| Title: | Positive body image is a pathway between nature contact and life satisfaction across 58 nations |
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| Authors: | ID Swami, Viren (Author)
ID Voracek, Martin (Author)
ID Stieger, Stefan (Author)
ID Aavik, Toivo (Author)
ID Ranjbar, Hamed Abdollahpour (Author)
ID Adebayo, Sulaiman Olanrewaju (Author)
ID Afhami, Reza (Author)
ID Ahmed, Oli (Author)
ID Aimé, Annie (Author)
ID Akel, Marwan (Author)
ID Koprivnik, Mirjam (Author)
ID Poštuvan, Vita (Author) |
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| Files: |  RAZ_Swami_Viren_2026.pdf (2,95 MB)
MD5: B42C4096596BA02F455C344140A28A1B
 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412026002357?via%3Dihub
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| Language: | English |
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| Work type: | Article |
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| Typology: | 1.01 - Original Scientific Article |
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| Organization: | IAM - Andrej Marušič Institute
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| Abstract: | Time spent in nature benefits human mental and physical well-being. However, much of the variance in out- comes of nature contact remains unexplained, suggesting that new mechanistic pathways need to be considered. Here, we tested a novel conceptual model linking nature contact with life satisfaction via pathways involving positive experiences of living in and experiencing the world through the physical self. Using data from the Body Image in Nature Survey (BINS; N = 50,363), representing respondents from 58 nations and speaking 36 different languages, we find that nature contact is associated with greater self-compassion and greater perceived resto- ration in nature, which in turn are associated with more positive body image. In addition, more positive body image is associated with greater life satisfaction. These associations were robust to sensitivity tests, generalised to all gender identities and age groups, and held individually in almost all national groups and languages. Although replications are needed, we propose that the materialities of natural environments help to link bodily experiences to the production and experience of well-being, a process that is largely stable across national groups. |
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| Keywords: | body image, connectedness to nature, perceived restoration, nature contact, life satisfaction, self-compassion |
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| Publication version: | Version of Record |
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| Publication date: | 14.05.2026 |
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| Year of publishing: | 2026 |
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| Number of pages: | str. 1-20 |
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| Numbering: | Vol. 212, article 110277 |
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| PID: | 20.500.12556/RUP-23300  |
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| UDC: | 159.923.2:502.2 |
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| ISSN on article: | 1873-6750 |
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| DOI: | 10.1016/j.envint.2026.110277 |
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| COBISS.SI-ID: | 284403715 |
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| Publication date in RUP: | 10.07.2026 |
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| Views: | 27 |
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| Downloads: | 2 |
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