3240 - NATURE-BASED BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL RESILIENCE DURING A NATIONAL CRISIS: RESULTS FROM TWO LONGITUDINAL STUDIES IN ENGLAND

Session: 3235 - BUILDING INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE THROUGH NATURE-BASED THERAPIES: RESULTS FROM THE RESONATE PROJECT
AUTHORS:
Martin Leanne (University of Exeter ~ Exeter ~ United Kingdom) , Grellier James (University of Exeter ~ Exeter ~ United Kingdom) , Wheeler Benedict (University of Exeter ~ Exeter ~ United Kingdom) , Bu Feifei (University College London ~ London ~ United Kingdom) , Corbett Anne (University of Exeter ~ Exeter ~ United Kingdom) , White Mathew (University of Vienna ~ Vienna ~ Austria)
Abstract text:
Research linking nature contact to reduced stress responses (Berto, 2014), better well-being (White et al., 2019) and healthier sleep outcomes (Martin et al., 2024) indicates potential for greater contact with the natural world to attenuate adverse sleep trajectories during times of stress. Yet, with prior research tending to be cross-sectional in nature, little is known about the links between nature, wellbeing and sleep over time amongst individuals experiencing chronic societal stressors (e.g. Covid-19). Using nature-based biopsychosocial resilience theory (NBRT, White et al., 2023) as a conceptual framework, we will present secondary data from two UK longitudinal studies: the UCL Covid-19 Social Study (N = 12, 900) and PROTECT (N~ 20,000). Preliminary latent growth curve models found that access to a private garden was particularly important at both the response and recovery resilience phases for mitigating the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on healthy sleep patterns and mental health. Ongoing analyses are investigating the mediating processes behind these findings. Our results have important implications for both environmental conservation and public health policies.