Addressing “nature-deficit disorder” :
a mixed methods pilot study of young adults attending a wilderness camp

Warber, SL; DeHudy, AA; Bialko, MF; Marselle, MR; Irvine, KN

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Rapid urbanization has increased concerns about the loss of
opportunity to interact with the natural world and the rise of chronic human health issues, such as
obesity, depression, and cardiovascular disease. “Nature-deficit disorder” is a non-clinical term
that describes this potential impact on the well-being of youth. We hypothesized that naturebased
camp experiences could increase connection to nature and promote multiple dimensions of
well-being. We conducted a mixed methods pilot study of young adults attending a four-week
wilderness camp.
Methods: Participants completed pre-camp (n=46) and post-camp (n=36) on-line questionnaires
including nature-related and holistic well-being measures. Differences were investigated using
paired samples t-tests. Interviews (n=16) explored the experience of camp, of being in nature,
and social relations.
Results: All nature-related measures - exposure, knowledge, skills, willingness to lead in nature,
perceived safety, sense of place, and nature connection - significantly increased. Well-being
outcomes also significantly improved, including perceived stress, relaxation, positive and
negative emotions, sense of wholeness, and experience of transcendence. Physical activity level
and several psychological measures showed no change. Interviews described how the wilderness
environment facilitated social connections.
Conclusion: Findings illustrate the change in relationship to nature that wilderness camp
experiences can provide while also delineating elements of well-being influenced by such time.
Results can guide future research agendas and suggest that nature-immersion experiences could
address the risk of “nature-deficit disorder”, improve health, and prepare future leaders.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 11, 2015
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2015
• Deposit Date: Nov 16, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 5, 2016
• Journal: Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• Print ISSN: 1741-427X
• Electronic ISSN: 1741-4288
• Publisher: Hindawi
• Volume: 2015
• Pages: Article ID 651827
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/651827
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/651827
• Related Public URLs: http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/
• Additional Information: Funders : University of Michigan Student Biomedical Research Program (USA)