Video-based ecological momentary assessment of health and well-being outcomes in nature: Lessons learned from a park-based pilot study

Contact with nature is increasingly recognized for its human health and well-being benefits. However, the mechanisms associated with these outcomes, including the influence of different natural and built features, remain under-researched. Additionally, there has been little empirical examination of the methods used to assess outcomes, in terms of quantity and quality of data. This study addresses these gaps by exploring the effectiveness of video-based Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) to assess the impact of park features on visitor subjective health and well-being. Specifically, a sample of 15 participants were prompted by a mobile application on their smartphone to complete an in-situ questionnaire including a video each time they entered a pre-defined area within a provincial park in Ontario, Canada, over a three-day period. Results indicated that video-based EMA has the potential to be effective in understanding the relationships between park features and health and well-being outcomes. Specifically, the study revealed a high in-situ questionnaire response rate and reasonable temporal and spatial latency. Audio transcription of videos revealed that participants expressed many features and emotions and explicitly linked features to perceptions of health and well-being. Methodological recommendations for using video-based EMA are provided, including using shorter, more targeted questions, and allowing alternative methods of data capture. These findings and recommendations can help researchers enhance the effectiveness of EMA in capturing the nuanced perceptions, experiences, and behaviours of individuals in park settings and better inform nature-based health promotion strategies and programs.