The Healing Power of Nature - Norwegian Journal of Friluftsliv

Figure 3. Many different settings have been researched in relation to nature and human wellbeing.
There have been many different outcome measures used for research about nature and wellbeing.
Data can be in the form of 1) observable clinical signs or medical measures, hormones, blood pressure,
and intake of pain drugs 2) subjective measures such as reported satisfaction, mood, or pain level and
developmental observations, 3) estimated measures which may include crime rate changes in part due
to natural areas, preventive and general wellness benefits by being in nature and 4) economic measures
such as rehabilitation or staff costs due to turnover (see Figure 4). Of course the lines between these
outcome measures are not exact. For example, a clinical outcome often leads to an economic outcome.
As an overall example, Ulrich (2002) has shown that providing a hospital garden or plants improves
clinical indicators, economic outcomes, and patient and staff satisfaction reports.
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