Nature Wellness Stations: effects of a nature therapy intervention on perceived mood in college students

The mental health of U.S. college students is increasingly affected by high levels of stress, resulting in soaring rates of anxiety and depressive disorders. Spending time in nature has well-documented benefits for mental health. In the first citizen science project of its kind, we installed five Nature Wellness Stations in green spaces across the University of California, Irvine campus, to promote mindful engagement with nature and to evaluate its immediate effects on mental health, including perceived stress levels and mood. Each station exhibited a signpost with information on the benefits of being mindful in nature and simple instructions for a brief nature therapy practice. Participants were encouraged to disconnect from devices, observe and interact with their surroundings, and voluntarily complete a brief survey assessing their emotional state before and after their nature therapy practice. A total of 275 responses, primarily from students, were collected within 16 months of station installation. We found that 84% of participants who visited a station for the first time reported a positive perceived emotional state afterward, compared to 21% before station use (McNemar’s χ 2 = 124.84, p < 0.001). Voluntary responses to open-ended questions highlighted stress reduction and a calmer disposition after the nature wellness experience. Logistic regression analysis of the survey data did not identify specific physical, sensory, or mindful interaction modes with the natural surroundings that had a significantly higher impact than others. Overall, our cost-effective, scalable intervention suggests that incorporating nature therapy into campus green spaces could support the mental health and well-being of college students.