The Effects of Nature Exposure Therapies on Stress, Depression, and Anxiety Levels: A Systematic Review
Background: Mental well-being plays a pivotal role within the broader spectrum of health and illness, encompassing factors such as stress, depression, and anxiety. Nature-based therapeutic interventions have emerged as a promising approach to addressing these mental health challenges. This study see...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/14/3/40 |
| _version_ | 1797241354861936640 |
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| author | Diana Marcela Paredes-Céspedes Norida Vélez Alejandra Parada-López Yesith Guillermo Toloza-Pérez Eliana M. Téllez Claudia Portilla Carolina González Leany Blandón Juan Carlos Santacruz Jeadran Malagón-Rojas |
| author_facet | Diana Marcela Paredes-Céspedes Norida Vélez Alejandra Parada-López Yesith Guillermo Toloza-Pérez Eliana M. Téllez Claudia Portilla Carolina González Leany Blandón Juan Carlos Santacruz Jeadran Malagón-Rojas |
| author_sort | Diana Marcela Paredes-Céspedes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Mental well-being plays a pivotal role within the broader spectrum of health and illness, encompassing factors such as stress, depression, and anxiety. Nature-based therapeutic interventions have emerged as a promising approach to addressing these mental health challenges. This study seeks to assess the impact of these interventions on stress, depression, and anxiety levels. Methods: We conducted an extensive search for randomized clinical trials that examined stress, anxiety, and depression levels. The selected studies underwent a rigorous risk-of-bias assessment following the guidelines outlined in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews. Results: Our review encompassed findings from eight publications. Among them, two studies measuring cortisol levels revealed significant differences between the pre-test and post-test measurements within the intervention groups. In two studies that employed the Stress Response Inventory, a significant decrease in stress levels was observed within the intervention groups in contrast to the control groups. However, no significant differences were noted in studies that utilized the Restorative Outcome Scale. In the assessment of anxiety and depression levels, three studies employed the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, while four studies utilized The Profile of Mood States scale; none of these studies demonstrated significant differences. Conclusions: The current body of evidence offers limited support for advocating nature-based therapeutic interventions as a primary approach to reducing stress, depression, and anxiety. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:22:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0ec1789f02994e63addf35152d3fb32e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2174-8144 2254-9625 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:22:00Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-0ec1789f02994e63addf35152d3fb32e2024-03-27T13:34:36ZengMDPI AGEuropean Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education2174-81442254-96252024-03-0114360962210.3390/ejihpe14030040The Effects of Nature Exposure Therapies on Stress, Depression, and Anxiety Levels: A Systematic ReviewDiana Marcela Paredes-Céspedes0Norida Vélez1Alejandra Parada-López2Yesith Guillermo Toloza-Pérez3Eliana M. Téllez4Claudia Portilla5Carolina González6Leany Blandón7Juan Carlos Santacruz8Jeadran Malagón-Rojas9Grupo de Salud Ambiental y Laboral, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Dirección de Investigación, Bogotá 111321, ColombiaGrupo de Salud Ambiental y Laboral, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Dirección de Investigación, Bogotá 111321, ColombiaGrupo de Salud Ambiental y Laboral, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Dirección de Investigación, Bogotá 111321, ColombiaGrupo de Salud Ambiental y Laboral, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Dirección de Investigación, Bogotá 111321, ColombiaGrupo de Salud Ambiental y Laboral, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Dirección de Investigación, Bogotá 111321, ColombiaGrupo de Salud Ambiental y Laboral, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Dirección de Investigación, Bogotá 111321, ColombiaFundación Colombiana del Corazón, Bogotá 111311, ColombiaFundación Colombiana del Corazón, Bogotá 111311, ColombiaFundación Colombiana del Corazón, Bogotá 111311, ColombiaGrupo de Salud Ambiental y Laboral, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Dirección de Investigación, Bogotá 111321, ColombiaBackground: Mental well-being plays a pivotal role within the broader spectrum of health and illness, encompassing factors such as stress, depression, and anxiety. Nature-based therapeutic interventions have emerged as a promising approach to addressing these mental health challenges. This study seeks to assess the impact of these interventions on stress, depression, and anxiety levels. Methods: We conducted an extensive search for randomized clinical trials that examined stress, anxiety, and depression levels. The selected studies underwent a rigorous risk-of-bias assessment following the guidelines outlined in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews. Results: Our review encompassed findings from eight publications. Among them, two studies measuring cortisol levels revealed significant differences between the pre-test and post-test measurements within the intervention groups. In two studies that employed the Stress Response Inventory, a significant decrease in stress levels was observed within the intervention groups in contrast to the control groups. However, no significant differences were noted in studies that utilized the Restorative Outcome Scale. In the assessment of anxiety and depression levels, three studies employed the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, while four studies utilized The Profile of Mood States scale; none of these studies demonstrated significant differences. Conclusions: The current body of evidence offers limited support for advocating nature-based therapeutic interventions as a primary approach to reducing stress, depression, and anxiety.https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/14/3/40naturestressforeststherapy cortisolblood pressureintervention |
| spellingShingle | Diana Marcela Paredes-Céspedes Norida Vélez Alejandra Parada-López Yesith Guillermo Toloza-Pérez Eliana M. Téllez Claudia Portilla Carolina González Leany Blandón Juan Carlos Santacruz Jeadran Malagón-Rojas The Effects of Nature Exposure Therapies on Stress, Depression, and Anxiety Levels: A Systematic Review European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education nature stress forests therapy cortisol blood pressure intervention |
| title | The Effects of Nature Exposure Therapies on Stress, Depression, and Anxiety Levels: A Systematic Review |
| title_full | The Effects of Nature Exposure Therapies on Stress, Depression, and Anxiety Levels: A Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | The Effects of Nature Exposure Therapies on Stress, Depression, and Anxiety Levels: A Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effects of Nature Exposure Therapies on Stress, Depression, and Anxiety Levels: A Systematic Review |
| title_short | The Effects of Nature Exposure Therapies on Stress, Depression, and Anxiety Levels: A Systematic Review |
| title_sort | effects of nature exposure therapies on stress depression and anxiety levels a systematic review |
| topic | nature stress forests therapy cortisol blood pressure intervention |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/14/3/40 |
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