Nature Exposure and Positive Body Image: A Cross-Sectional Study Examining the Mediating Roles of Physical Activity, Autonomous Motivation, Connectedness to Nature, and Perceived Restorativeness.

Migle Baceviciene,Viren Swami,Rasa Jankauskiene

doi:10.3390/ijerph182212246

Abstract

Research shows that nature exposure is directly and indirectly associated with more positive body image, which is an important facet of well-being more generally. In this study, we tested the mediating roles of physical activity in nature, perceived restoration in nature, autonomous motivation, and connectedness to nature in explaining the association between nature exposure and positive body image. An online sample of 924 Lithuanian adults (age M = 40.0 years, 73.6% women) completed a survey that included the Nature Exposure (NE) Scale, the Body Appreciation Scale-2, a measure of frequency of physical activity in nature (PAN), the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire-2, the Restoration Outcome Scale, and the Connectedness to Nature Scale. Path analysis was conducted to examine hypothesized direct and indirect effects. Results showed that both greater NE (B = 0.564, SE = 0.057, p < 0.001) and autonomy in exercise motivation (B = 0.039, SE = 0.006, p < 0.001) were associated with more frequent PAN. Direct effects from exercise autonomy to nature restorativeness (B = 0.017, SE = 0.006, p = 0.004) and body appreciation (B = 0.041, SE = 0.004, p < 0.001) were observed. Associations were also found between connectedness to nature and body appreciation (B = 0.166, SE = 0.040, p < 0.001), nature restorativeness and body appreciation (B = 0.075, SE = 0.019, p < 0.001), and frequency of PAN and body appreciation (B = 0.064, SE = 0.019, p < 0.001). PAN mediated the relationship between NE and body appreciation. The final model was invariant across place of residence (urban vs. rural) and gender. Including self-determined physical activity in nature may increase the effectiveness of intervention programs aimed at promoting more positive body image.

Highlights

We predicted that physical activity in nature and autonomous motivation would mediate the association between nature exposure and positive body image
In terms of educational qualifications, 11.3% of participants had completed secondary education or less, 7.7% were in full-time education, 41.7% had completed an undergraduate degree, and had a 34.8% postgraduate degree (4.4% of study respondents did not specify their educational attainment)
One possible explanation of these results is based on the theoretical framework of ecological dynamics, which states that physical activity in nature and leisure recreation are likely associated with a greater sense of variability of nature and demands the holistic involvement of an individual [34]

Summary

Introduction

Much research provides robust evidence of the salutogenic effects of natural environments on human health and well-being [1,2,3,4,5]. Nature refers to “physical features and processes of nonhuman origin that people usually perceive, including ‘living nature’ of flora and fauna, with still and running water, qualities of air and weather, and the landscapes that comprise these and show the influence of geological processes” [5]. The term “nature” is used interchangeably with “natural environment” because their meanings overlap substantially, and generally refers to the continuum of environments from wild nature to designed green spaces [6]

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