This qualitative study examines time spent in nature and the implications this holds for body image. Body image is defined as the inner perception of outer appearances and has been linked to various psychological disturbances, such as body dysmorphic disorder, anorexia nervosa, and bulimia nervosa. Connection to nature and wilderness experiences are currently being explored by the field of ecopsychology as a healing modality for issues such as depression, low self-esteem, and well-being. Using feminist and organic research methods, this study inquired into the lived experiences of 12 working and middle-class women aged 24–54, to examine the impact of time spent in nature on body image. In-depth interviews were conducted using a semistructured format in order to allow experiences to be shared in a natural progression. Participants reviewed information from the interviews to ensure that accurate portrayals of experiences were recorded. Results of this organic inquiry supported the idea that spending time in natural settings improved body image by way of distancing women from the cultural context, increasing embodied experiences, and supporting connection to nature. This study was concluded with a discussion of the interviews and the implications the data may have for developing alternative methods of addressing negative body image in women.
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