RESEARCH

Rationale, Feasibility, and Acceptability of the Meeting in Nature Together (MINT) Program: A Novel Nature-Based Social Intervention for Loneliness Reduction with Teen Parents and Their Peers

Feedback from the students showed that 100% of those who completed the feedback survey (n=12) reported feeling closer to nature after participating in MINT. The average attendance rate across all sessions in the fall of 2020 was 83%, indicating a high level of engagement.

Program Types: Social

Population Groups: Children/Youth, Mental Health Challenges/Trauma

Setting or Context: Schools/Educational Settings, Hospitals/Clinics, Public/Botanical Gardens, Natural Areas/Parks/Forest

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Enhanced Emotional Well-being, Increased Sense of Belonging (Reduced Isolation), Improved Stress Management, Increased Social Engagement & Skills, Increased Self-Efficacy

Allied Profession Intersections: Social Work, Counselling, Education

Type of Activity: Nature-Based Arts & Crafts, Environmental Education, Forest/Natural Area Immersion, Mindfulness/Visualizations, AI/Digital Tools in Therapeutic Horticulture

Evidence Type: Peer-Reviewed Studies, Observational Research, Qualitative Research, Quantitative Research

Measurement and Evaluation: Metrics for Mental Health, Patient-Reported Outcomes, Standardized Assessment Tools, Program Effectiveness

Access: Free

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Summary

This study looked at a program called Meeting in Nature Together (MINT) to see if it could help reduce feelings of loneliness in pregnant and parenting teenagers, as well as some of their friends, at a charter school in Colorado. Because young parents are often more isolated, the researchers wanted to try a new approach that involved being in nature and connecting with others. The MINT program was an 8-week elective course that happened during the school day in the fall of 2020 (online) and spring of 2021 (a mix of online and in-person park walks). About 17 students aged 14 to 19 participated across both semesters. The program included things like discussions, nature walks, mindfulness exercises, journaling, and taking nature photos. The researchers wanted to know if this type of program was doable and if the students liked it.

To figure this out, the researchers collected different types of information. They looked at how often students attended the sessions and if they completed the program. They also asked the students to fill out questionnaires about their loneliness levels before and after the program and to give feedback about what they thought of MINT. Additionally, the researchers recorded and transcribed the online sessions and wrote down their own notes after each session to capture what happened and how the students seemed to be responding. They then looked at all this information to see if the program seemed to work and what aspects the students found helpful.

Link

Sachs, A.L., Coringrato, E., Sprague, N. et al. (2022). Rationale, feasibility, and acceptability of the meeting in nature together (MINT) program: A novel nature-based social intervention for loneliness reduction with teen parents and their peers. Int J Environ Res Public Health., 19(17), 1105

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