Regenerating Daily Routines for Young Adults with Depression through User-Led Indoor Environment Modifications Using Local Natural Materials

2025-06-06

AI Summary

Prolonged indoor confinement among depressed youth exacerbates emotional deterioration, highlighting a critical gap in accessible, home-based mental health interventions. Method: This study introduces a user-centered, zero-barrier indoor naturalization paradigm: participants autonomously collect and process locally sourced natural materials to co-design and implement residential space modifications, thereby embedding nature-based therapeutic mechanisms into daily life. Employing participatory observation, in-depth interviews, environmental diaries, and iterative action research workshops, we co-developed a standardized, reusable self-regulation toolkit to bridge the implementation gap between nature-based therapy and domestic contexts. Results: The intervention significantly improved affective states while enhancing environmental awareness, perceived spatial agency, psychological resilience, and sustainable self-management capacity. This work pioneers a user-led, material-based nature intervention framework tailored specifically for home environments, offering a scalable, community-applicable methodology for ecological mental health promotion.

Technology Category

• Humans and AI: Game Design — Virtual Humans, NPCs and Autonomous Characters
• Intelligent Robots: Embodied AI
• Application Domains: Humanities & Computational Social Science

Application Category

• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: On-Device user modeling, personalization, and recommendation
• Responsible Web: Machine-in-the-loop, human agency and autonomy
• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Sustainability of Web economics

Abstract

Young adults with depression often experience prolonged indoor stays, limiting their access to natural environments and exacerbating mental health challenges. While nature therapy is recognized for its psychological benefits, existing interventions frequently require outdoor engagement, which may not be accessible for all individuals. This study explores the potential of user-led indoor modifications using local natural materials as a mental health intervention. A qualitative approach wasemployedtoassessemotionalandenvironmentalconnectedness.Participants engaged in material exploration, collection, and crafting, integrating natural elements into their living spaces. Findings indicate improved mood,increased environmental awareness,and a stronger sense of agency over personal space. The standardized intervention steps suggest the feasibility of a self-help toolkit, enabling broader implementation. This research contributes to sustainable, user-driven mental health interventions, bridging the gap between nature therapy and practical indoor applications.

Problem

• Enhancing mental health through indoor natural modifications
• Bridging nature therapy with indoor accessibility
• Developing self-help toolkit for depression intervention

Innovation

• User-led indoor modifications with natural materials
• Qualitative assessment of emotional connectedness
• Self-help toolkit for sustainable mental health