The effect of living conditions on nature exposure and wellbeing in the Global South

Abstract

Abstract Access to urban nature is an important contributor to global health. Yet, evidence on nature’s benefits comes overwhelmingly from the global north and such evidence might not directly translate to the global south. Using survey data from 1119 residents of Asuncion, Paraguay, we found that context and intentionality of nature exposure, and function of nature in the individual's daily life collectively shape nature’s effect on mental health and wellbeing. While stronger nature connection was positively associated with life satisfaction, for individuals living in informal settlements higher levels of greenness nearby their home was associated with lower life satisfaction. For residents of the formal parts of the city, the associations between nature experiences and wellbeing were positive, similar to those found in the global north. Our findings suggest that the nature wellbeing benefits depend on the socio-environmental context, and that connection to nature can be beneficial for wellbeing among the urban poor.