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Spending Time in Nature Serves as a Protective Factor against Problematic Alcohol Use: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

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  • Shahar Almog

    (Department of Health Education and Behavior, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA)

  • Nichole M. Scaglione

    (Department of Health Education and Behavior, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA)

  • JeeWon Cheong

    (Department of Health Education and Behavior, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA)

  • Jillian M. Rung

    (Department of Health Education and Behavior, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA)

  • Andrea Vásquez Ferreiro

    (Department of Health Education and Behavior, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA)

  • Meredith S. Berry

    (Department of Health Education and Behavior, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
    Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA)

Abstract

Alcohol use in the U.S. continues to be a prevalent behavior with the potential for far-reaching personal and public health consequences. Risk factors for problematic drinking include negative affect and impulsive decision-making. Research suggests exposure to nature reduces negative affect, increases positive affect, and reduces impulsive choice. The purpose of the current study was to explore the relationships between exposure to nature (actively going out to nature and the level of greenness around the participant’s daily life), affect, impulsive decision-making, and alcohol use, using structural equation modeling. Cross-sectional data ( N = 340) collected online on Amazon MTurk were used to test the hypothesized relationships separately for alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems. Actively spending time in nature was associated with lower negative affect and higher positive affect, while passive exposure to nature was only associated with higher positive affect. In turn, negative affect was positively related to both alcohol measures, while positive affect was related to increased alcohol consumption, but not alcohol-related problems. Impulsive decision-making was not related to nature or alcohol measures. Findings suggest that intentionally spending time in nature may protect against problematic alcohol use by reducing negative affect. These results warrant further research on nature as an adjunct treatment for reducing alcohol and substance-related harms and carry implications for public education and increasing accessibility to natural spaces.

Suggested Citation

  • Shahar Almog & Nichole M. Scaglione & JeeWon Cheong & Jillian M. Rung & Andrea Vásquez Ferreiro & Meredith S. Berry, 2022. "Spending Time in Nature Serves as a Protective Factor against Problematic Alcohol Use: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-14, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:20:p:13356-:d:943897
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Meredith A Repke & Meredith S Berry & Lucian G Conway III & Alexander Metcalf & Reid M Hensen & Conor Phelan, 2018. "How does nature exposure make people healthier?: Evidence for the role of impulsivity and expanded space perception," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(8), pages 1-20, August.
    2. Jeremy Mennis & Xiaojiang Li & Mahbubur Meenar & J. Douglas Coatsworth & Thomas P. McKeon & Michael J. Mason, 2021. "Residential Greenspace and Urban Adolescent Substance Use: Exploring Interactive Effects with Peer Network Health, Sex, and Executive Function," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-15, February.
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    1. Francisco Díaz-Martínez & Miguel F. Sánchez-Sauco & Laura T. Cabrera-Rivera & Carlos Ojeda Sánchez & Maria D. Hidalgo-Albadalejo & Luz Claudio & Juan A. Ortega-García, 2023. "Systematic Review: Neurodevelopmental Benefits of Active/Passive School Exposure to Green and/or Blue Spaces in Children and Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-29, February.

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