A recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports has explored the impact of short nature videos on the mental health of adolescents. The research reveals that exposure to these nature videos led to improved stress levels, mood, relaxation, nature connection, and nature spirituality in the participants. This study highlights the potential of nature-based interventions (NBIs) as accessible tools to prevent mental health issues, which are a growing concern among today’s youth.
Mental Health Challenges and the Role of NBIs
Mental health disorders have become increasingly common and burdensome, with an estimated annual cost of over £118 billion in the United Kingdom. Depression and anxiety are the most prevalent mental health issues, with depression often recurring throughout an individual’s life.
Adolescence, a period of significant cognitive, physiological, emotional, and social changes, poses a higher risk of stress and emotional distress due to these transitions. Research indicates that around 50% of all mental health disorders emerge during adolescence, and this number increases to 75% by age 24. Consequently, scientists emphasize the age range of 12-24 as a critical window for preventing and intervening in depression.
Traditional clinical interventions often focus on treating patients after the onset of symptoms. However, this approach is less effective, and many patients lack access to it. Additionally, less than half of the patients prescribed antidepressants benefit from this form of treatment.
Given the escalating global mental health crisis, further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a pressing need for easily accessible interventions to prevent and treat depression.
Study Overview
The study examined NBIs as a potential alternative therapy for reducing stress and mental fatigue and enhancing emotional and cognitive well-being. Although the mechanisms underlying NBIs are not fully understood, there is a theoretical framework suggesting that humans have an innate inclination, termed “biophilia,” toward nature. Recent research has explored the relationship between nature connections and “nature spirituality” as factors that discourage depressive rumination by providing meaning and purpose in life, thus improving mental health.
NBIs encompass a variety of nature-based activities, including forest bathing (Shinrin Yoku), mindfulness, meditation, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). To ensure accessibility, this study used brief six-minute videos to assess the mental health outcomes of nature exposure compared to an urban control setting.
The study recruited 75 participants aged 18-25 through social media, university bulletins, and word of mouth. After baseline assessments, participants were randomly divided into two groups: nature video or urban video. The nature group viewed a six-minute woodland point-of-view video featuring natural scenes, water sounds, and birdsong, while the control group watched an urban video depicting a London underground train with crowded commuters and noisy public announcements.
Researchers assessed outcomes using various measures, including the Short Warwickshire Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS) for long-term well-being, the International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Short Form (I-PANAS-SF) for mood assessment, the Brief State Rumination Index (BSRI) for participant focus, and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for perceived stress levels. To evaluate the long-term impact, participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4), which measures psychological stress over the preceding month. Nature connection was assessed using the Nature Connection Index (NCI), while nature spirituality was evaluated using a combination of items from the Ecospirituality Scale and bespoke items on the VAS scale.
Key Findings
Results indicated that stress levels significantly improved in the nature group compared to the control group, and this improvement persisted over time. Relaxation levels also increased immediately after nature video exposure, whereas no significant change was observed in the control group after urban video exposure. Additionally, the nature group experienced significant mood improvements immediately after the experiment.
However, there was no statistically significant difference in depression rumination between the two groups. This outcome may be attributed to the study’s small sample size or suggest that virtual nature exposure may not be as effective as real-world nature interventions, which have shown positive effects on rumination.
Attention significantly improved in the nature group relative to the control group, demonstrating the beneficial impact of nature videos on cognitive function.
Although the nature connection did increase in the nature group and decreased in the control group, these differences were not statistically significant. Nature spirituality scores improved in the nature group but remained unchanged in the urban group.
Conclusions
The study found that brief exposure to a six-minute woodland walk video had an immediate positive impact on attention, mood, and relaxation, as well as a long-term reduction in perceived stress. It also led to improvements in nature connection and spirituality among the participants exposed to the nature video, acting as a protective factor against negative outcomes.
Importantly, these nature videos can be easily shared and screened digitally, making them accessible to individuals who may not otherwise have access to nature. This study underscores the potential of nature-based interventions in promoting mental well-being and preventing mental health issues in adolescents.
