The mechanisms of nature-based therapy on depression, anxiety, stress, and life satisfaction: examining mindfulness in a two-wave mediation model

Minjung Kang; Yeji Yang; Hyunjin Kim; Songhie Jung; Hye-Young Jin; Kee-Hong Choi

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1330207

The mechanisms of nature-based therapy on depression, anxiety, stress, and life satisfaction: examining mindfulness in a two-wave mediation model

Front Psychol. 2023 Dec 22:14:1330207. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1330207. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Minjung Kang^{1

2}, Yeji Yang^{1

2}, Hyunjin Kim^{1

2}, Songhie Jung³, Hye-Young Jin³, Kee-Hong Choi^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ School of Psychology, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
² KU Mind Health Institute, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
³ Gardens and Education Research Division, Korea National Arboretum, Pocheon, Republic of Korea.

Abstract

Background: Nature-based therapy (NBT), which centers around engaging in activities within natural surroundings, has consistently demonstrated therapeutic benefits for mental health. While NBT highlights the potential of nature as a therapeutic resource for promoting mental health, there is limited knowledge regarding its underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Two hundred seventy-six Korean participants (204 women, mean age = 54.99 ± 23.25 years) participated in a 30-session gardening program held twice weekly for 15 weeks. Structural equation modeling with a two-wave autoregressive cross-lagged model was used to investigate the mediating effects of mindfulness.

Results: NBT significantly improved the mean scores of all psychological variables. The mediation model was partially confirmed, with mindfulness at post-intervention (T2) mediating the relationship between baseline (T1) depression and anxiety and post-intervention (T2) life satisfaction. However, no significant indirect effect was observed between the path from stress (T1) to life satisfaction (T2).

Conclusion: Mindfulness is a crucial component for improving mental health outcomes. This study underscores the need to prioritize and emphasize mindfulness practices in NBT.

Keywords: anxiety; depression; life satisfaction; mindfulness; nature-based therapy; psychological mechanism; stress.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This project received support from the Korea National Arboretum R&D Project (KNA1-3-2, 21-5) in 2022 as well as the project “Research Service for Effects Verification of Gardening Program for the Socially Vulnerable.” This work was also supported by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF-2023S1A5C2A0709598711). The funding source was not involved in the study design; in the analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the article for publication.