Abstract
AbstractFeelings of disconnectedness and social isolation among older adults are increasingly recognised as important challenges of our times. Interestingly, nature interaction can stimulate social connectedness and enhance perceived social support, indicating that nature can contribute to social wellbeing. However, nature may not always be around or accessible for older adults. In such cases, digital nature could provide an alternative means for enjoying nature's benefits. To identify limitations and restrictions that older adults experience with respect to nature interaction, and to explore preferences with respect to digital nature and their potential for influencing social wellbeing, two studies are reported: a qualitative study comprising focus groups with Dutch care centre residents (N = 26) and a subsequent quantitative study (N = 200) testing effects of digital landscapes on social wellbeing measures. Findings from the focus groups indicate that opportunities for nature interaction and preferences for digital nature vary with mobility restrictions, whereas findings from the quantitative study testify to the potential of digital nature for enhancing social wellbeing and related emotions. These findings extend research on how (digital) nature interventions can contribute to the social wellbeing of older adults and pinpoint essential nature characteristics important for doing so.
Highlights
Social wellbeing among older adults is increasingly recognised as a serious public health concern, in particular when it comes to social isolation and loneliness (Liu and Rook, 2013; Cacioppo et al, 2017; Courtin and Knapp, 2017)
Category ‘nature interaction’ At the start of each focus group, participants were asked whether they considered themselves a ‘nature person’ which triggered meaningful discussions and revealed an overall desire for more interaction with nature and a perceived lack of contact with nature in their daily lives
Part 2: Digital nature animations In the second part of the focus groups, digital nature animations were presented, and participants were asked for their opinion
Summary
Social wellbeing among older adults is increasingly recognised as a serious public health concern, in particular when it comes to social isolation and loneliness (Liu and Rook, 2013; Cacioppo et al, 2017; Courtin and Knapp, 2017). These findings align with a growing body of literature stressing the beneficial effects of nature interaction on general wellbeing, and social and mental dimensions of wellbeing in particular (Kaplan and Kaplan, 1989; Bratman et al, 2019)
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