RESEARCH

The Effects of Contact With Nature During Outdoor Environmental Education on Students’ Wellbeing, Connectedness to Nature and Pro-sociality

In Study 1, the analysis revealed a significant interaction effect of group by time for psycho-physical wellbeing [F(318,1) = 16.7; p = 0.000]. Similarly, Study 2 also showed a significant interaction effect for psycho-physical wellbeing [F(319,1) = 24.428; p = 0.000].

Program Types: Therapeutic

Population Groups: Mental Health Challenges/Trauma, Students

Setting or Context: Schools/Educational Settings, Natural Areas/Parks/Forest

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

Allied Profession Intersections: Landscape Design, Education, Forest/Ecotherapy

Type of Activity: Medicinal Plants, Nature-Based Arts & Crafts, Environmental Education, Forest/Natural Area Immersion

Evidence Type: Peer-Reviewed Studies, Quantitative Research

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

Access: Free

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Summary

This research, presented across two studies, investigated the effects of an outdoor environmental education program on primary and lower secondary school students in Italy. The central aim was to determine if contact with nature during these programs could improve students’ psycho-physical wellbeing and pro-environmental attitudes, alongside other factors like connectedness to nature, pro-social behavior, empathy, life satisfaction, and anxiety (in Study 2). Both studies utilized a pre-post design with an intervention group participating in the outdoor program and a control group from the same schools not involved. The intervention consisted of four guided visits to natural protected areas, approximately one visit per month over the spring season. The program activities were designed by experts and teachers, incorporating diverse workshops like exploring medicinal herbs, psychomotor activities, biodiversity discovery, and expressing emotions through nature-based art. Participants in both groups completed questionnaires before and after the program to measure changes in the targeted psychological variables.

The findings across both studies indicated positive outcomes associated with participation in the outdoor program. Both studies showed a positive and significant effect of the program on students’ psycho-physical wellbeing in the intervention group compared to the control group. Study 1 also found a significant increase in connectedness to nature for the intervention group, while Study 2 observed a tendency toward statistical significance for an increase in pro-social behaviors. While connectedness to nature was significantly correlated with most other positive psychological variables (like pro-social behaviors and empathy) across both studies, the outdoor program itself did not show a direct significant impact on pro-environmental attitudes, empathy, student life satisfaction, or anxiety. The authors speculated that the limited intensity and duration of the intervention (four visits, each about 4 hours) might explain the lack of broader effects.

Link

Pirchio, S., Passiatore, Y., Panno, A. et al. (2021) The effects of contact with nature during outdoor environmental education on students’ wellbeing, connectedness to nature and pro- sociality. Frontiers in Psychology, 12

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