Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing

Spending time in natural environments can benefit health and well-being, but exposure-response relationships are under-researched. We examined associations between recreational nature contact in the last seven days and self-reported health and well-being. Participants (n = 19,806) were drawn from the Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment Survey (2014/15-2015/16); weighted to be nationally representative. Weekly contact was categorised using 60 min blocks. Analyses controlled for residential greenspace and other neighbourhood and individual factors. Compared to no nature contact last week, the likelihood of reporting good health or high well-being became significantly greater with contact ≥120 mins…

• LS
  London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
• NI
  National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit
• NI
  National Institute for Health and Care Research
• UO
  University of Exeter
• UC
  University College London
• MO
  Met Office
• PH
  Public Health England