Unknown Psychology & Behaviour NIHR-supported project Mental Health

Exploring mechanisms of nature-based programmes for wellbeing

Funder NIHR (part of DHSC)
Recipient organisation NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre
NIHR support Recorded as supported by this research centre
Period Mar 2025 — Ongoing

In plain English

AI plain-English summary

A daily 20-minute walk in a park or greenspace may improve mood in young people, and researchers are now testing exactly why that happens. The problem is straightforward: many studies show that nature-based activities boost mental health, but few have rigorously tested the underlying mechanisms—such as reduced stress, increased nature connectedness, or improved attention. Without knowing *how* nature works, it is difficult to design programmes that reliably help people. This project fills that gap by running two studies. In the first, 40 young people aged 14–25 (half not attending school or college) will complete daily mood and mechanism questionnaires for three weeks, with a daily 20-minute nature activity in week two. In the second, visitors to Oxford gardens and parks will fill out surveys before and after their visit, while wearing activity monitors and air-quality sensors. If the research succeeds, it will identify which mechanisms—such as perceived stress or nature connectedness—actually drive wellbeing improvements. That evidence would allow future nature-based programmes to be targeted and optimised, rather than relying on vague assumptions. The immediate impact is on mental health interventions for young people, but the findings could also inform how public parks, green prescribing schemes, and school outdoor programmes are designed.

View original technical description
Nature-based interventions can improve mental health and wellbeing in young people and community populations. Potential mechanisms of these effects have been identified, but research testing mechanisms using rigorous methodology is lacking. Study 1 is an exploratory case series study using a mixed methods approach. 40 young people aged 14-25 (20 from a community sample and 20 who are not attending school/college) will be asked to fill in brief questionnaires of their mood and proposed mechanisms (e.g. perceived stress, nature connectedness) daily over 3-week period. In week 2, they will be asked to engage in a daily 20-minute nature-based activity (e.g. a walk in greenspace). After the 3 weeks, they will be interviewed about their experience of the study. Study 2 is a single-session prospective survey study with passive monitoring. Members of the public visiting gardens and parks in Oxford will be asked to fill in questionaires about their mood, wellbeing, and proposed mechanisms, both at the start and end of their visit. During their visit they will be asked to use passive activity and environmental monitoring (e.g. actiwatch, air quality). In both studies we will examine how potential mechanisms are associated with outcome and whether they have a mediating role. By building evidence for key mechanisms of nature-based programmes we can develop and optimise targeted interventions in the future.

Researchers

Lalitha Lyadurai (Principal Investigator)

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Original classification

Flourishing & Wellbeing

Plain English summaries and category classifications on this site are generated by AI and may not perfectly reflect the original research.