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A groundbreaking study led by Professor Emeritus Ralf Buckley from the School of Environment and Science has unveiled that the enjoyment of nature is a universal experience, transcending cultural boundaries. The research, published in People and Nature, surveyed visitors in national parks and forests across Australia, Chile, China, and Japan, highlighting the significant role that sensory experiences play in connecting individuals with their natural surroundings.
The study involved a comprehensive survey of 100 on-site participants in Australia, 100 in Chile, and over 500 in China, along with an analysis of 1,000 relevant social media posts from Japan. The findings indicate that visitors engaged all five senses in positive ways, with key sensory experiences consistently identified across all four countries. These experiences included:
- Sight: The shapes and colors of plants
- Sound: The soothing sounds of birdsong, running water, and rustling leaves
- Smell: The fragrant aromas of flowers, trees, and earth
- Taste and Temperature: The refreshing quality of clean air and water
- Touch: The textures of bark and rocks
Professor Buckley emphasized the importance of these sensory experiences, stating, “Spending time in nature is good for our mental health; that’s the idea behind nature therapies.” He noted that the findings could lead to the development of evidence-based nature therapy programs that may offer significant mental health benefits and potentially reduce healthcare costs.
Despite the potential for nature therapies to enhance well-being, they currently lack formal recognition in health insurance policies, as they do not conform to the traditional definitions of prescriptible treatments. “Researchers are trying to design nature therapy courses that package costs and components efficiently, similar to occupational therapy,” Buckley explained.
The study aimed to uncover what specific sensory experiences in nature contribute to stress reduction and overall well-being. By identifying these universal experiences, the research paves the way for future quantitative studies that could inform therapeutic designs, dosages, and durations of nature therapy.
Professor Buckley pointed out the novelty of this research approach: “Our work offers a scale broad enough to support prescriptible nature therapies while being fine-tuned for practical therapy design.” He acknowledged that while previous studies have indicated the emotional responses linked to sensory experiences are vital for well-being, further investigation is needed to determine their essentiality and how factors like activity, group size, and guidance affect these experiences.
As the world increasingly recognizes the mental health benefits of spending time in nature, this study serves as a crucial step toward integrating nature-based therapies into formal healthcare frameworks, offering hope for a more holistic approach to mental health treatment.
For more information, refer to the study: Buckley, R.C., Cooper, M.-A., Zhong, L. (2024). Principal sensory experiences of forest visitors in four countries, for evidence‐based nature therapy. People and Nature. DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10723.
