Natural environments and craving: The mediating role of negative affect

Leanne Martin; Sabine Pahl; Mathew P White; Jon May

doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.102160

Natural environments and craving: The mediating role of negative affect

Health Place. 2019 Jul:58:102160. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.102160. Epub 2019 Jun 28.

Authors

Leanne Martin¹, Sabine Pahl², Mathew P White³, Jon May⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Psychology, University of Plymouth, UK. Electronic address: leanne.martin@plymouth.ac.uk.
² School of Psychology, University of Plymouth, UK. Electronic address: sabine.pahl@plymouth.ac.uk.
³ European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, UK. Electronic address: mathew.white@exeter.ac.uk.
⁴ School of Psychology, University of Plymouth, UK. Electronic address: jon.may@plymouth.ac.uk.

PMID: 31260858
DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.102160

Abstract

This paper presents a novel investigation of a conceptual model, proposing that increased nature exposure may be associated with lower cravings, through reductions in negative affect. A cross-sectional online survey (N = 149) provided an initial exploration of the relationships between various aspects of nature exposure, craving and negative affect. Access to gardens/allotments and residential views incorporating more than 25% greenspace were both associated with reductions in the strength and frequency of cravings. These associations were mediated, to varying degrees, by reductions in negative affect. This novel link could have implications for public health and environmental protection programmes.

Keywords: Affect; Craving; Greenspace; Mood; Natural environments.

MeSH terms

Adult
Affect*
Aged
Craving*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Nature*
Surveys and Questionnaires