Sources — Enabling Place Team Development
Research underpinning our approach to outdoor team development and expeditions
Nature and Health
Kathy Willis — Professor of Biodiversity, University of Oxford
Good Nature: Why We Need to Get Outside to Reconnect with the Natural World (2024, Penguin Random House)
BBC What's Up Docs? episode "Does Being In Nature Improve Your Health?" — interview with Drs Chris & Xand van Tulleken, March 2026
Key findings: every 360m further from green/blue space correlates with higher rates of common mental health conditions; nature should be treated as infrastructure like water or electricity
Workplace Outdoor Programme Effectiveness
Tyne, W.P., Fletcher, D., Paine, N.J., Stevinson, C. (2025) "A Prospective Evaluation of the Effects of Outdoor Adventure Training Programs on Work-Related Outcomes" — Journal of Experiential Education
Open access: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10538259241268998
Key findings: 97% of participants perceived attitude/behaviour changes; 87% of colleagues corroborated improvements back at work; benefits maximised when spread over multiple contact points rather than single events
Perspectival Shift and Prosocial Behaviour
Piff, P.K., Feinberg, M., Dietze, P., Stancato, D.M., Keltner, D. (2015) "Awe, the Small Self, and Prosocial Behavior" — Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol 108(6)
Abstract (PubMed): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25984788/
Full text: behind institutional paywall; search by title via university library or research gateways
Key findings: across five studies (N = 2,078), experiences of awe diminish self-focus and increase generosity, ethical decision-making, and helping behaviour
Stellar, J.E., et al. (2024) "Bridging me to we: Awe is a conduit to cohesive collectives" — Current Opinion in Psychology
Open access: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352250X24001921
Includes meta-analysis of 38 articles (N = 20,997) confirming strong association between awe and prosocial tendencies
Nature Exposure and Mental Health at Work
Gritzka, S., MacIntyre, T.E., Dörfel, D., Baker-Blanc, J.L., Calogiuri, G. (2020) "The Effects of Workplace Nature-Based Interventions on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Employees: A Systematic Review" — Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11:323
Open access (PMC): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7198870/
Key findings: consistent positive effects on stress, mood, perceived wellbeing across workplace-based nature interventions
Kaplan, S. (1995) "The Restorative Benefits of Nature: Toward an Integrative Framework" — Journal of Environmental Psychology, 15(3), 169–182
Behind paywall; search via university library or Google Scholar using title
Presents Attention Restoration Theory (ART): natural environments restore directed attention depleted by cognitive work
Ulrich, R.S. (1981) "Natural versus Urban Scenes: Some Psychophysiological Effects" — Environment and Behavior, 13(5), 523–556
Behind paywall; foundational paper on Stress Reduction Theory (SRT)
Search via institutional access or ResearchGate
Shared Challenge and Team Bonding
Cohen, E.J., et al. (2023) "Interdependence, Bonding and Support Are Associated with Improved Mental Wellbeing Following an Outdoor Team Challenge" — Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being
Open access: https://iaap-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/aphw.12351
Study of 226 Ten Tors participants showing mutual reliance during fatiguing challenges predicts stronger intra-team bonds
Baas, M., De Dreu, C.K.W., Nijstad, B.A. (2008) (often cited alongside later shared-adversity research) "A Meta-Analysis of 25 Years of Mood-Creativity Research" — Psychological Bulletin
Baas et al. (2018) "Shared Adversity Increases Team Creativity Through Fostering Supportive Interaction" — PubMed
Demonstrates constructive adversity (chosen, meaningful, supported) promotes group bonding
Green Exercise and Recovery
Liu, Y., et al. (2024–2026) "The psychological restorative effects of green exercise: a moderated mediation model of nature relatedness and exercise behavior" — Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
Open access: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2026.1887724/full
Recommends "moderate dose" (brisk walking, light jogging) optimises restoration; vigorous exertion interferes with cognitive processing of restorative settings
Contact: David Ousby, Enabling Place Ltd — david@enablingplace.co.uk | https://www.enablingplace.co.uk/team-development