What is the Body Image in Nature Survey (BINS)?

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A wealth of evidence shows that nature exposure is associated with a range of mental health benefits, including enhancements to self-esteem, positive affect, and cognitive functioning (e.g., Frumkin et al., 2017).

As part of the research agenda on nature exposure and psychological well-being, a research group at Anglia Ruskin University, the Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, and the University of Vienna have focused specifically on the impact of nature exposure on positive body image, which refers to an “overarching love and respect for the body” that includes appreciation of the body and its functions, acceptance of the body despite its imperfections, and body-protective behaviours (Tylka, 2018, p. 9).

The link

The studies provide empirical evidence of a link between nature exposure and positive body image through the use of different methodologies (e.g., cross-sectional, onegroup pretest-posttest, experience sampling, and experimental studies; Stieger et al.,2020; Swami et al., 2018, 2019, 2020).

One class of explanations for these findings is based on direct effects of nature exposure on positive body image, whereas a second class of explanations is focused on mediation by constructs such as self-compassion and connectedness to nature (Swami et al., 2019). To date, however, much of this research has been conducted with samples from Anglophone and Western, educated, industrialised, rich, and democratic nations, and it is unclear to what extent these findings will generalise to samples from other settings.

To fill this gap in the literature, the Body Image in Nature Survey (BINS) was established as an international, collaborative project with the primary aim of examining crosssectional associations between nature exposure and positive body image across different world regions. By involving researchers from multiple sites across the globe, the BINS will produce one of the largest datasets examining the impact of nature exposure across countries. In so doing, the BINS will be able to help determine the extent to which nature exposure is reliably associated with more positive body image. Secondary aims of the project include an exploration of mediators of the link between nature exposure and body image, including via connectedness to nature, selfcompassion, and personality.
The BINS is led by Prof Viren Swami (Anglia Ruskin University and Perdana University), Prof Stefan Stieger (Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences), Prof Ulrich S. Tran and Prof Martin Voracek (University of Vienna).

At the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Iceland Sóley S. Bender, professor emerita is the principan investigator and Brynja Örlygsdóttir, professor is a co-investigator.

One article was published in 2023 and two are in review.