Nature and Human Well-Being: Theoretical Perspectives and Implications for Forest Therapy

A growing body of research suggests that contact with natural environments supports human well-being across psychological, cognitive, emotional, and physiological domains. Yet the mechanisms underlying these effects remain multidimensional and cannot be fully explained by any single theory. This article examines several influential theoretical perspectives that have shaped contemporary understanding of the relationship between nature and human well-being, including the Biophilia Hypothesis, Attention Restoration Theory, Stress Reduction Theory, Psychoevolutionary Theory, Nature Relatedness and Nature Connectedness, and the framework of Favorite Places. Each of these perspectives offers a distinct yet complementary account of how natural environments may influence human functioning, whether through evolutionary affiliation with life, cognitive restoration, psychophysiological stress recovery, emotional regulation, subjective connectedness, or attachment to meaningful places. Rather than treating these theories as competing explanations, the article argues that they are best understood as overlapping and mutually enriching frameworks. Taken together, they suggest that nature may promote well-being by reducing stress, restoring directed attention, eliciting positive affect, strengthening identity and belonging, supporting self-regulation, and fostering a deeper sense of relationship with the more-than-human world. The article further considers how these theoretical perspectives may be integrated in the context of forest therapy, forest bathing, and Shinrin Yoku, where guided engagement with the forest provides a practical setting in which multiple restorative pathways may converge. In doing so, the article aims to build a bridge between environmental psychology, health research, and applied forest therapy practice.