Exploring the dose-response relationship between nature-based outdoor activities, nature connectedness and social health in adolescents : a quasi-experimental controlled study

Abstract

Introduction: Nature-based outdoor activities have been recognised not only as educational means to raise awareness and sensitivity to environmental challenges but also as upstream health promotion interventions for adolescents. This study investigates the relationship between nature-based activity duration and adolescents’ nature connectedness and social health. Methods: Based on a quasi-experimental design, 110 students (58 male and 52 female; 13–16 years) were recruited from Hong Kong secondary schools. We conducted a pre/post/follow-up survey on nature connectedness and social health with different durations of nature-based outdoor activities. Thirty-two students participated in a 1-day nature-based outdoor activity session, 33 participated in a 4-day nature-based outdoor activity programme, and 45 were not assigned any activities and served as the control group. Results: The nature-based activities significantly and immediately improved the nature connectedness of the one- and 4-day groups, but this improvement continued only in the 4-day group at the 1-month follow-up. Increases in social connectedness, empathy and prosocial behaviour were also observed only in the 4-day group. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that longer-term encounters with nature result in a greater sense of nature connectedness and more significant improvements in social health compared to a one-off visit. Maintaining a sustained exposure–response relationship with nature can help young people have a physically and socially healthy adolescence.