British psychologists from the University of Southampton studied the impact of the natural environment on human mental health and discovered new positive effects of spending time in the wild on mental health. The study was published in the scientific journal broadcasting Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (JPSP).
The team placed particular emphasis on authenticity, the feeling of expressing one’s true self. In addition to being aware of your feelings, beliefs and desires, it also includes acting in accordance with your own values and needs, honesty and sincerity.
The scientists conducted a series of 12 studies in the format of online surveys and practical exercises. Participants in the experiments answered questions about their attitudes towards nature and their worldview, and also described their feelings about being in an urban environment, in parks and outside the city.
Psychologists have found that the connection between nature and self-awareness in humans is mediated by several mechanisms. Being out of town increases self-esteem and awareness, while also increasing confidence in one’s abilities and reducing symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression.
The researchers emphasized that this relationship was consistent across demographic groups such as age, gender and socioeconomic status.
Psychologists before named It’s the best time to admire nature.