Perceiving the Resourcefulness of the Natural Environment: Empirical Research Experience

Abstract

The article presents the results of an exploratory empirical studydevoted to the study of the psychological effects of interaction between man andnature based on content analysis of descriptions of subjective experiences of unitybetween man and nature. The study was conducted online and involved 416 respondents from 17 to 70 years old (average age 35.3 years SD = 11.05; 35% menand 65% women). The concepts of psychological restoration and the restorativeness of the natural environment were used for the analysis. Psychological restorative effects are represented in the descriptions by the presenceof positive emotions, a state of relaxation and solitude. The results show that mostoften a person experiences these effects in such environments as forest and waterspaces, perceiving them as integral systems, focusing both on individual elements(trees, leaves, waves, landscape) and on temporal characteristics (seasons, days). The positive stimulation of the forest and aquatic natural environments, as well asthe aesthetic appeal of landscapes, can be considered as factors determining therestorative potential of nature.