The Impact of Nature on Mental Health During the Corona Virus (Covid-19)

Fodor, Timea (2021) The Impact of Nature on Mental Health During the Corona Virus (Covid-19). Undergraduate thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has increased depression, anxiety and stress in the general population. Although online resources have been provided to better manage mental health, being outdoors, specifically in nature has been found to lower anxiety, stress and depression under the current circumstances.

Aims: The current study aims to investigate the relationship between spending time in nature and psychological well-being during Covid-19, while controlling for confounding variables. It also aims to explore the relationship between nature beliefs and mental health scores. Lastly, this study aims to examine the differences in mental health scores between different ET (urban, rural, town).

Methodology: A total of 402 participants were recruited through social media. They completed an online survey containing demographic data, DASS-21, and EQ.

Results: Results of the hierarchical multiple regression showed that spending time in nature predicted mental health scores after controlling for demographics, explaining an additional 3.5% of the variance. The standard multiple regression indicated that NB was a significant predictor of mental health scores, whereas ABCV and FBDB were not significant predictors. Lastly, the one-way between groups ANOVA showed significant differences in mental health scores between ETs. Living in rural areas presented the lowest DASS-21 mean score (M = 14.66), followed by town areas (M = 20.48), and urban areas having the highest mean score (M = 21.90, SD = 14.65).

Conclusion: Findings suggest that the benefits of spending time in nature during the CV should not be disregarded, but used as a tool to manage mental health during the current pandemic. The current study expands the novel subject that personal beliefs about nature influence mental health scores, highlighting the importance for further research. Lastly, it demonstrates the importance of rural areas being reserved for mental health.

Item Type:	Thesis (Undergraduate)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA790 Mental Health
Divisions:	School of Business > BA (Honours) in Psychology
Depositing User:	Clara Chan
Date Deposited:	11 Aug 2021 14:27
Last Modified:	16 Sep 2021 13:29
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/4931

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