Investigation of generalized anxiety disorder symptoms in young adults and their interaction with nature within the framework of attention restoration theory: A comparison between Turkey and Norway

Nature, with its diverse resources, supports both the physiological and psychological well-being of individuals. However, the specific cognitive mechanisms underlying these psychological benefits remain a topic of ongoing debate. One of the foundational frameworks explaining the benefits of interacting with nature is the Attention Restoration Theory (ART), which emphasizes the positive effects of nature, particularly on directed attention mechanisms, and its potential to mitigate mental fatigue caused by modern life. This study aimed to explore the relationship between nature exposure, mental fatigue, and symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) within the framework of ART, by examining the mediating roles of perceived restorativeness and mindfulness across a cross-cultural context. Given the well-documented association between anxiety in GAD and attentional processes, as well as the cognitive impairments (e.g., working memory, delayed recall, visuospatial skills, and episodic memory), this study examined whether nature exposure could alleviate GAD symptoms through the framework of ART. This cross-sectional, correlational study compared young adults (aged 18–26) from Turkey and Norway. Norway's less urbanized environment and abundance of green spaces provided a suitable setting for cross-cultural comparison. Participants were recruited via social media and university networks, comprising 224 individuals from Turkey (154 female, 70 male) and 123 from Norway (93 female, 30 male). Data were collected via Google Forms and Nettskjema, utilizing demographic and psychometric instruments: GAD-7, Mental Fatigue Scale, Mindfulness Scale, Nature Relatedness Scale, Perceived Restorativeness Scale (PRS), and PRS–Short Form. Analyses were performed using IBM SPSS 28, including Pearson correlation, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), and mediation analyses. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Multi-group SEM were specifically used to test ART's theoretical framework. Main findings showed that the model fit the data well for Turkish participants. Similarly, the model also fit for Norwegian participants. Furthermore, multi-group SEM analyses revealed that both metric invariance (factor loadings) and structural paths differed between groups, indicating that some relationships in the model are culturally sensitive. For the Turkish group, nature exposure had a significant and positive effect on perceived restorativeness, and mindfulness significantly predicted lower levels of mental fatigue. Among the Norwegian participants, nature exposure more strongly predicted perceived restorativeness, and the negative association between mindfulness and mental fatigue was more pronounced. In both groups, mental fatigue significantly predicted anxiety symptoms. Mediation analysis revealed that, in the Turkish sample, nature exposure indirectly affected GAD symptoms through perceived restorativeness and mindfulness. Meaning that exposure to nature decreases anxiety symptoms through mediating effects of perceived restorativeness and mindful awareness. However, this indirect pathway was not significant in the Norwegian sample. Overall, the reduction in mental fatigue via nature exposure and its influence on anxiety symptoms provided direct support for ART's cognitive restoration proposition. Mindfulness emerged as a significant protective factor, predicting both reduced mental fatigue and fewer GAD symptoms. It may serve as a booster of the psychological benefits gained through nature exposure. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the relationship established with nature—and the time spent in natural settings—may effectively reduce the symptoms of common psychological problems such as GAD, through both direct and indirect mechanisms. Nature's restorative impact on mental fatigue offers valuable theoretical and practical insights. Viewed through the framework of ART, the findings suggest that nature's influence on attentional systems may offer not only short-term mental relief but also long-term resilience against psychological difficulties like anxiety symptoms. The mediating roles of mindfulness and perceived restorativeness highlight the importance of personalizing and enhancing nature-based psychological interventions.