Definition
As society changes so too does the environment around us. Urbanization has become a threat for natural environments. As our understanding of the benefits of nature engagement continues to evolve, it is important to understand what our relationship with nature looks like and how to foster it. With the looming challenge of urbanization it is time to consider alternatives to the outside nature that we are used to. Developments in digital nature and virtual reality may hold the key to helping individuals maintain a connection to nature.
Introduction
Spending time in the mountains, at the beach, or simply in an urban green space – experiencing the outdoors seems to receive growing popularity worldwide, most notably across Western societies. While personal motives for increased interest in being in nature often vary and are diverse, public discourses highlight...
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Alcock, I., White, M. P., Pahl, S., Duarte-Davidson, R., & Fleming, L. E. (2020). Associations between pro-environmental behaviour and neighbourhood nature, nature visit frequency and nature appreciation: Evidence from a nationally representative survey in England. Environment International, 136, 105441. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.105441.
Beatley, T. (2011). Biophilic cities: Integrating nature into Urban Design and Planning. Island Press/Center for Resource Economics.
Beatley, T., & Newman, P. (2013). Biophilic cities are sustainable, resilient cities. Sustainability, 5(8), 3328–3345.
Browning, M. H. E. M., Mimnaugh, K. J., van Riper, C. J., Laurent, H. K., & LaValle, S. M. (2020). Can simulated nature support mental health? Comparing short, single-doses of 360-degree nature videos in virtual reality with the outdoors [Original Research]. Frontiers in Psychology, 10(2667). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02667.
Callaghan, A., McCombe, G., Harrold, A., McMeel, C., Mills, G., Moore-Cherry, N., & Cullen, W. (2021). The impact of green spaces on mental health in urban settings: A scoping review. Journal of Mental Health, 30(2), 179–193. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2020.1755027.
Calogiuri, G., & Chroni, S. (2014). The impact of the natural environment on the promotion of active living: An integrative systematic review. BMC Public Health, 14, 873. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-873.
Calogiuri, G., Litleskare, S., Fagerheim, K. A., Rydgren, T. L., Brambilla, E., & Thurston, M. (2018). Experiencing nature through immersive virtual environments: Environmental perceptions, physical engagement, and affective responses during a simulated nature walk [Original Research]. Frontiers in Psychology, 8(2321). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02321.
Cartwright, B. D. S., White, M. P., & Clitherow, T. J. (2018). Nearby nature ‘Buffers’ the effect of low social connectedness on adult subjective wellbeing over the last 7 days. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15061238.
Dascal, J., Reid, M., Ishak, W. W., Spiegel, B., Recacho, J., Rosen, B., & Danovitch, I. (2017). Virtual reality and medical inpatients: A systematic review of randomized, controlled trials. Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience, 14(1–2), 14–21.
de Vries, S., Verheij, R. A., Groenewegen, P. P., & Spreeuwenberg, P. (2003). Natural environments – Healthy environments? An exploratory analysis of the relationship between greenspace and health. Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 35(10), 1717–1731. https://doi.org/10.1068/a35111.
Depledge, M. H., Stone, R. J., & Bird, W. J. (2011). Can natural and virtual environments be used to promote improved human health and wellbeing? Environmental Science & Technology, 45(11), 4660–4665. https://doi.org/10.1021/es103907m.
Díaz, S., Demissew, S., Carabias, J., Joly, C., Lonsdale, M., Ash, N., … Zlatanova, D. (2015). The IPBES conceptual framework – Connecting nature and people. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 14, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2014.11.002.
Diener, E., Suh, E. M., Lucas, R. E., & Smith, H. L. (1999). Subjective well-being: Three decades of progress. Psychological Bulletin, 125(2), 276–302. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.125.2.276.
Donnelly, A., & Macintyre, T. (2019). Physical activity in natural settings: Green and blue exercise. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315180144.
Dzhambov, A. M., Lercher, P., Browning, M., Stoyanov, D., Petrova, N., Novakov, S., & Dimitrova, D. D. (2021). Does greenery experienced indoors and outdoors provide an escape and support mental health during the COVID-19 quarantine? Environmental Research, 196, 110420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.110420.
Furman, E., Jasinevicius, T. R., Bissada, N. F., Victoroff, K. Z., Skillicorn, R., & Buchner, M. (2009). Virtual reality distraction for pain control during periodontal scaling and root planing procedures. J Am Dent Assoc, 140(12), 1508–1516. https://doi.org/10.14219/jada.archive.2009.0102.
Gorini, A., Pallavicini, F., Algeri, D., Repetto, C., Gaggioli, A., & Riva, G. (2010). Virtual reality in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorders. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 154, 39–43.
Hedblom, M., Gunnarsson, B., Iravani, B., Knez, I., Schaefer, M., Thorsson, P., & Lundström, J. N. (2019). Reduction of physiological stress by urban green space in a multisensory virtual experiment. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 10113. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-46099-7.
Iqbal, A., & Mansell, W. (2021). A thematic analysis of multiple pathways between nature engagement activities and well-being. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 580992. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.580992.
Larkin, A., Geddes, J. A., Martin, R. V., Xiao, Q., Liu, Y., Marshall, J. D., … Hystad, P. (2017). Global land use regression model for nitrogen dioxide air pollution. Environmental Science & Technology, 51(12), 6957–6964. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b01148.
Larson, J. M. (1993). Exploring reconciliation. Mediation Quarterly, 11(1), 95–106. https://doi.org/10.1002/crq.3900110110.
Larson, L. R., Szczytko, R., Bowers, E. P., Stephens, L. E., Stevenson, K. T., & Floyd, M. F. (2019). Outdoor time, screen time, and connection to nature: Troubling trends among rural youth?. Environment and Behavior, 51(8), 966–991.
Levi, D., & Kocher, S. (1999). Virtual nature:The future effects of information technology on our relationship to nature. Environment and Behavior, 31(2), 203–226. https://doi.org/10.1177/00139169921972065.
Litleskare, S., MacIntyre, T. E., & Calogiuri, G. (2020). Enable, reconnect and augment: A new ERA of virtual nature research and application. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051738.
Maas, J., Verheij, R. A., Groenewegen, P. P., de Vries, S., & Spreeuwenberg, P. (2006). Green space, urbanity, and health: How strong is the relation? Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 60(7), 587–592. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2005.043125.
Mackay, C. M. L., & Schmitt, M. T. (2019). Do people who feel connected to nature do more to protect it? A meta-analysis. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 65, 101323. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2019.101323.
Marselle, M. R., Lindley, S. J., Cook, P. A., & Bonn, A. (2021). Biodiversity and health in the urban environment. Current Environmental Health Reports, 8(2), 146–156. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-021-00313-9.
Mayer, F. S., Frantz, C. M., Bruehlman-Senecal, E., & Dolliver, K. (2009). Why is nature beneficial?: The role of connectedness to nature. Environment and Behavior, 41(5), 607–643. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916508319745.
Mitchell, R., & Popham, F. (2007). Greenspace, urbanity and health: Relationships in England. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 61(8), 681. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2006.053553.
Mosso, J. L., Gorini, A., De La Cerda, G., Obrador, T., Almazan, A., Mosso, D., … Riva, G. (2009). Virtual reality on mobile phones to reduce anxiety in outpatient surgery. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 142, 195–200.
Mullaney, J., Lucke, T., & Trueman, S. J. (2015). A review of benefits and challenges in growing street trees in paved urban environments. Landscape and Urban Planning, 134, 157–166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2014.10.013.
Nisbet, E. K., & Zelenski, J. M. (2011). Underestimating nearby nature: Affective forecasting errors obscure the happy path to sustainability. Psychological Science, 22(9), 1101–1106. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797611418527.
Nisbet, E. K., Zelenski, J. M., & Murphy, S. A. (2009). The nature relatedness scale: Linking individuals’ connection with nature to environmental concern and behavior. Environment and Behavior, 41(5), 715–740. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916508318748.
Passmore, H.-A., & Holder, M. D. (2017). Noticing nature: Individual and social benefits of a two-week intervention. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 12(6), 537–546. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2016.1221126.
Plante, T. G., Cage, C., Clements, S., & Stover, A. (2006). Psychological benefits of exercise paired with virtual reality: Outdoor exercise energizes whereas indoor virtual exercise relaxes. International Journal of Stress Management, 13(1), 108–117. https://doi.org/10.1037/1072-5245.13.1.108.
Pouso, S., Borja, Á., Fleming, L. E., Gómez-Baggethun, E., White, M. P., & Uyarra, M. C. (2021). Contact with blue-green spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown beneficial for mental health. Science of the Total Environment, 756, 143984. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143984.
Richardson, M., Passmore, H.-A., Lumber, R., Thomas, R., & Hunt, A. (2021). Moments, not minutes: The nature-wellbeing relationship. International Journal of Wellbeing, 11(1), 8–33. https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v11i1.1267.
Rogerson, R. J., & Giddings, B. (2020). The future of the city centre: Urbanisation, transformation and resilience – A tale of two Newcastle cities. Urban Studies, 58(10), 1967–1982. https://doi.org/10.1177/0042098020936498.
Ryff, C. D., & Keyes, C. L. M. (1995). The structure of psychological well-being revisited. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69(4), 719–727. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.69.4.719.
Scates, D., Dickinson, J. I., Sullivan, K., Cline, H., & Balaraman, R. (2020). Using nature-inspired virtual reality as a distraction to reduce stress and pain among cancer patients. Environment and Behavior, 52(8), 895–918. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916520916259.
Sturm, R., & Cohen, D. (2014). Proximity to urban parks and mental health. The Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics, 17(1), 19–24.
Tanja-Dijkstra, K., Pahl, S., White, M. P., Auvray, M., Stone, R. J., Andrade, J., … Moles, D. R. (2018). The Soothing Sea: A virtual coastal walk can reduce experienced and recollected pain. Environment and Behavior, 50(6), 599–625. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916517710077.
Ulrich, R. S., Simons, R. F., Losito, B. D., Fiorito, E., Miles, M. A., & Zelson, M. (1991). Stress recovery during exposure to natural and urban environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 11(3), 201–230. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-4944(05)80184-7.
White, M. P., Yeo, N. L., Vassiljev, P., Lundstedt, R., Wallergård, M., Albin, M., & Lõhmus, M. (2018). A prescription for “nature” – The potential of using virtual nature in therapeutics. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 14, 3001–3013. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S179038.
WHO. (2017). Urban green spaces: A brief for action. Copenhagen: Regional Office for Europe.
Wilson, E. O. (1984). Biophilia. Harvard University Press.
Wood, L., Hooper, P., Foster, S., & Bull, F. (2017). Public green spaces and positive mental health – investigating the relationship between access, quantity and types of parks and mental wellbeing. Health & Place, 48, 63–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2017.09.002.
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55(1), 68–78. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.68
Ward Thompson, C. (2011). Linking landscape and health: The recurring theme. Landscape and Urban Planning, 99(3–4), 187–195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2010.10.006
Acknowledgments
This project (GoGreenRoutes; www.gogreenroutes.eu) has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 869764
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Murphy, C., MacCarthy, D., Petersen, E. (2022). Emerging Concepts Exploring the Role of Nature for Health and Well-Being. In: Brears, R.C. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Urban and Regional Futures. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87745-3_250
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87745-3_250
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-87744-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-87745-3
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences