Engagement with nature and proinflammatory biology

Abstract

BackgroundPrior evidence indicates that contact with nature improves physical health, but data explicitly linking engagement with nature to biological processes are limited. DesignLeveraging survey and biomarker data from 1,244 adults (mean age = 54.50 years, range = 34–84 years) from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS II) study, we examined associations between nature engagement, operationalized as the frequency of pleasant nature encounters, and systemic inflammation. Concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and fibrinogen were measured from fasting blood samples. Analyses adjusted for sociodemographic, health behavior, and psychological well-being covariates. ResultsMore frequent positive nature contact was independently associated with lower circulating levels of inflammation. ConclusionsThese findings add to a growing literature on the salubrious health effects of nature by demonstrating how such experiences are instantiated in downstream physiological systems, potentially informing future interventions and public health policies.