The journey of recovery and empowerment embraced by nature - clients' perspectives on nature-based rehabilitation in relation to the role of the natural environment.

Summary, in English

This paper presents findings from real life situations, a longitudinal single case study on the role of natural environments in nature-based rehabilitation (NBR) for individuals with stress-related mental disorders, at the Alnarp Rehabilitation Garden in Sweden. A sample of 43 former clients voluntarily participated in semi-structured interview, and the data were analyzed according to interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Three main superordinate themes were identified as the three phases of NBR-Prelude, Recuperating and Empowerment-explaining and illuminating the role of the natural environments in each phase. An explanatory model of NBR in this context is presented including the three phases of NBR, IRP supportive occupations and a pyramid of supporting environments. A new component of supportive environments was identified and herby named, Social quietness, an important component facilitating personal and intimate engagement with the natural environments.

• Author: Anna María Pálsdóttir; Dennis Persson; Birgitta Persson; Patrik Grahn
• Department/s: Sustainable occupations and health in a life course perspective
• Publishing year: 2014
• Language: English
• Pages: 7094-7115
• Publication/Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 7
• Full text: - 370 kB; Download statistics
• Links: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25026080?dopt=Abstract; http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph110707094
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: MDPI AG
• Topic: Environmental Health and Occupational Health
• Status: Published
• Research group: Sustainable occupations and health in a life course perspective
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 1660-4601