Assessing the feasibility of public engagement in a smartphone app to improve well-being through nature connection (Evaluación de la factibilidad de la implicación ciudadana mediante una app de teléfonos inteligentes para mejorar el bienestar a través de la conexión con la naturaleza). Issue 1 (2nd January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McEwan, Kirsten; Richardson, Miles; Sheffield, David; Ferguson, Fiona J.; Brindley, Paul
• Is Part Of: Psyecology. Volume 12:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 45
• Page End: 75
• Publication Date: 2021-01-02
• Subjects: health -- green space -- smartphone app -- nature connection -- well-being; salud -- espacios verdes -- aplicación de teléfono inteligente -- conexión con la naturaleza -- bienestar; Environmental psychology -- Periodicals; Environmental psychology; Periodicals; 155.905
• DOI: 10.1080/21711976.2020.1851878
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2171-1976

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Aside from practical interventions such as providing green infrastructure to improve air quality or water contamination and reduce flooding, well-being interventions to increase engagement with the natural environment are one of the fastest growing ways of improving human and environmental health. This feasibility study assessed a novel smartphone app for well-being intervention. Over 30 days the app prompted adults, including those seeking help for a common mental health problem, to notice the good things about urban green or built spaces (control condition). Self-referral was successful with 885 people downloading the app, 435 supplying baseline data and 50 supplying post-intervention data. However, the low number of observations ( M = 6 per participant) indicates that 30 days is too long to remain engaged. There were significant improvements in well-being and nature connection, but no difference between green and built space conditions. Limitations, future recommendations regarding improving engagement and marketing to lower socio-economic status groups are discussed.