Enhancing post traumatic growth during the COVID-19 lockdown: the roles of nature relatedness and perceived restorativeness

Objective: Despite the well documented negative outcomes related to traumatic events, people who experience traumatic events can manage the consequences in an adaptive way. This study aims to understand whether nature relatedness perception and the perceived potential of restorativeness related to one’s house may explain Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) in the context of a pandemic. Methods: 308 adults were recruited through an online survey administered during the national lockdown evaluating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), PTG, perceived restorativeness, and nature relatedness. Results: Controlling for age and gender, we found that different facets of PTG were differently predicted by PTSD, Nature relatedness, and perceived restorativeness. PTSD significantly predicted all dimensions of PTG. Conclusions: Perceived connection to nature as well as the sensation that one’s house is a place where one can escape from daily routine significantly predicted spiritual change and awareness of new possibilities in one’s life. Finally, fascination for the place where the individual lived significantly predicted spiritual change.