RESEARCH
Exploring the Benefits of Nature-Based Interventions in Socio-Economically Deprived Communities: A Narrative Review of the Evidence to Date
Summary
This review looked at the benefits of nature-based activities for people living in low-income communities. The researchers examined 18 studies that tested different outdoor programs like community gardening, farming, exercise classes in parks, and nature walks. They found that these activities had several positive effects. For example, gardening programs helped people grow and eat more vegetables. Farm training improved people’s diets and children’s growth. Outdoor building projects reduced anxiety and depression for some participants. Exercise programs in parks increased how often people visited nature areas and how physically active they were.
The review showed that nature-based activities can improve physical and mental health, provide economic benefits like growing food, and help people connect more with their communities and the environment. However, the benefits weren’t the same for everyone. Factors like age, gender, ethnicity, how much people participated, and whether they felt safe in outdoor spaces affected how helpful the programs were. The researchers say more studies are needed to better understand which specific parts of these nature programs are most effective for different groups of people.
