Nature Prescriptions and Mental Health

A new meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Public Health has assessed how effective nature-based social prescriptions (NBSPs) are in improving mental health outcomes. NBSPs involve structured exposure to nature, such as gardening, outdoor group activities, or green exercise, as a complementary or alternative therapy to traditional mental health treatments. While these approaches have grown in popularity, their effectiveness had not been thoroughly examined. To address this, researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, selecting relevant studies from eight major databases including PubMed, Scopus, and PsychINFO. They included studies that evaluated the impact of NBSPs on mental health and calculated effect sizes using a random effects model.

The analysis found that many nature-based interventions significantly improved mental health outcomes. These included programs focused on social belonging, communication training, nature-based education, yoga and meditation, cognitive behavioral group therapy, and green space exposure. In contrast, some conventional and digital interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), digital therapy, and music interventions, did not show significant effects. Results suggest that experiences in natural environments offer unique psychological benefits not seen with more traditional or isolated forms of mental health treatment.

The study is grounded in theories like biophilia, which suggests humans have an innate connection to nature, and attention restoration theory, which explains how natural settings help the brain recover from mental fatigue. These findings support the growing role of nature-based therapies in mental healthcare, especially as part of lifestyle-based approaches to preventing and managing mental health disorders.