The outdoor nature, indoors: relationship between contact with nature, life satisfaction and affect during a COVID-19 pandemic lockdown

The COVID-19 pandemic led to national lockdown measures, implying individuals’ household confinement, constraining active contact with outdoor nature, with potential associated mental health consequences. Hence, this cross-sectional correlational design study with 310 participants examined the relationship between self-reported measures of variety and intensity of indoor/outdoor activities involving contact with nature, life satisfaction and affect during the first nationwide lockdown in Portugal in 2020. Results showed a positive weak association between indoor activity intensity and positive affect, and between reported indoor mental recreation of contact with nature and negative affect. Actual indoor contact with nature was positively associated with life satisfaction and positive affect. Individuals without a variety of contact with indoor nature reported lower life satisfaction than those with high variety. Indoor contact with nature seemed particularly important for well-being during lockdown. During prolonged household confinement, mental health and well-being could be promoted through outdoor contact but indoor alternatives should also be considered.