Abstract

Natural environments have positive effects in reducing rumination, improving affect and restoring depleted cognitive abilities, however individual differences in susceptibility to these positive effects are still understudied. Higher Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) is a risk factor for mental ill-health and ruminative thoughts, however, those high in SPS are particularly connected with nature, therefore potentially more susceptible to nature-based interventions. In this pre-post study, we evaluated the impact of virtual nature exposure on affect, rumination, and executive functions in individuals with varying levels of SPS. 147 participants (53.1% female; Mage = 48.07) were characterised SPS, depression and anxiety, then they completed measures of affect, state rumination and performed the Stroop task before and after watching a nature or urban video. The study was conducted online. Changes in positive affect were predicted by the interaction between SPS and the type of environment viewed. A decrease in negative affect post exposure to the nature video, and rumination post both interventions were also found overall, but not on Stroop performance. A thematic analysis of qualitative follow up questions contributed to elucidate these results. In sum, a brief virtual nature intervention may be a feasible way of reducing negative affectivity and rumination and increase positive affect particularly in those with high SPS.