Can a Community of Men in a Nature-Based Association Facilitate Well-Being and Promote Connectedness? A Theory-Based Qualitative Case Study

The present study examined social connectedness in a nature-based association. Social isolation and loneliness are pressing public health concerns linked to adverse outcomes. We aimed to explore potential benefits of an authentic framework where a group of men with long-term illness was studied in a nature-based association. The study was a theory-driven case study in which data were collected on different occasions in various nature areas. Fifteen semi-structured interviews and multiple group-based observations were performed and analyzed using a theory-based thematic analysis. The participants had a mean age of 72, the majority being retired. Different themes were identified, including being met with open arms, being in the same boat, being a community of men, gaining new knowledge, and being/getting back to oneself. Spending time together in nature with others with similar experiences of long-term illness was experienced as meaningful for these participants. The self-organized nature-based association offered rituals for relational communication, with promising indications for the long-term effects of future health interventions.