How people connect nature with well-being
Overview
The nature questions connect well-being, access, and health advice rather than treating outdoor time as a generic lifestyle preference.
Most adults say nature makes them feel good, and many report nearby green space or a willingness to spend time outside if a health professional recommended it.
Stacked breakdown
93.5% say time in nature makes them feel good.
How well does the following statement describe you: "I feel good when I spend time in nature."
- Does not describe me well
- 6.5%
- Sort of describes me
- 36.6%
- Describes me very well
- 56.9%
Nature is tied to feeling good
A 93.5% share said the statement that they feel good when spending time in nature describes them at least somewhat.
That makes the nature block a health and well-being story, not just a question about recreation.
Stacked breakdown
82.4% would follow a health professional's recommendation to spend time in nature.
If a health professional recommended spending time in nature, would you follow through with spending time outside?
- Definitely
- 51.7%
- Probably
- 30.7%
- Maybe
- 13.9%
- No
- 1.8%
- I don't know
- 1.9%
Additional supporting data from this section.
Topline
73.9% report nearby park or green-space access.
Is there a park or public green space within a 10-minute walk from your home?
- Yes 73.9%
- No 23.1%
- I don't know 3.0%
Health advice could move behavior
An 82.4% share said they would definitely or probably follow through if a health professional recommended spending time in nature.
Another 73.9% said there is a park or public green space within a 10-minute walk from home.
Outdoor time and access add context
Recent outdoor time varies, but 77.1% agreed that access to natural open spaces is part of being an American.
Methodology
Full methodology- Mode
- Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
- Population
- US adults age 18+
- Field dates
- 2026-05-01 → 2026-05-04
- Base (unweighted)
- 1,000
- Margin of error
- +/- 3.2%
- Module
- 1
- Sponsor
- Verasight
- Weight variable
- weight
- Weighting targets
- age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status
Sources
[6]- 01How well does the following statement describe you: "I feel good when I spend time in nature."More than nine-in-ten said feeling good when spending time in nature at least sort of describes them.reports.verasight.io/reports/sbm-2026
- 02If a health professional recommended spending time in nature, would you follow through with spending time outside?More than eight-in-ten said they would definitely or probably follow through if a health professional recommended spending time in nature.reports.verasight.io/reports/sbm-2026
- 03Is there a park or public green space within a 10-minute walk from your home?About three-quarters said there is a park or public green space within a 10-minute walk from home.reports.verasight.io/reports/sbm-2026
- 04In the last month, how often on average have you spent time outdoors in nature?Time outdoors varies, but most adults reported spending time in nature during the past month and at least some outdoor time in the past week.reports.verasight.io/reports/sbm-2026
- 05To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement: "Having access to natural open spaces is part of being an American."More than three-quarters agreed that access to natural open spaces is part of being an American.reports.verasight.io/reports/sbm-2026
- 06In the last week, how much total time did you spend outdoors in nature?reports.verasight.io/reports/sbm-2026
Citation
SBM Omnibus Survey #2026-049, fielded May 1-4, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.2%.