Beyond restoration: Considering emotion regulation in natural well-being

The well-being benefits of nature go beyond restoration to wellness through emotional balance

This conceptual paper addresses the role of nature in the regulation of emotions. Also discussed are the relationships between emotion regulation, well-being, and nature. A related theoretical model – referred to as the “Three-circle model of affect regulation” – depicts ways in which exposure to and a connection with the wider natural world affects our emotion regulation and mood. The three-circle model presents “drive,” “contentment,” and “threat,” as experiences relating to the human-nature connection. “Drive” seeks out rewards and relates to positive feelings, such as joy. “Contentment” is affect-regulating and brings positive soothing emotions, such as calm. “Threat” focuses on our self-protection system and relates to such protective feelings as anxiety.

The dominant models most often used to explain the well-being benefits of nature are based upon psychological restoration. These models – referred to as Attention Restoration Theory (ART) and Stress Recovery Theory (SRT) – provide accounts of why nature is restorative for people experiencing stress or fatigue. These two models, however, do not explain all the well-being benefits derived from nature, including benefits relating to emotional regulation and balance. The three-circle model provides a narrative indicating that “the well-being benefits of nature go beyond restoration to wellness through emotional balance.” This model also shows how “interactions within the wider natural world can bring balance through activation of certain aspects of our nervous system.”

Research in environmental psychology indicates that people use natural environments to help maintain positive mood states and shift away from negative states. This research supports a relationship between emotion regulation and connectedness to nature. One side of this relationship is based on a deficit model, noting how nature decreases maladaptive forms of regulation. The other side of the relationship focuses on how nature restores well-being and provides resilience. Two types of positive affect are noted: positive joy and the relaxed calm of contentment.

This research adds to the literature on the human/nature relationship by providing an account of the well-being benefits of nature based on affect regulation. This research also adds support to the understanding that nature and connectedness to nature are important contributors to human health and well-being. Increased efforts to enhance people’s connectedness to nature are thus clearly warranted.