Editorial note: This article reports findings from a single observational

study. The results have not been independently replicated. No causal claims are made.

In one study — a large observational analysis of 19,806 nationally

representative UK adults — spending at least 120 minutes per week in natural environments

was associated with higher odds of self-reported good health. This finding has not been

independently replicated.

What the Study Found

White et al. (2019) observed 19,806 nationally representative UK adults and measured time

spent in natural environments alongside self-reported health and wellbeing. Participants who

spent at least 120 minutes per week in nature — across any combination of visits — had an

odds ratio (OR) of 1.59 for reporting good health or wellbeing, compared with those who had

no nature contact in the reference week.

Why This Study Cannot Prove Causation

The study is observational in design. It cannot determine the direction of the association:

whether healthier people are more likely to seek out natural environments, whether nature

contact itself is associated with better health, or some combination of both. No experimental

assignment or intervention took place. The association is derived from a cross-sectional

analysis; causal inference is not possible from this design alone.

This finding comes from a single paper. It has not been confirmed by independent research

teams using different populations or methods. Applying these results to prescribed

nature-exposure interventions would go beyond what the evidence supports.

This finding does not prove a causal relationship between nature contact and health.

This finding does not prove the effect would occur from a prescribed intervention.

This finding does not justify public health recommendations without further review.

White, M. P., Alcock, I., Grellier, J., Wheeler, B. W., Hartig, T., Warber, S. L.,

Bone, A., Depledge, M. H., & Fleming, L. E. (2019). Spending at least 120 minutes a

week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing. Scientific Reports,

9(1), 7730.