Getting outdoors for ordinary beauty: Exposure to nature promotes meaning in life through enhanced savoring

Abstract

Savoring is the capacity to experience pleasure in everyday life and is a crucial determinant of happiness. However, few studies have explored the effects of nature, a restorative environment, on savoring. Based on attention restoration theory, this study investigated whether exposure to nature is a positive antecedent to savoring and the downstream consequences of perceived meaningfulness across four studies (N = 798). Study 1 identified a positive association between the frequency of nature exposure and savoring beliefs. Study 2 established a causal link between exposure to nature and savoring behaviors(food enjoyment). In Study 3, a field experiment demonstrated that recreation in the outdoor natural environment increases meaning in life through an enhanced tendency to savor. Finally, Study 4 experimentally manipulated savoring to confirm its causal relationship with the meaning in life. In conclusion, our findings suggest that exposure to nature fosters a greater appreciation for life and enhances the sense of living a meaningful life.

Management implications

Current research indicates that exposure to nature enhances the perceived meaning in life through improved savoring. This finding carries significant implications for both tourism management and mental health interventions. Firstly, in planning natural scenic areas, it is advisable to incorporate more experiential activities, such as handicraft workshops and food tastings, allowing tourists to enjoy the comfort provided by nature while cultivating a deeper appreciation for the beauty of life. Secondly, the future development of nature healing programs that integrate nature experiences with savoring interventions could assist individuals in recognizing meaningfulness, thereby addressing mental health issues. Furthermore, given that digital nature can also offer benefits, incorporating more natural elements into the design of hotels or restaurants may enhance the savoring beliefs of consumers and tourists, encouraging them to make more positive evaluations of their experiences.