Touching grass: Real-time effects of nature exposure on cognition, body image, and mood

Attention Restoration Theory (ART; Kaplan, 1995) proposes that natural environments restore depleted cognitive resources (e.g., directed attention), which leads to improved psychological outcomes. Although emerging research suggests that nature exposure is associated with improved body image and mood, findings are limited by low ecological validity and inadequate theory-based hypothesis testing. To address these gaps, this study investigated the micro-longitudinal effects of nature exposure and cognitive restoration on body image and mood in everyday contexts. Participants (N = 151, 76.2% women, M_age = 21.1 [SD = 5.8]) completed a baseline survey followed by a smartphone-based Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) protocol, where they completed up to six daily surveys for one week (max = 42). Each survey assessed recent nature exposure and perceived restoration, alongside current body appreciation, functionality appreciation, body dissatisfaction, and happiness. Most participants (96.7%) reported exposure to natural environments during the EMA phase. Results of multi-level regression analyses indicated that momentary nature exposure predicted subsequent improvements in perceived restoration and all three body image outcomes, but not happiness. Perceived restoration predicted improvements in body image outcomes and happiness. Lastly, trait-level propensity to feel connected to (or at one with) nature positively moderated the relationship between nature exposure and perceived restoration, but none of the other predicted relationships. This study provides preliminary evidence that the relationship between nature exposure and body image may generalise to everyday contexts, offers initial support for using ART to explain body image outcomes, and highlights nature exposure as a promising avenue for improving body image.