Access to Nature Fosters Well-Being in Solitude

There has been growing interest in the ways that individuals connected with nature during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly when they were alone in solitude. This study explored key themes describing individuals’ relationships with nature during this period and, more specifically, when individuals...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sustainability 2023-03, Vol.15 (6), p.5482
Main Authors: Samangooei, Mina, Saull, Ralph, Weinstein, Netta
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Health aspects
Human beings
Influence on nature
Loneliness
Medical research
Natural environment
Nature
Pandemics
Psychological aspects
Solitude
Surveys
Sustainability
Urban environments
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Summary:There has been growing interest in the ways that individuals connected with nature during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly when they were alone in solitude. This study explored key themes describing individuals’ relationships with nature during this period and, more specifically, when individuals were relating to nature during time spent alone. Sixty participants (aged 19–80 years) discussed solitude during in-depth interviews. Participants were from different backgrounds and 20 different countries of origin. Thematic analysis was conducted by two architects (who may have been sensitive to the functional interaction of spaces in connecting people and nature) and identified descriptions of nature from broader narratives of solitude and time spent alone. Extracts from interview transcripts were coded using hierarchical thematic analysis and a pragmatist approach. The results showed that natural spaces were integral to experiencing positive solitude and increased the chance that solitude time could be used for rest, rejuvenation, stress relief, and reflective thought. Being in their local natural spaces also allowed participants to more spontaneously shift from solitude to social connection, supporting a sense of balance between these two states of being. Finally, solitude in nature, in part because of attention to shifting weather, gave a new perspective. As a result, participants reported increased species solidarity—the awareness that humans are part of an ecosystem shared with other species. We interpret the results in terms of the implications for built environments and the importance of accessing nature for well-being.
ISSN:2071-1050
2071-1050
DOI:10.3390/su15065482