Connections between mindfulness, nature and wellbeing : an interpretative phenomenological analysis : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Abstract

Wellbeing is a central concern within contemporary psychological research, particularly in response to rising mental health challenges and growing interest in accessible, preventative approaches to psychological support. Research indicates that both mindfulness in natural environments are associated with enhanced wellbeing; however, there remains limited qualitative understanding of how individuals subjectively experience mindfulness in nature and how such experiences are interpreted as meaningful. This study explored individuals’ lived experiences of mindfulness while walking in nature, with particular attention to how participants made sense of these experiences in relation to wellbeing. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) methodology was employed to capture in-depth, idiographic accounts. Four participants engaged in mindful walks in natural environments over a three-month period, recorded multimedia reflections during and following each walk, and subsequently participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using IPA, attending to phenomenological description, interpretative meaning-making, and patterns of convergence and divergence across cases. Four superordinate themes were identified: Cultivating inner stillness and presence, Emotional regulation and restoration, Deepening connection with nature, and Positive transformation and Emerging possibilities. Participants described experiences of calm, grounding, and embodied presence facilitated through sensory engagement with natural environments. Mindfulness in nature appeared to support emotional regulation, stress relief, and restoration, while also enhancing participants’ sense of connection and belonging to the natural world. For some participants, these experiences extended beyond immediate wellbeing, fostering positive shifts in outlook, confidence, and openness to future possibilities. The findings suggest that wellbeing emerged not from mindfulness or nature alone, but through the personally meaningful ways participants engaged with and interpreted their experiences in natural settings. This study highlights mindfulness in nature as an embodied, relational process that supports both immediate restoration and longer-term psychological growth, and demonstrates the value of IPA in exploring wellbeing as a lived and contextually situated experience.