NatureonTV‘ good forourwellbeing’

Study saw positive impact on boredom

HEALTH: Watching high- quality nature programmes on TV can lift people’s moods, reduce negative emotions and help alleviate the kind of boredom associated with being isolated indoors, according to a study.

The research also showed that experiencing nature in virtual reality could have even larger benefits for people.

WATCHING HIGH- QUALITY nature programmes on TV can lift people’s moods, reduce negative emotions and help alleviate the kind of boredom associated with being isolated indoors, according to a study.

The research also showed that experiencing nature in virtual reality could have even larger benefits, boosting positive feelings and increasing people’s connection to the natural world.

Under laboratory conditions, researchers from the University of Exeter first induced feelings of boredom in 96 participants by asking them to watch a video in which a person describes their work at an office supply company. They then experienced scenes of an underwater coral reef in one of three different ways: on TV, in a VR headset using 360- degree video, or in a VR headset using computer- generated interactive graphics.

The team found that all view the ing methods minimised negative feelings such as sadness, as well as significantly reducing boredom. However, only the interactive virtual reality experience led to increases in positive feelings, such as happiness, and strengthened how connected people felt to nature.

Nicky Yeo, lead researcher on study, believes the findings could have important implications for populations facing extended periods at home.

“Our results show that simply watching nature on TV can help to lift people’s mood and combat boredom,” she said.

“With people around the world facing limited access to outdoor environments because of Covid19 quarantines, this study suggests that nature programmes might offer an accessible way for populations to benefit from a ‘ dose’ of digital nature.”

The team worked with the BBC Natural History Unit to create their experimental conditions, which featured several scenes from the Blue Planet II series, including unseen 360- degree footage.

Their findings support initiatives seeking to bring the therapeutic potential of nature to people at home, such as BBC Four’s recent Mindful Escapes series of programmes.

The study is published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology.