Journal article 244 views 20 downloads
Enhancing health and wellbeing through green infrastructure design and construction: Impacts of the Fit For the Future project on NHS healthcare staff, patients and community members
,
Mark McKenna,
Chelsea Hughes ,
Kate Denner,
Chris Dow,
Kim Dienes
Journal of Health Psychology
Swansea University Authors:
Jason Davies , Chelsea Hughes , Kim Dienes
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© The Author(s) 2026. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License.
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DOI (Published version): 10.1177/13591053261436074
Abstract
Spending work or leisure time in nature-based settings has positive impacts on health and wellbeing especially for those experiencing stress or those with poorer physical health, mental health or wellbeing. This research examined the impact of participation in a sustainable green infrastructure and...
| Published in: | Journal of Health Psychology |
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| ISSN: | 1359-1053 1461-7277 |
| Published: |
SAGE Publications
2026
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| Online Access: |
Check full text
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71624 |
| Abstract: |
Spending work or leisure time in nature-based settings has positive impacts on health and wellbeing especially for those experiencing stress or those with poorer physical health, mental health or wellbeing. This research examined the impact of participation in a sustainable green infrastructure and landscape management project delivered through Down to Earth at a National Health Service (NHS) hospital site. The three participant groups comprising healthcare staff (n = 27), NHS patients (n = 37) and community participants (n = 22) experienced changes in one or more self-reported measures over time. Patient and community participants showed reductions in self-reported anxiety, boredom and sense of failure. Healthcare staff showed increased resilience, wellbeing, community connection, and connection to nature alongside a reduction in common mental health symptoms. These findings reveal positive impacts of “working in/with nature” on wellbeing and mental health, and provide novel evidence of their potential for improving the health/wellbeing of healthcare workers within their workplace. |
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| Keywords: |
green care, sustainable construction, mental health, wellbeing, burnout |
| College: |
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences |
| Funders: |
The work described in this paper was funded through the Enabling Natural Resources and Well-being (ENRAW – European Union and Welsh Government) program and the National Lottery Community Fund “Growing Great Ideas” program. |