Time in natural environments has proven helpful in meeting the restorative needs of both children and adults. While some studies indicate that such benefits apply to families as well as individuals, this research is minimal. This study adds to the literature by exploring the benefits of nature for family life in women's shelters.
This study was conducted with three women's shelters in the Netherlands that provide temporary homes for families who experienced assault or abuse. Four researchers and 46 care professionals participated in this study by serving as members of a Community of Practice (CoP) exploring the benefits of nature for families in shelters. A CoP is defined as a learning partnership among colleagues who interact regularly with the intention of looking to each other as a learning resource. For purposes of this study, three CoPs were formed and met bi-monthly over a six-month period. The care professionals involved with the CoPs worked in women's shelters with access to an outdoor natural area and intentionally introduced nature into their work with families. During the CoP meetings, members shared their insights and questions about the benefits of nature for families. Their conversations were based on information gained from interviewing and observing families, studying literature, and observing other members' practices.
A thematic analysis of transcripts of the CoP meetings and case descriptions showed five major ways in which nature benefitted families: (1) offering a place for family leisure time, (2) supporting social connectedness, (3) supporting psychological well-being, (4) offering metaphoric experiences, and (5) supporting parenting. The first four themes are consistent with other research documenting the benefits of nature for people in general. The fifth theme, “supporting parents,” is a novel finding of this study. According to the professionals involved with this study, nature supported parenting by promoting (1) relatedness between parent and child, (2) parental feelings of competence, and (3) autonomy in parenting.
This research suggests that including nature in women's shelters may support parenting. Further research is needed to further investigate the benefits of nature for families. Such research should include investigations into how and to what extent nature can promote parenting.
Research Partner