Antioch Researchers Publish Paper on Forest Bathing and Adolescent Connection to Nature

Jen Keller ‘23, (PhD, New England), Jason Rhoades, PhD, program director of Antioch’s PhD in Environmental Studies program in New England, Jean Kayira, former Antioch Environmental Studies faculty, and Louise Chawla published a paper in the Journal of Ecopsychology titled, “Forest Bathing Increases Adolescent Connection to Nature: A Mixed Methods Study.”

This study looked at high school students’ experiences of forest bathing, a nature-based mindfulness practice, and explored the possibility that it could increase their connectedness to and concern for nature. This study worked with participants aged 16–18 years as part of a youth participatory action research project. 

Through qualitative methods, participants described increased connection to nature, gratitude for nature, concern for nature, and care for nature. Although this is one of the first studies to examine forest bathing impacts on participants’ connectedness to nature, their findings correlate with other studies showing that spending time outside in nature increases connection to nature and care and concern for the environment. The study demonstrated that it is possible to increase the time high school students spend in nature as part of their scheduled day, with significant benefits for their relationship with nature.

Read the article here.