Associations of time spent in nature and physical activity with positive mental health among unemployed and economically inactive people living in North Savo

Background: Regular physical activity, especially in nature, has been associated with better mental well-being. Nevertheless, the existing evidence is inconclusive, and the association between physical activity in nature and positive mental health has not previously been investigated in a sample consisting only of unemployed and economically inactive people. Our aim was to examine the association between spending time in nature and positive mental health among unemployed and economically inactive people from North Savo, Finland, and whether this association is explained by regular physical activity.

Materials and methods: Our study was conducted in summer and autumn 2022 and included 68 unemployed or economically inactive adults living in North Savo, Finland. The participants filled out an electronic questionnaire recording their time spent in nature, outdoor activities, attitudes towards nature, physical activity and positive mental health, assessed using the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMBMS). The associations between the variables of interest were analysed by comparing their means and distributions and with regression-based mediation models. The study was cross-sectional.

Results: A longer time spent in nature and higher levels of physical activity both associated with better positive mental health, but the connection of spending time in nature was stronger and the association of physical activity was largely explained by time spent in nature. It was not essential what kind of activities the participants preferred to do in nature.

Discussion: Our results demonstrated that physical activity in nature, and particularly spending time in nature, is associated with better mental health and well-being. Nature also offers a low-barrier environment for engaging in exercise for all people living in Finland, regardless of their socioeconomic status.

Keywords: nature, exercise, fitness, positive mental health, unemployment, cross-sectional study

Full text available in Finnish

Authors

Hanna Rekola (hanna.rekola@uef.fi), Karoliina Kurkinen, Tommi Tolmunen, Heikki Pentikäinen, Timo A. Lakka & Tomi Mäki-Opas