Mothers’ accounts of the impact of being in nature on postnatal wellbeing: a focus group study
Abstract
Background The postnatal period is a vulnerable time for mothers to experience stress and mental health difculties.
There is increasing evidence that spending time in nature is benefcial for wellbeing.
Nature-based interventions have been developed to support mental health, but not specifcally tailored for mothers during the postnatal period.
Understanding mothers’ views and experiences of nature would help determine the suitability for and potential impact of such interventions on postnatal wellbeing.
Aims To explore mothers’ views on the impact of spending time in nature on their postnatal mental wellbeing.
Methods Focus groups were held with mothers of young children (under fve), including mothers from migrant and refugee communities, mothers living with mental health difculties, and disabled mothers.
Data were analysed using refexive thematic analysis.
Results Four focus groups were held, with a total of 30 participants.
Six themes were developed: (1) mothers’ experiences of what constitutes ‘nature’; (2) sensing nature improves wellbeing; (3) natural spaces facilitate human connection; (4) nature provides escape and relief from daily indoor stressors; (5) nature allows new perspectives; and (6) mothers face a variety of environmental, practical, psychological, physical, socioeconomic, and cultural barriers to spending time in nature during the postnatal period.
Conclusions Mothers report signifcant benefts to their postnatal wellbeing when spending time in nature.
Further research is warranted to understand whether nature-based interventions have the potential to support postnatal wellbeing, socially, mentally, and physically.
Citations
Katherine Hall1*, Jonathan Evans1 , Rosa Roberts2 , Richard Brown3 , Christopher Barnes4 and Katrina Turner.Mothers’ accounts of the impact of being in nature on postnatal wellbeing: a focus group study.BMC Women’s Health (2023) 23:32
Page last reviewed: 12 June, 2025
Metadata
Author(s): Brown, Richard
Collection: 123456789/874
Subject(s): Postnatal Mental Health
Format(s): Article
Date issued: 2023-06
ID: 1237