Department of Ecosystem Services, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany.
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Mar 19;16(6):986. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16060986.
Nature-based activities have been used as therapeutic interventions for those experiencing stress and mental ill health. This study investigates whether group walks could be a nature-based intervention to foster resilience, by buffering the effects of recent stressful life events on mental health. An observational research design with propensity score-matched samples compared the mental health of individuals who did (Nature Group Walkers, = 1081) or did not (Non-Group Walkers, = 435) attend nature group walks. A sub-sample of Frequent Nature Group Walkers (at least once per week, = 631) was also investigated. Data were analyzed using multiple regression with an interaction term. All analyses were controlled for age, gender, and recent physical activity. Results showed that neither nature group walking, nor doing this frequently, moderated the effects of stressful life events on mental health. Using a main effects model, the positive associations of group walks in nature were at a greater magnitude than the negative associations of stressful life events on depression, positive affect, and mental well-being, suggesting an 'undoing' effect of nature group walks. Group walking schemes in natural environments may be an important public health promotion intervention for mental health.
基于自然的活动已被用作缓解压力和心理健康问题的治疗干预措施。本研究调查了团体散步是否可以作为一种基于自然的干预措施,通过缓冲近期生活压力事件对心理健康的影响,从而培养韧性。采用倾向评分匹配样本的观察性研究设计,比较了参加(自然组散步者,n=1081)或不参加(非组散步者,n=435)自然组散步的个体的心理健康。还对经常参加自然组散步的(每周至少一次,n=631)进行了子样本调查。使用具有交互项的多元回归分析数据。所有分析均控制了年龄、性别和近期体育活动。结果表明,无论是参加团体散步,还是经常参加,都不能调节生活压力事件对心理健康的影响。使用主效应模型,自然团体散步的积极关联大于生活压力事件对抑郁、积极情绪和心理健康的消极关联,这表明自然团体散步具有“消除”的效果。在自然环境中开展团体散步计划可能是促进心理健康的一项重要公共卫生干预措施。