Nature-Based Therapy: Exploring the Processes That Foster Change

A growing body of research has demonstrated the positive impact of nature-based interventions on cognition, affect, and overall well-being. However, important questions remain regarding the processes through which nature therapy exerts its effects. Participants (n = 188) were recruited and randomly assigned to one of four experimental conditions (nature therapy, nature only, mindfulness only, and control condition). While exposure to nature alone, mindfulness alone, and the combination of the two significantly decreased negative mood, only the combination of nature and mindfulness significantly improved positive mood. The present findings highlight the unique impact that nature-based interventions that also incorporate mindfulness techniques have on positive mood. These findings are consistent with research that demonstrates that positive mood enhancement is clinically meaningful.