Nature-Based Mindfulness: A Qualitative Study of the Experience of Support for Self-Regulation.
Dorthe Djernis, Cecilie M Lundsgaard, Helle Rønn-Smidt, Jesper Dahlgaard
Healthcare March 21, 2023 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11060905 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study (interpretative phenomenological analysis) nested in a randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 6 |
| Population | University students experiencing moderate to severe stress |
| Duration | Five-day residential program; interviews post intervention and at three months' follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Ipa Natural environment Self-regulation Nature-based |
| Key findings | Participants described the five-day nature-based mindfulness retreat as supporting self-regulation through four interrelated themes: supportive conditions, attitudes of mindfulness, connection, and physical and psychological balance. They reported a progression from the setting's supportive conditions to mindful attitudes, connection with self, others, and nature, and physical, psychological, and spiritual effects, including positive emotions, energy, calmness, meta-awareness, and feeling part of the web of life. |
Abstract
Self-regulation is pivotal for human well-being and mental health. In this qualitative study, we followed a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and explored how a five-day residential mindfulness program in a restorative natural setting supported self-regulation among university students experiencing moderate to severe stress. Six participants were interviewed post intervention and at three months' follow-up on how they experienced the retreat. Through interpretative phenomenological analysis, four interrelated themes emerged: "supportive conditions", "attitudes of mindfulness", "connection" and "physical and psychological balance." These themes reflected the outcomes of the retreat that participants valued in stressful situations. A progression occurred during the retreat through the themes, with emphasis developing from the supportive conditions of the setting, to cultivating mindful attitudes, over connection to both self, others and nature, to changes and effects on the physical, psychological and even spiritual level. In addition, participants emphasized experiences of positive emotions, energy, calmness, meta-awareness and the feeling of being part of the web of life. In conclusion, participants' experiences with a five-day nature-based mindfulness intervention revealed a range of qualities of both physical-, psychological-, social- and spiritual nature that are supportive for self-regulation.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- Mindfulness in Posttraumatic Growth of War-Affected People: A Commentary on Expanding Oman’s Public Health Framework for Trauma Recovery in Ukrainian Contexts Mindfulness February 7, 2026
- From connection to conservation: Nature‐based mindfulness as a pathway to pro‐environmental behaviors Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being September 9, 2026
- Using a Virtual Reality CAVE-Based Mindfulness Intervention to Promote Mental Well-Being in Adolescents With Anxiety Symptoms: Pre-Post Mixed Methods Pilot Study. JMIR Formative Research June 12, 2026
- Effectiveness of Nature-Based Mindfulness Interventions to Improve Mental Health: A Narrative Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health April 24, 2026
- Nature-Based Meditation Reduces Depressive Rumination and Stress in Adolescents and Young Adults Psychiatry International March 26, 2025
Cites 14
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2012
- The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin May 14, 2012
- What defines mindfulness-based programs? The warp and the weft Psychological Medicine December 29, 2016
- A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Nature-Based Mindfulness: Effects of Moving Mindfulness Training into an Outdoor Natural Setting International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health September 2, 2019
and 9 more in the library