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Mental well-being and quality-of-life benefits of inclusion in nature for adults with disabilities and their caregivers

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  • Sonya L. Jakubec
  • Don Carruthers Den Hoed
  • Heather Ray
  • Ashok Krishnamurthy

Abstract

The benefits of green space and nature experiences are increasingly being recognised and translated into public health policy and practice. Alongside this trend, inclusion of all people into parks and nature has been an important area of parks and recreation practice. Nature inclusion for those with disabilities, youth, seniors and immigrants has become a focus of Alberta in Western Canada. This study was designed to examine the influence of two such government supported nature interventions, including day trips and a more extensive weekend or week-long nature experience, on mental well-being outcomes. It is a mixed methods pilot study (N = 37) with baseline and post-intervention measures of quality of life using the standard Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI) alongside other qualitative accounts. Quantitative findings, while not statistically significant, show a positive trend towards improved depression markers, greater health satisfaction, improved social relationships (in particular, love and friendship), as well as satisfaction with a sense of community and experiences of helping. In addition to comments within the QOLI, qualitative data were elicited through reflective writing during the nature interventions. Three dominant qualitative themes of inclusive nature experiences were found: ‘Sensory Activation’, ‘Reimagined Social Relations’ and ‘Reinvented Self’.

Suggested Citation

  • Sonya L. Jakubec & Don Carruthers Den Hoed & Heather Ray & Ashok Krishnamurthy, 2016. "Mental well-being and quality-of-life benefits of inclusion in nature for adults with disabilities and their caregivers," Landscape Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(6), pages 616-627, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:clarxx:v:41:y:2016:i:6:p:616-627
    DOI: 10.1080/01426397.2016.1197190
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    Cited by:

    1. Charlotte Wendelboe-Nelson & Sarah Kelly & Marion Kennedy & John W. Cherrie, 2019. "A Scoping Review Mapping Research on Green Space and Associated Mental Health Benefits," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-49, June.
    2. Victoria Houlden & Scott Weich & João Porto de Albuquerque & Stephen Jarvis & Karen Rees, 2018. "The relationship between greenspace and the mental wellbeing of adults: A systematic review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(9), pages 1-35, September.
    3. Brenda Denise Dorpalen, 2022. "How do inequalities in cultural engagement impact on economic growth?," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 2(8), pages 1-23, August.
    4. Louise Sofia Madsen & Dorthe Varning Poulsen & Claus Vinther Nielsen & Charlotte Handberg, 2021. "“It Was Definitely an Eye-Opener to Me”—People with Disabilities’ and Health Professionals’ Perceptions on Combining Traditional Indoor Rehabilitation Practice with an Urban Green Rehabilitation Conte," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-14, June.

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