A qualitative investigation of the impact of nature walking on the health benefits achieved by older Korean immigrants living in U.S.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the health benefits associated with nature-based walking among older Korean immigrants living in the United States. METHOD: Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with sixteen older Korean immigrant participants. Interviews explored participant motivations for joining nature walking groups and the specific health benefits that were derived from participation in such groups. Thematic analysis was used to identify major themes in collected data. RESULTS: Analysis revealed three primary themes: (a) improvement of psychological wellbeing that was characterized by stress reduction, emotional resilience, ad alleviation of loneliness; (b) development of cultural bonding that was demonstrated by the building of enhanced interpersonal relationships and cultural exchanges among participants; and (c) increased physical health that was indicated by improved mobility, endurance, and physical strength. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings underscore the importance of culturally sensitive leisure activities such as nature walking that significantly enhance the psychological, social, and physical health of older Korean immigrants. These insights are valuable for designing targeted health promotion interventions whose goal is to improve the quality of life and facilitate the healthy aging of this population.