Associations between depression and nature-based recreation: A cross-sectional study of adults in the United States, Spain, and Brazil.

ABSTRACT: Cumulating evidence suggests that nature-based interventions may alleviate depression, but the association between engagement in nature-based activities and specific depressive symptoms remains unknown. We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate how Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) symptom criteria relate to engagement in nature-based recreation (any nature-based activities, forest-based activities, gardening, nature-based adventure activities) among American (n = 606), Spanish (n = 438), and Brazilian (n = 448) adults (≥ 18 years old). People who reported engaging in any nature-based activities at least once per month reported experiencing all nine symptom criteria for MDD (e.g., anhedonia, feeling depressed or hopeless, sleep problems, trouble concentrating, and suicidal ideation

SUBMITTER: Rosa CD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11811158 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature