Perceived naturalness and wellbeing: Differential benefits for marginalized and privileged groups

This quasi-experimental study investigated whether increased perceived naturalness of walking environments lead to immediate psychological wellbeing improvements, guided by a theory suggesting greater proportional benefits for marginalized groups (Mitchell & Popham, 2008). We focused on differential benefits for individuals of low socioeconomic status (SES) and people of color (POC). A sample of 475 undergraduates at a Midwestern U.S. university completed two self-directed 45-minute walks (self-rated on a 7-point scale of naturalness). Psychological wellbeing was measured pre- and post- walk using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS). Bayesian counterfactual simulations were used to estimate post-walk wellbeing across the naturalness levels with moderation by SES (Pell Grant recipient, low social class, first-generation students) and race/ethnicity. Walks perceived as highly natural (levels 6 or 7) were associated with meaningfully higher post-walk wellbeing compared to more built walks (levels 1–5). Evidence of moderation by sociodemographic variables was mixed. At low perceived naturalness (levels 1–3), Pell Grant recipients (indicating low SES and eligibility for federal funding to attend college or university) had meaningfully lower post-walk wellbeing compared to non-recipients. This gap narrowed as perceived walk naturalness increased and became non-meaningful at level 4, consistent with an equigenic pattern. No meaningful moderation was observed for the other measures of SES. For race/ethnicity, results were not consistent with equigenesis as, at the highest level of perceived naturalness, gains potentially widened disparities, with non-POC deriving meaningfully greater wellbeing benefits than POC. The findings indicate that higher perceived naturalness is associated with higher psychological wellbeing. While more natural spaces demonstrate potential to reduce certain SES disparities, the mixed results underscore that benefits are not universally equitable. This suggests that while naturalness should be prioritized, practitioners should consider inclusion, safety, and cultural relevance to promote gains across marginalized groups.