Environmental psychology has widely investigated the positive consequences of contact
with nature on individual functioning, ranging from stress reduction to cognitive
improvement, enhanced immune response and mental health. From a relational point of
view, positive effects of contact with natural environments in reducing aggressive
behavior, promoting pro-social behavior and social cohesion have also been
documented.
The present cross-sectional study moved a step forward, testing the role of contact with
nature in reducing prejudice and discrimination towards immigrants. Based on the
literature on restorative environments, emphasizing the stress reducing and cognitive
improving effects of nature, and taking into account both cognitive and emotional
aspects of prejudice, a path analysis was used to test our model through the following
hypotheses:
H1: contact with nature is positively associated with the perception of the restorative
potential of the environment;
H2: the perception of nature as a restorative environment is positively associated with
empathy (a) and negatively associated with anxiety (b) towards immigrants;
H3: empathy is negatively associated with prejudice towards immigrants;
H4: anxiety is positively associated with prejudice towards immigrant;
H5: prejudice is positively associated with discrimination towards immigrants.

An online questionnaire measuring contact with nature, perceived restorativeness of
natural environments, empathy, anxiety, prejudice and discrimination towards
immigrants was administered to 2474 respondents. Results supported the hypotheses.
Theoretical advances in the literature on the positive effects of contact with nature and
restorative environments will be presented. Practical implications for a positive
management of cultural diversity in everyday settings will be also discussed; inter-group
contact has been identified as a key mechanism to promote social integration since
decades, and natural environments can provide an ideal setting to increase positive
relationships among people from different backgrounds.