Nautilus – Can nature benefit you if you’re already well?
Nature may do more than reduce stress or support recovery. It could also enhance the well-being of people who are already healthy. Nautilus interview with Johanna Prugger of the Center for Environmental Neuroscience about a recent review examining how exposure to nature affects individuals who are not experiencing acute stress or mental fatigue.
Together with Simone Kühn, she reviewed the existing literature and found evidence that time spent in natural environments may improve mood and support cognitive performance. At the same time, their analysis highlights a gap in the field: far more studies have focused on nature’s restorative effects for stressed or exhausted individuals than on its potential to strengthen and enrich the lives of people who are doing well.
In the interview, Johanna Prugger explains why even brief encounters with nature can have positive effects and argues that future research should pay greater attention to the role of nature in building long-term psychological resilience and well-being.
