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Engagement with nature and proinflammatory biology

Anthony D Ong¹, Dakota W Cintron², Gabriel L Fuligni³

¹Department of Psychology, Cornell University, New York; Center for Integrative Developmental Science, Cornell University, New York; Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York.

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity

|March 31, 2024

Abstract

Background:

Prior evidence indicates that contact with nature improves physical health, but data explicitly linking engagement with nature to biological processes are limited.

Design:

Leveraging survey and biomarker data from 1,244 adults (mean age = 54.50 years, range = 34-84 years) from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS II) study, we examined associations between nature engagement, operationalized as the frequency of pleasant nature encounters, and systemic inflammation. Concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and fibrinogen were measured from fasting blood samples. Analyses adjusted for sociodemographic, health behavior, and psychological well-being covariates.

Results:

More frequent positive nature contact was independently associated with lower circulating levels of inflammation.

Conclusions:

These findings add to a growing literature on the salubrious health effects of nature by demonstrating how such experiences are instantiated in downstream physiological systems, potentially informing future interventions and public health policies.

Keywords:

Human-nature relationship Inflammation Nature contact Well-being

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