Why does nature enhance psychological well-being?A Self-Determination account

IF 7 1区心理学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Journal of Environmental Psychology Pub Date : 2022-10-01 DOI:10.1016/j.jenvp.2022.101872

Ying Yang , Huajian Cai , Ziyan Yang , Xiaochong Zhao , Mei Li , Rui Han , Sylvia Xiaohua Chen

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引用次数: 7

Abstract

This research proposes a novel account for the established benefits of nature on psychological well-being from the perspective of Self-Determination Theory. That is, nature enhances psychological well-being by satisfying the basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence and relatedness. Compared with non-nature control settings, two field experiments consistently showed that participants who were exposed to nature scenes manifested higher levels of positive affect, life satisfaction and meaning in life; and satisfaction of the three psychological needs mediated these nature effects. Three laboratory studies replicated these findings by exposing participants to digital nature scenes (vs. non-nature ones) or indoor plants (vs. control setting without indoor plants) or engaging them in nature-related activities (vs. non-nature related ones), with the exception of a non-significant effect of nature on satisfaction of relatedness. Taken together, these studies provided convergent evidence for our proposition, shedding light on the mechanisms underlying the benefits of nature on psychological well-being.

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为什么大自然能增强心理健康?自决账户

本研究从自我决定理论的角度对自然对心理健康的既定益处提出了一种新的解释。也就是说，大自然通过满足自主性、能力和亲缘性等基本心理需求来增强心理幸福感。与非自然控制环境相比，两个现场实验一致表明，接触自然场景的参与者表现出更高的积极情绪、生活满意度和生活意义;三种心理需求的满足介导了这些自然效应。三个实验室研究通过将参与者暴露在数字自然场景(与非自然场景相比)或室内植物(与没有室内植物的对照设置相比)或让他们参与与自然相关的活动(与非自然相关的活动相比)来复制这些发现，但自然对相关性满意度的影响并不显著。综合起来，这些研究为我们的命题提供了趋同的证据，揭示了自然对心理健康有益的潜在机制。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Environmental Psychology Multiple-

CiteScore

10.60

自引率

8.70%

发文量

140

审稿时长

62 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Environmental Psychology is the premier journal in the field, serving individuals in a wide range of disciplines who have an interest in the scientific study of the transactions and interrelationships between people and their surroundings (including built, social, natural and virtual environments, the use and abuse of nature and natural resources, and sustainability-related behavior). The journal publishes internationally contributed empirical studies and reviews of research on these topics that advance new insights. As an important forum for the field, the journal publishes some of the most influential papers in the discipline that reflect the scientific development of environmental psychology. Contributions on theoretical, methodological, and practical aspects of all human-environment interactions are welcome, along with innovative or interdisciplinary approaches that have a psychological emphasis. Research areas include: •Psychological and behavioral aspects of people and nature •Cognitive mapping, spatial cognition and wayfinding •Ecological consequences of human actions •Theories of place, place attachment, and place identity •Environmental risks and hazards: perception, behavior, and management •Perception and evaluation of buildings and natural landscapes •Effects of physical and natural settings on human cognition and health •Theories of proenvironmental behavior, norms, attitudes, and personality •Psychology of sustainability and climate change •Psychological aspects of resource management and crises •Social use of space: crowding, privacy, territoriality, personal space •Design of, and experiences related to, the physical aspects of workplaces, schools, residences, public buildings and public space