Nature exposure and social health: Prosocial behavior, social cohesion, and effect pathways

Abstract

This paper provides an integrative review of evidence from different research areas showing that exposure to nature influences social health by evoking more prosocial judgments, decisions, and actions. Nature exposure increases prosocial behavior, decreases antisocial behavior, and increases ratings of social connection and satisfaction. Prosocial and antisocial behavior effects are observed with brief nature exposure, both actual and virtual. Social connection effects are observed with long-term nature exposure, such as neighbourhood greenspace. Several mechanisms are proposed for these effects including self-transcendent emotions, motivation, social ties, place attachment, trust, and self-regulation. This overview of the impact of nature on various factors of social health and consideration of possible causal mechanisms provides a coherent framework for designing future research and practical interventions to improve social health.