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Positive body image is a pathway between nature contact and life satisfaction across 58 nations
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Positive body image is a pathway between nature contact and life satisfaction across 58 nations

Viren Swami, Martin Voracek, Stefan Stieger, Toivo Aavik, Hamed Abdollahpour Ranjbar, Sulaiman Olanrewaju Adebayo, Reza Afhami, Oli Ahmed, Annie Aimé, Marwan Akel, …
Environment International, Vol.Advanced access
14-May-2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2026.110277
PMID: 42135102
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Positive body image is a pathway between nature contact and life satisfaction across 58 nations2.45 MBDownloadView
Published Version (Advanced Access) Open Access CC BY V4.0

Abstract

Connectedness to nature Nature contact Perceived restoration Self-compassion Body image Life satisfaction
Time spent in nature benefits human mental and physical well-being. However, much of the variance in outcomes of nature contact remains unexplained, suggesting that new mechanistic pathways need to be considered. Here, we tested a novel conceptual model linking nature contact with life satisfaction via pathways involving positive experiences of living in and experiencing the world through the physical self. Using data from the Body Image in Nature Survey (BINS; N = 50,363), representing respondents from 58 nations and speaking 36 different languages, we find that nature contact is associated with greater self-compassion and greater perceived restoration in nature, which in turn are associated with more positive body image. In addition, more positive body image is associated with greater life satisfaction. These associations were robust to sensitivity tests, generalised to all gender identities and age groups, and held individually in almost all national groups and languages. Although replications are needed, we propose that the materialities of natural environments help to link bodily experiences to the production and experience of well-being, a process that is largely stable across national groups.

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