Nature supports a good life in more ways than one - Bangor University

New research from Bangor University and Oregon State University shows that nature contributes to people’s life satisfaction through a combination of everyday experiences, environmental change, and the ecological qualities of the landscapes around them.

Drawing on survey responses from more than 1,300 residents of Washington State’s Puget Sound region, the research highlights that well-being is shaped not by a single aspect of nature, but by how ecological conditions, nearby environments, and daily interactions come together in people’s lives.

The study found that people who regularly felt refreshed, relaxed, or mentally restored when spending time in nature tended to report higher life satisfaction. Spending time doing outdoor activities also mattered, reflecting the importance of accessible nearby places where people can walk, relax, and recreate in their surroundings as part of everyday life.

At the same time, the research showed that changes to the landscape itself are meaningful. People who had lived longer in the region reported lower life satisfaction in areas where nearby forests had declined, and higher life satisfaction where forest cover had increased. This suggests that environmental change is not just something people notice it can influence how they feel about their lives, particularly when it affects places they have known for many years.

Ecological features such as bird diversity, habitat diversity, and the amount of natural land nearby were also important, though in less obvious ways. These characteristics were linked to how often people experienced restoration and participated in outdoor activities, showing that biodiversity and healthy ecosystems help create places where people want to be and feel better when they are there. In this way, the ecological qualities of landscapes support human well-being by shaping the experiences nature makes possible.