Assessing the feasibility of public engagement in a smartphone app to improve well-being through nature connection ( Evaluation of the feasibility of citizen engagement through a smartphone app to improve well-being through connection with nature )

Aside from practical interventions such as providing green infrastructure to improve air quality or water contamination and reduce flooding, wellbeing interventions to increase engagement with the natural environment are one of the fastest growing ways of improving human and environmental health. This feasibility study assessed a novel Smartphone app wellbeing intervention. Over 30 days the app prompted adults, including those seeking help for a common mental health problem, to notice the good things about urban green or built spaces (control condition). Self-referral was successful with 885 people downloading the app, 435 supplying baseline data and 50 supplying post-intervention data. However, the low number of observations (M=6 per participant) indicates that 30 days is too long to remain engaged. There were significant improvements in wellbeing and nature connection, but no difference between green and built space conditions. Limitations, future recommendations regarding improving engagement and marketing to lower socio-economic status groups are discussed.