Environment and mental health: empirical study on the relationship between contact with nature and symptoms of anxiety and depression ( Ambiente y salud mental: estudio empírico sobre la relación entre contacto con la naturaleza,síntomas de ansiedad y de depresión )

Abstract

This paper sets out to investigate the relationship between environment and mental health, and specifically between contact with nature and the presence of well-being, satisfaction with life, personality traits and symptoms of anxiety and depression. The sample comprised 59 people aged 18 to 70, and included 29 subjects from Spain and 30 from Italy. The following tests were utilized: a questionnaire about the frequency of activities carried out in natural surroundings, the Five Factor Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory II, the Satisfaction With Life Scale and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale. All variables were analysed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient with the exception of level of education, which was analysed using Spearman’s coefficient. The results suggest that contact with nature positively affects well-being and satisfaction with life, and that there is a negative correlation between contact with nature and symptoms of anxiety and depression.