Respond:
- Think about your colleagues identified community target problem in your own community. If this is a problem in your community, reply by stating additional risk and/or protective factors you think exist in your community regarding this problem.
- The five levels of influence of the social-ecological model (i.e., individual, family, peer, school, and community/cultural) often interact and influence each other.
- Reply to your colleague(s) post by stating how you think two of these levels might influence one another regarding the identified problem
Katrina:
The community target problem identified in this paper is the paradise paradox of Colorado citizens, as Colorado provides near-immediate year-round access to nature, yet simultaneously is ranked the worst state for mental health in the United States (Madsen et al., 2026; Where does, 2025). Colorado is well-known as the sunshine state, as it is sunny almost every day of the year, making its citizens well-known for their engagement in year-round outdoor activities. However, data from Axis Integrated Mental Health (2025) shows that perhaps this statement of Colorado citizens engagement with nature is an overgeneralization due to the high numbers of prevalent mental health issues. Therefore, the goal of this paper is to identify ways to connect Colorado citizens with the resources readily available to them, supporting them at the individual, relational, community, and societal levels.
Utilizing Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, which outlines the five specific systems that influence individual development (Guy-Evans, 2020). The first system is the microsystem, which impacts immediate environments and relationships, the second system is the mesosystem which connects the mircosystems together to discuss the individual, without the individual, the third is the exosystem which outlines indirect influences that the individual doesnt experience, but they do experience their microsystems reactions to it, the fouth system is the macrosystem which is a broader cultural umbrella of influences, and the fifth system is the chronosystem which outlines the impact of time, including lifespan, societal changes, and space in the space-time continuum (Guy-Evans, 2020).
Therefore, Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory can be utilized to identify protective and risk factors at the individual, relationship, community, and societal levels. At the individual level, the protective factors of this intervention include increased health and well-being from direct connection with nature (Compton et al., 2026). The risk factors include limited accessibility options for disabled populations, potential withdrawal symptoms from screens, or low self-esteem due to physical health status. At the relationship level, the protective factors include community building, social engagement, and access to low-stimulating environments to calm the nervous system (Compton et al., 2026). The risk factors include increased anxiety from social pressure, time commitment, and/or a commute to attend the intervention, and access to safe spaces within commutable distances (Compton et al., 2026). At the community level, protective factors include increased community pride, the potential for increased volunteer support in trail maintenance, and greater community safety as more individuals are out and about. The risk factors include overcrowding in parks, increased traffic in rural areas, and a negative impact on trail maintenance if individuals walk off designated trails. At a societal level, the protective factors include a shift in the mindset to be that interacting with nature and going outside is in or mainstream or popular. The risk factors include stigmas or stereotypes of mental health being associated with individuals who engage in nature.
References
Compton, S. M. B., Morton, K., Savage, L., Fredheim, H., Armitt, H., Tracey, L., & Blower, S. L. (2026). Nurturing in nature: an evaluation of a nature-based group for parents and caregivers of babies and young children a thematic analysis and logic model. Wellbeing, Space and Society, 10. .
Guy-Evans, O. (2020). Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory. Simply Psychology. http://www.simplypsychology.org/Bronfenbrenner.html.
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