A major international study has found that contact with the natural world is linked to higher levels of life satisfaction – and we have our bodies to thank for unlocking this benefit.
Published in the journal Environment International, the research analysed responses from 50,363 people aged 18 to 99, from across 58 nations, making it the largest multinational study of its kind ever carried out.
It is known that spending time in a nature can improve our mental wellbeing, but the mechanisms underpinning these benefits have not been fully understood.
This new study, led by Viren Swami, Professor of Social Psychology at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) , has discovered that contact with nature helps people develop more positive body image, and it is this increased "body appreciation" that is responsible for greater life satisfaction. Crucially, these findings apply to all ages and gender identities.
The link between spending time in nature and positive body image itself is underpinned by two pathways. First, the research demonstrates that nature contact is associated with higher self-compassion, which in turn promotes greater body appreciation and life satisfaction.
Nature provides opportunities for what psychologists describe as "cognitive quiet", which is a state of awareness where our attention is effortlessly engaged. The gentle sights and sounds of natural environments allow deliberation without mental strain, which helps people to display kindness towards themselves.
A second pathway identified in the study focuses on how spending time in nature helps people feel restored. Busy urban environments often require constant focus to manage competing demands such as traffic, noise and crowds, which can lead to mental fatigue.
In contrast, tranquil natural environments encourage mindful thinking and help the brain recover. The study found that feeling restored after spending time in nature is also associated with greater body appreciation, which in turn results in greater life satisfaction.
Lead author Professor Viren Swami of Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, England, said: "We know that spending time in nature is good for our mental and physical health, but this study highlights one important way in which those benefits translate into greater life satisfaction.
"In particular, our findings highlight how being in nature is linked to greater self‑compassion and a stronger sense of restoration. Both of these are associated with more positive body image and, ultimately, improved life satisfaction.
"What is striking is how consistent these patterns are across countries, ages and gender identities, suggesting that connecting with nature helps people build positive relationships with their bodies in ways that are deeply rooted in human psychology.
"At a time when many countries are searching for affordable ways to improve wellbeing, our findings highlight the value of natural environments as important public health resources and reinforce the importance of using scientific evidence to shape planning, education and health policies."
