Via a literature review Vitale and Bonaiuto confirm the value of access to nature, whether that access involves spending time in nature, looking at images of nature, or something else. They report that “nature exposure appears to have a positive impact on emotion regulation processes in general as well as on specific emotion regulation strategies, such as decreasing rumination and worry, and enhancing the use of adaptive emotion regulation strategies (i.e., mindfulness and cognitive reappraisal). . . . Nature exposure was explored through activities such as nature walks and the viewing of nature images. Furthermore, specific natural environments were investigated, including green spaces, coastal settings, and various sub-categories of green and blue spaces. . . . people are continually exposed to potentially emotion-arousing stimuli, and a range of emotion regulation strategies is used to adaptively manage emotions. . . . Emotion regulation refers to the strategies and skills individuals employ to effectively manage their emotions, adaptively cope with different situations, and attain desired emotional states.”
Valeria Vitale and Marino Bonaiuto. “The Role of Nature in Emotion Regulation Processes: An Evidence-Based Rapid Review.” Journal of Environmental Psychology, in press, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2024.102325