"The 10-week nature noticing intervention had a positive impact on improving adolescents' social connectedness, prosocial behaviours and empathy. This study confirms that a nature-noticing intervention could improve students' social connectedness and prosocial behaviour, and that fostering connectedness to nature has the potential to improve social well-being among adolescents."
RESEARCH
Mobile-based intervention for social development in adolescents
Method: Quasi-experimental design
A growing body of research indicates that exposure to nature has significant benefits for the health and well-being of adolescents. However, few studies have assessed benefits of simple and regular nature-based activities for their social connectedness and prosocial behaviour. This study aims to assess whether a 10-week nature noticing intervention could improve adolescents' connection to nature, empathy, social connectedness and prosocial behaviour.
In a quasi-experimental design, 127 students (15-16 years) were recruited from Hong Kong secondary school. Half of the students (n=63) were asked to take pictures of nearby nature and record their thoughts twice a week for 10 weeks. The other half of the students (n=64) were not assigned any tasks and served as the control group. All participants were asked to complete a questionnaire with six validated scales (i.e. INS, SCS-R, B-IRI, SDQ, ULS-8 and RSES) before and after the intervention period.
Example of 10-week nature noticing excercise
SDG 3. Good Health and Well-being