ReviewFrontiers in psychology2022
The Potential for Outdoor Nature-Based Interventions in the Treatment and Prevention of Depression.
Review in Frontiers in psychology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
18 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Exploring nature-based art therapy: a scoping review.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Pooled it
- A Systematic Review of Mechanisms Underpinning Psychological Change Following Nature Exposure in an Adolescent Population.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Pooled it
- The effect of brief exposure to virtual nature on mental wellbeing in adolescents.Scientific reports · 2023Trial
- Community gardening as a conduit for bolstering wellbeing, employment, education and volunteering in vulnerable communities: a feasibility study.BMC public health · 2026Article
- How do nature-based interventions increase the resilience of older persons? A best fit framework synthesis.BMC geriatrics · 2026Review
- Forest therapy as an intervention for depressive disorders: a review of the mechanisms and applications.Frontiers in public health · 2026Review
- Perceived exertion as a moderator of psychological changes during nature-based exercise among U.S. service members.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2026Article
- Roots and Shoots: A Pilot Parallel Randomised Controlled Trial Assessing the Feasibility and Acceptability of a Nature-Based Self-Help Intervention for Low Wellbeing.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Outdoor activity time and depression risk among adults aged 40 years and older: a cross-sectional analysis of NHANES 2011-2018 data.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Article
- Influence of general practitioners' perceptions on social prescription of arts, nature, and physical activity for psychosocial health and well-being: a structural equation model approach.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- A generational relational model of nature and mental wellbeing: results of a qualitative analysis.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Article
- Nature-based interventions for individuals with rare skeletal disorders: evaluation of a 5-day sailing program on health-related quality of life.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Intensive smoking cessation intervention in a nature-based setting: a feasibility study of the Danish gold standard program.Frontiers in public health · 2024Observational
- Perspectives on an enhanced 'Improving Access to Psychological Therapies' (IAPT) service addressing the wider determinants of mental health: a qualitative study.BMC health services research · 2023Article
- Group Nature-Based Mindfulness Interventions: Nature-Based Mindfulness Training for College Students with Anxiety.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Article
- Five ways to wellbeing at the zoo: improving human health and connection to nature.Frontiers in psychology · 2023Review
- Effects of virtual reality natural experiences on factory workers' psychological and physiological stress.Frontiers in psychology · 2023Article
- Nature-Based Meditation, Rumination and Mental Wellbeing.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
There is growing interest in nature-based interventions (NBI) to improve human health and wellbeing. An important nascent area is exploring the potential of outdoor therapies to treat and prevent common mental health problems like depression. In this conceptual analysis on the nature-depression nexus, we distil some of the main issues for consideration when NBIs for depression are being developed. We argue that understanding the mechanisms, or 'active ingredients' in NBIs is crucial to understand what works and for whom. Successfully identifying modifiable mediating intervention targets will pave the way for interventions with increased efficacy. We highlight a non-exhaustive list of five clinically relevant putative, candidate mechanisms which may underly the beneficial effects of NBIs on depression: stress, rumination, mindfulness, sleep and exercise. We also make the case that when developing NBIs it is important to not neglect young people, explore personalised approaches and focus on both treatment and prevention approaches. To achieve these aims methodologically rigorous programmes of clinical research are needed that include well-powered and controlled experimental designs including randomised controlled trials, qualitative research, longitudinal studies and large prospective cohorts.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.