Nature’s Role in Outdoor Therapies: An Umbrella Review
Date
2021
Authors
Harper, Nevin J.
Fernee, Carina R.
Gabrielsen, Leiv E.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Abstract
Objective: To report on the role of nature in outdoor therapies through review and summary
of existing systematic and meta-analytic reviews in an effort to articulate a theoretical framework for
practice. Materials and methods: An umbrella review was conducted following systematic protocols
PRISMA guidelines. Results: Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria and represented five selfidentified approaches: nature-based therapies, forest therapy, horticultural therapy, wilderness
therapy, and adventure therapy. Clear and comprehensive descriptions of theory, program structure,
and activity details with causal links to outcomes were mostly absent. Conclusions: A rigorous and
determined program of research is required in order to explicit in-depth theories of change in outdoor
therapies. Conversely, or maybe concurrently, a holistic theory of integrated relatedness may be
developed as a parallel expression of support for nature in therapy while the explanatory science
catches up.
Description
Keywords
umbrella review, nature, therapy, outdoor therapies, health
Citation
Harper, N. J., Fernee, C. R.,& Gabrielsen, L. E. (2021). Nature’s Role in Outdoor Therapies: An Umbrella Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(10), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105117.