Study Space Nature Contact in Academic Burnout and Well-being in University Students

Academic stress can harm university students’ health. This study explored whether nature contact in primary study spaces relates to well-being. Among 250 Australian students (Mage = 33.4), nature contact was negatively associated with stress, negative affect, and burnout, and positively with life satisfaction and positive affect. Mediation analyses showed nature contact linked burnout dimensions (exhaustion, efficacy) to well-being but not cynicism. Findings suggest study-space nature exposure supports reduced stress and improved well-being, aiding academic success.