Personal dispositions explain differences in physical health benefits of nature exposure: the role of restorativeness and affect

Claudia Russo; Luciano Romano; Giuseppina Spano; Annalisa Theodorou; Giuseppe Carrus; Stefano Mastandrea; Cinzia Angelini; Giovanni Sanesi; Angelo Panno

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1365512

Personal dispositions explain differences in physical health benefits of nature exposure: the role of restorativeness and affect

Front Psychol. 2024 Mar 11:15:1365512. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1365512. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Claudia Russo¹, Luciano Romano¹, Giuseppina Spano², Annalisa Theodorou³, Giuseppe Carrus³, Stefano Mastandrea³, Cinzia Angelini³, Giovanni Sanesi⁴, Angelo Panno¹

Affiliations

¹ Experimental and Applied Psychology Laboratory, Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
² Department of Education, Psychology, Communication Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
³ Department of Education, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy.
⁴ Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.

Abstract

Introduction: Urbanization processes are constantly increasing, and most of the European population currently live in urban areas. Nevertheless, evidence is consistent in highlighting the positive association between nature exposure and human wellbeing, although individual differences might affect this association.

Methods: The present study aimed to investigate the association among nature connectedness, conceptualized as Love and Care for Nature, place identity, and physical wellbeing, via restorativeness and positive and negative affect. A total of 312 visitors of an urban green area (i.e., Milan's Parco Nord) participated in the study. They completed an anonymous questionnaire.

Results: Findings showed that nature connectedness and place identity positively affect physical wellbeing, via restorativeness and positive affect, but not through the negative ones.

Discussion: Results highlight the importance of the joint role of exposure to nature and individual differences in promoting wellbeing. This study offers implications for interventions aimed at enhancing individuals' health through exposure to nature. Limitations of the study and future research developments are discussed.

Keywords: love and care for nature; nature connectedness; physical wellbeing; place identity; positive and negative affect.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was carried out under the project “Establishing Urban FORest based solutions In Changing Cities” (EUFORICC) and financially supported by the Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) of Italy (PRIN 20173RRN2S).