close to Urban Green Space improves your Health

The purpose of this study was to examine the health benefits of the Bayou Greenway trail system in Houston by tracking patterns and changes in hospital visits.

Research Article

Effects of trail and greenspace exposure on hospitalisations in a highly populated urban area: retrospective cohort study of the Houston Bayou Greenways program

Authors:Bridget Simon-Friedt, Alan P. Pan, Tariq Nisar, Sadeer Al-Kindi, Amanda Nunley, Lisa Graiff, Bita Kash, Jay E. Maddock and Khurram Nasir | | Local Environment: The International Journal of Justice and Sustainability | Volume 28, Issue 3 (2023): 365-378

Exposure to urban greenspaces has been linked to improved health outcomes for prevalent conditions. Studies have observed traditional block greenspaces, whereas linear trail systems could maximise health impacts by reaching greater population percentages.

Research Article

Mechanisms underlying childhood exposure to blue spaces and adult subjective well-being: An 18-country analysis

Authors:Valeria Vitale, Leanne Martin, Mathew P. White, Lewis R. Elliott, Kayleigh J. Wyles, Matthew H.E.M. Browning, Sabine Pahl, Patricia Stehl, Gregory N. Bratman, Simon Bell, Mireia Gascon, James Grellier, Maria L. Lima, Mare Löhmus, Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, Ann Ojala, Jane Taylor, Matilda A. van den Bosch, Netta Weinstein and Lora E. Fleming | | Journal of Environmental Psychology | Volume 84: 101876

Contact with natural environments is associated with good health and well-being.

Research Article

Development and Validation of an Attitude Toward Spending Time in Nature Scale

Authors:Jay E. Maddock, Courtney Suess, Gregory N. Bratman, Carissa Smock, Debra Kellstedt, Robbie Layton, Richard W. Christiana, Teresa Horton, Jeanette Gustat, Cynthia K. Perry and Andrew T Kaczynski | | Ecopsychology | Volume 14, Issue 3

Time spent in nature (TSN) is related to improved health and well-being; however, many adults spend little time in nature. Interventions based on health behavior theories may be effective at increasing TSN.

Research Brief

Measuring Attitudes Toward Spending Time in Nature: A Validated Measurement Tool

Spending time in nature is proven to be good for your health. Interventions based on health behavior theories may be effective at increasing time spent in nature only if we have a better understanding of attitudes towards this behavior.

Research Article

Nature and Health: Perspectives and Pathways

Authors:Gregory N. Bratman and Hector A. Olvera-Alvarez | | Ecopsychology | Volume 14, Issue 3: 133-136

Abstract unavailable

Research Article

COVID-19, green space exposure, and mask mandates

Authors:Diana Grigsby and Jong Cheol-Shin | | Science of the Total Environment | Volume 836, 25 August 2022, 155302

Mask-wearing and social distancing are critical prevention measures that have been implemented to stem the spread of COVID-19. The degree to which these measures are adhered to in the US, however, may be influenced by access to outdoor resources such as green space, as well as mask mandates that may vary by state.

Research Article

The relationship between natural environments and subjective well-being as measured by sentiment expressed on Twitter

Authors:Yian Lin, Spencer A. Wood and Joshua J. Lawler | | Landscape and Urban Planning | Volume 227: 104539

There is growing evidence that time spent in nature can affect well-being. Nonetheless, assessing this relationship can be difficult.

Research Article

Inequitable Changes to Time Spent in Urban Nature during COVID-19: A Case Study of Seattle, WA with Asian, Black, Latino, and White Residents

Authors:Audrayana Nay, Peter H. Kahn Jr., Joshua J. Lawler and Gregory N. Bratman | | Land | Volume 11, Issue 8: 1277

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted everyone in urban areas. Some of these impacts in the United States have negatively affected People of Color more than their White counterparts.

Research Article

Chronic deficiency of diversity and pluralism in research on nature's mental health effects: a planetary health problem

Authors:Carlos Andres Gallegos-Riofrío, Hassan Arab, Amaya Carrasco Torrontegui and Rachelle K. Gould | | Current Research in Environmental Sustainability | Volume 4

We explore two as-yet-unconnected trends: evidence of nature's effects on mental health/wellbeing, and acknowledgment that behavioral research is overwhelmingly informed by globally non-representative societies.

Research Article

The psychological impact of the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy: The moderating role of gender and emotion regulation

Authors:Angelo Panno, Annalisa Theodorou, Chiara Massullo, Gregory N. Bratman, Claudio Imperatori, Giuseppe A. Carbone and James J. Gross | | Health Care for Women International | Volume 44, Issue 7-8: 885-902

Many researchers suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic may have more negative effects on women than men.

Research Article

Stress recovery from virtual exposure to a brown (desert) environment versus a green environment

Authors:Jie Yin, Gregory N. Bratman, Matthew H.E.M. Browning, John Spengler and Hector A. Olvera-Alvarez | | Journal of Environmental Psychology | Volume 81

The beneficial association between nature contact and human health is often explained with psycho-evolutionary frameworks such as stress reduction theory and the savanna hypothesis. However, evidence is limited on how natural environments that are not green affect stress. One example is the desert, which does not offer affordances for nourishment or safety in an evolutionary sense.

Research Article

Development and validation of self-efficacy and intention measures for spending time in nature

Authors:Jay E. Maddock, Courtney Suess, Gregory N. Bratman, Carissa Smock, Debra Kellstedt, Jeanette Gustat, Cynthia K. Perry and Andrew T Kaczynski | | BMC Psychology | Volume 10, issue 1 (December 2022): 51

The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate the reliability and validity of self-efficacy and intentions measures for time spent in nature (TSN). TSN is related to improvement in psychological well-being and health, yet most American adults spend very little time in such settings.

Research Article

Designing an Impactful Sensory Garden for Children and Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Authors:Amy Wagenfeld, Marlene Sotelo and David Kamp | | Children, Youth and Environments | Volume 29, Number 1 (2019): 137–152

Interacting with nature is understood to improve physical, sensory, social, and emotional wellbeing. With a significant rise in diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, now more than ever it is important to provide these children and youth with carefully designed outdoor environments that meet their unique needs and increase the meaningfulness of their daily lives. This report describes the development and features of a newly installed sensory garden at The Els Center of Excellence in Florida.

Research Article

Association between residential greenness during childhood and trait emotional intelligence during young adulthood: A retrospective life course analysis in the United States

Authors:Matthew H.E.M. Browning, Dongying Li, Mathew P. White, Gregory N. Bratman, Douglas Becker and Jacob A. Benfield | | Health & Place | Volume 74, March 2022: 102755

Trait emotional intelligence reflects a set of self-perceptions and behavioral tendencies to empathize with others and manage one's own emotions. Trait emotional intelligence is a valuable characteristic since it can aid social interaction, bolster subjective wellbeing, and predict career success.

Research Article

What can we do when the smoke rolls in? An exploratory qualitative analysis of the impacts of rural wildfire smoke on mental health and wellbeing, and opportunities for adaptation

Authors:Anna Humphreys, Elizabeth G. Walker, Gregory N. Bratman and Nicole A. Errett | | BMC Public Health | Volume 22, Issue 1 (December 2022): 41

Extreme, prolonged wildfire smoke (WFS) events are becoming increasingly frequent phenomena across the Western United States. Rural communities, dependent on contributions of nature to people’s quality of life, are particularly hard hit.