Helping people connect with nature and the community reduces loneliness in Barcelona trial
Nature-based social prescribing can help reduce loneliness among adults living in socioeconomically vulnerable urban areas, according to a trial conducted in Barcelona by the European RECETAS consortium. Loneliness decreased among all participants receiving nature-based social prescribing, but those experiencing greater loneliness and poorer emotional well-being at the start benefited more from…
A recent study conducted in Barcelona highlights that encouraging people to connect with nature and their community can help alleviate feelings of loneliness among adults living in disadvantaged urban areas. The European RECETAS consortium carried out a trial involving 320 adults aged 18 and above, with an average age of 63, who were experiencing loneliness.
Participants, primarily women, were split into two groups: one receiving nature-based social prescribing (NBSP) and the other receiving a standard 30-minute motivational interview with information about local nature-based activities.
The NBSP group participated in small weekly group sessions over nine weeks, engaging in outdoor activities such as visits to parks, gardens, riverways, coastal areas, and cultural heritage sites. These activities were tailored by local stakeholders to cater to the specific needs of the community. The other group received information about local nature-based activities but did not receive the additional group support and peer connections offered by NBSP.
Loneliness decreased by an average of 10.5% after three months for all participants, reaching a 16.8% reduction one year later. However, the difference in loneliness reduction between the two groups was not significant at the three-month mark. The analysis revealed that individuals with higher baseline levels of loneliness and poorer emotional well-being experienced more significant benefits from the facilitated NBSP groups.
Conversely, those with lower levels of loneliness and better emotional well-being saw comparable reductions in loneliness through the lighter-touch approach of receiving information about local activities.
The study suggests that a one-size-fits-all approach to tackling loneliness may not be effective for everyone. Those experiencing more severe emotional and social difficulties might benefit from the additional peer support, group dynamics, and facilitation provided by NBSP, while others may simply require assistance in identifying and accessing existing opportunities in their communities.
The findings indicate that NBSP can be more or less effective depending on the baseline needs of the individuals it aims to support. ISGlobal researcher Jill Litt emphasizes that the study provides valuable insights for promoting community assets and improving social health in urban populations.
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