Nature Based Mindfulness Rooted in Forest Bathing To Promote Greater Quality of Life within the Academic Community

This culminating project for the capstone experience involved conducting a Nature-Based Mindfulness research study with the academic community at Nova Southeastern University Tampa Bay Regional Campus. The aim of the study was to determine if participants experience a perceived increase in quality-of-life and a decrease in stress and anxiety following participation in one or more Forest Bathing sessions. Data was collected based on the participants’ completion of the WHOQOL-BREF survey pre and post participation in forest bathing. This study will present new information for the literature to demonstrate improvements in wellbeing when experiencing time in nature. The information found in this study could be used to promote awareness and education on time in nature to enhance quality of life and to inspire programming changes that would promote the use of nature as a valuable coping skill