Interacting with nature improves cognition and affect for individuals with depression

Area of Science:

• Environmental Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Previous research indicates nature walks benefit healthy adults' cognition.
• It was uncertain if nature walks would benefit individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) due to potential rumination.
• This study investigated the effects of nature exposure on cognitive function and mood in MDD patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if walking in nature improves memory and mood in individuals with MDD.
• To compare the effects of nature walks versus urban walks on cognitive function and mood.
• To explore the potential of nature interaction as a supplementary treatment for MDD.

Main Methods:

• Twenty individuals diagnosed with MDD participated in a within-subjects design.
• Participants completed a 50-minute walk in either a natural or urban setting after being primed to ruminate.
• Mood (PANAS) and short-term memory (backwards digit span) were assessed before and after each walk.

Main Results:

• Nature walks led to significant improvements in memory span compared to urban walks (p<.001, η(p)(2)=.53).
• Mood also improved after nature walks, but these effects were separate from memory improvements.
• Findings suggest distinct mechanisms underlying cognitive and affective benefits of nature exposure.

Conclusions:

• Nature interaction provides cognitive and affective benefits for individuals with MDD.
• These findings support the use of nature-based interventions as an adjunct to standard MDD treatments.
• Limitations included sample size and participant motivation.