Mothers' accounts of the impact of being in nature on postnatal wellbeing: a focus group study

Katie Hall; Jonathan Evans; Rosa Roberts; Richard Brown; Christopher Barnes; Katrina Turner

doi:10.1186/s12905-023-02165-x

Mothers' accounts of the impact of being in nature on postnatal wellbeing: a focus group study

Katie Hall^*, Jonathan Evans, Rosa Roberts, Richard Brown, Christopher Barnes, Katrina Turner

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The postnatal period is a vulnerable time for mothers to experience stress and mental health difficulties. There is increasing evidence that spending time in nature is beneficial for wellbeing. Nature-based interventions have been developed to support mental health, but not specifically tailored for mothers during the postnatal period. Understanding mothers' views and experiences of nature would help determine the suitability for and potential impact of such interventions on postnatal wellbeing.

AIMS: To explore mothers' views on the impact of spending time in nature on their postnatal mental wellbeing.

METHODS: Focus groups were held with mothers of young children (under five), including mothers from migrant and refugee communities, mothers living with mental health difficulties, and disabled mothers. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

RESULTS: Four focus groups were held, with a total of 30 participants. Six themes were developed: (1) mothers' experiences of what constitutes 'nature'; (2) sensing nature improves wellbeing; (3) natural spaces facilitate human connection; (4) nature provides escape and relief from daily indoor stressors; (5) nature allows new perspectives; and (6) mothers face a variety of environmental, practical, psychological, physical, socioeconomic, and cultural barriers to spending time in nature during the postnatal period.

CONCLUSIONS: Mothers report significant benefits to their postnatal wellbeing when spending time in nature. Further research is warranted to understand whether nature-based interventions have the potential to support postnatal wellbeing, socially, mentally, and physically.

Original language	English
Article number	32
Journal	BMC Women's Health
Volume	23
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-023-02165-x
Publication status	Published - 23 Jan 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study is supported by a NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship for KH, and NIHR Avon and Wiltshire Partnership NHS Trust Research Capability Funding awarded to KH. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).

Keywords

Female
Child
Humans
Child, Preschool
Focus Groups
Qualitative Research
Mothers/psychology
Mental Health

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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title = "Mothers' accounts of the impact of being in nature on postnatal wellbeing: a focus group study",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: The postnatal period is a vulnerable time for mothers to experience stress and mental health difficulties. There is increasing evidence that spending time in nature is beneficial for wellbeing. Nature-based interventions have been developed to support mental health, but not specifically tailored for mothers during the postnatal period. Understanding mothers' views and experiences of nature would help determine the suitability for and potential impact of such interventions on postnatal wellbeing.AIMS: To explore mothers' views on the impact of spending time in nature on their postnatal mental wellbeing.METHODS: Focus groups were held with mothers of young children (under five), including mothers from migrant and refugee communities, mothers living with mental health difficulties, and disabled mothers. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.RESULTS: Four focus groups were held, with a total of 30 participants. Six themes were developed: (1) mothers' experiences of what constitutes 'nature'; (2) sensing nature improves wellbeing; (3) natural spaces facilitate human connection; (4) nature provides escape and relief from daily indoor stressors; (5) nature allows new perspectives; and (6) mothers face a variety of environmental, practical, psychological, physical, socioeconomic, and cultural barriers to spending time in nature during the postnatal period.CONCLUSIONS: Mothers report significant benefits to their postnatal wellbeing when spending time in nature. Further research is warranted to understand whether nature-based interventions have the potential to support postnatal wellbeing, socially, mentally, and physically.",

keywords = "Female, Child, Humans, Child, Preschool, Focus Groups, Qualitative Research, Mothers/psychology, Mental Health",

author = "Katie Hall and Jonathan Evans and Rosa Roberts and Richard Brown and Christopher Barnes and Katrina Turner",

note = "Funding Information: This study is supported by a NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship for KH, and NIHR Avon and Wiltshire Partnership NHS Trust Research Capability Funding awarded to KH. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023, The Author(s).",

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AU - Hall, Katie

AU - Evans, Jonathan

AU - Roberts, Rosa

AU - Brown, Richard

AU - Barnes, Christopher

AU - Turner, Katrina

N1 - Funding Information: This study is supported by a NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship for KH, and NIHR Avon and Wiltshire Partnership NHS Trust Research Capability Funding awarded to KH. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care. Publisher Copyright: © 2023, The Author(s).

PY - 2023/1/23

Y1 - 2023/1/23

N2 - BACKGROUND: The postnatal period is a vulnerable time for mothers to experience stress and mental health difficulties. There is increasing evidence that spending time in nature is beneficial for wellbeing. Nature-based interventions have been developed to support mental health, but not specifically tailored for mothers during the postnatal period. Understanding mothers' views and experiences of nature would help determine the suitability for and potential impact of such interventions on postnatal wellbeing.AIMS: To explore mothers' views on the impact of spending time in nature on their postnatal mental wellbeing.METHODS: Focus groups were held with mothers of young children (under five), including mothers from migrant and refugee communities, mothers living with mental health difficulties, and disabled mothers. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.RESULTS: Four focus groups were held, with a total of 30 participants. Six themes were developed: (1) mothers' experiences of what constitutes 'nature'; (2) sensing nature improves wellbeing; (3) natural spaces facilitate human connection; (4) nature provides escape and relief from daily indoor stressors; (5) nature allows new perspectives; and (6) mothers face a variety of environmental, practical, psychological, physical, socioeconomic, and cultural barriers to spending time in nature during the postnatal period.CONCLUSIONS: Mothers report significant benefits to their postnatal wellbeing when spending time in nature. Further research is warranted to understand whether nature-based interventions have the potential to support postnatal wellbeing, socially, mentally, and physically.

AB - BACKGROUND: The postnatal period is a vulnerable time for mothers to experience stress and mental health difficulties. There is increasing evidence that spending time in nature is beneficial for wellbeing. Nature-based interventions have been developed to support mental health, but not specifically tailored for mothers during the postnatal period. Understanding mothers' views and experiences of nature would help determine the suitability for and potential impact of such interventions on postnatal wellbeing.AIMS: To explore mothers' views on the impact of spending time in nature on their postnatal mental wellbeing.METHODS: Focus groups were held with mothers of young children (under five), including mothers from migrant and refugee communities, mothers living with mental health difficulties, and disabled mothers. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.RESULTS: Four focus groups were held, with a total of 30 participants. Six themes were developed: (1) mothers' experiences of what constitutes 'nature'; (2) sensing nature improves wellbeing; (3) natural spaces facilitate human connection; (4) nature provides escape and relief from daily indoor stressors; (5) nature allows new perspectives; and (6) mothers face a variety of environmental, practical, psychological, physical, socioeconomic, and cultural barriers to spending time in nature during the postnatal period.CONCLUSIONS: Mothers report significant benefits to their postnatal wellbeing when spending time in nature. Further research is warranted to understand whether nature-based interventions have the potential to support postnatal wellbeing, socially, mentally, and physically.

KW - Female

KW - Child

KW - Humans

KW - Child, Preschool

KW - Focus Groups

KW - Qualitative Research

KW - Mothers/psychology

KW - Mental Health

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DO - 10.1186/s12905-023-02165-x

M3 - Article (Academic Journal)

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SN - 1472-6874

VL - 23

JO - BMC Women's Health

JF - BMC Women's Health

IS - 1

M1 - 32

ER -

Mothers' accounts of the impact of being in nature on postnatal wellbeing: a focus group study

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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