| Abstract | The purpose of this study was to explore undergraduate college students' thoughts and opinions about green space on a university campus and about the effect of nature on perceived mental health. A qualitative descriptive study was implemented using two focus groups that were each comprised of 6-8 undergraduate students from TCU. Participants completed a survey prior to the focus group session consisting of questions pertaining to demographics, mental health, nature, and technology use. Due to COVID-19 social distancing protocols, the focus groups were held on Zoom, and the transcripts were analyzed using thematic content analysis to extract meaning from the narrative responses. Findings revealed four main themes: technology's impact on mental health and nature, campus access to green spaces, suggested improvements to promote time in nature on campus, and stress reduction versus stress induction in college students. Technology often had a negative impact on the mental health of college students while nature-based health promotion had a positive effect. Universities could benefit from investing in nature-infused outdoor spaces with the goal of supporting connections with nature for the improvement of mental health. |
