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Rationale, Feasibility, and Acceptability of the Meeting in Nature Together (MINT) Program: A Novel Nature-Based Social Intervention for Loneliness Reduction with Teen Parents and Their Peers

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  • Ashby Lavelle Sachs

    (Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
    Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona 08003, Spain)

  • Eva Coringrato

    (Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA)

  • Nadav Sprague

    (Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA)

  • Angela Turbyfill

    (Young Mother’s Clinic at the Children’s Hospital of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA)

  • Sarah Tillema

    (Young Mother’s Clinic at the Children’s Hospital of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA)

  • Jill Litt

    (Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
    Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona 08003, Spain)

Abstract

Recently, there has been an increase in feelings of loneliness and mental health conditions among adolescents. Within this population, parenting teens are at an increased risk for these conditions. Outdoor experiences are shown to be an antidote to loneliness and a way to promote social connectedness by amplifying the processes for supporting social relationships. In 2020–2021, we piloted the 8-week Meeting in Nature Together program (MINT) at a charter school for pregnant and parenting teenagers in Colorado, USA. MINT aimed to promote relatedness and nature connection for students ages 14 to 19. MINT included online and in-person group meetings with educational content, creative activities, discussion, park excursions, mindfulness activities, journaling, and nature photography. Here, we ask, can a school-level nature-based social intervention reduce loneliness among pregnant and parenting teens by promoting and sustaining social connections? How acceptable is MINT to participants? Methods included audiovisual recording transcriptions, surveys, and observation field notes. Results suggest that MINT fostered social connections through a tailored nature-based intervention delivered to a typically isolated community in culturally sensitive, developmentally appropriate ways. MINT proved feasible and effective as participants reported high levels of satisfaction and interest in continuing to engage in activities promoted in MINT.

Suggested Citation

  • Ashby Lavelle Sachs & Eva Coringrato & Nadav Sprague & Angela Turbyfill & Sarah Tillema & Jill Litt, 2022. "Rationale, Feasibility, and Acceptability of the Meeting in Nature Together (MINT) Program: A Novel Nature-Based Social Intervention for Loneliness Reduction with Teen Parents and Their Peers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-16, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:17:p:11059-:d:906241
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    References listed on IDEAS

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