The Separation From Nature: Implications On Human Well-Being And The Future Of Our Planet

Research suggests that the amount of time people spend outside is the lowest it has been in human history (Larson and Verma, 1999; Louv, 2008; Pergams and Zaradic, 2006). Spending time outside is valuable and plays a great importance in childhood development. However, the decline in time people spend in time is adversely affecting childhood development, human health, and well-being (Barker et al., 2014; Moffitt et al., 2010). Three questions focus my research. Why is spending time outside is crucial for human well-being and the well-being of our planet? What factors are driving the decline in human time spent in nature? What can we do to mend the gap between humans and nature?