For centuries, humanity has sought solace in the great outdoors. The fresh air, the rustle of trees, the quiet hum of nature—it has always been a source of comfort, healing, and connection. But what if, for some people, nature does not inspire peace but discomfort, fear, or even disgust? A new study from Lund University has cast a spotlight on a growing, yet largely overlooked phenomenon: biophobia, the fear or aversion to nature. This is a fear that many don’t talk about, and even fewer understand.
“I think we’ve always assumed that people, at their core, feel positive emotions toward nature,” explains Johan Kjellberg Jensen, a researcher at Lund University and the lead author of the study. “What we’ve done here is examine the opposite—that is, when there is a negative relationship with nature, how it arises, and what consequences it has.”
This revelation is far from a trivial matter. The study, recently published in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, paints a picture that challenges traditional notions about our bond with the environment. Researchers reviewed nearly 200 scientific articles from across the globe, compiling data from studies in countries like Sweden, Japan, and the United States. What they discovered about biophobia was both fascinating and concerning.
A Growing Disconnect from Nature
The results are clear: the emotional connection many people once had to nature is deteriorating, and in its place is a growing sense of fear and discomfort. But how did this happen? And what is fueling the negative emotions people feel toward the very world that sustains us?
The study reveals that a wide range of factors—both external and internal—play a role in shaping these negative emotions. On the external side, things like our physical surroundings, the media we consume, and our exposure to nature itself all contribute to how we perceive the environment. Internal factors, including health conditions and emotional traits, also come into play.
However, it’s the combination of urbanization and the changing attitudes of parents that seems to be accelerating the problem. As more and more people live in cities, the chance for regular contact with nature has diminished. For children, in particular, this creates a dangerous feedback loop. “Urbanization combined with parents’ attitudes can increase negative feelings and perceived danger in nature among children—something which becomes particularly relevant as more and more children grow up in cities,” Kjellberg Jensen says.
It’s easy to overlook the implications of this, but think about it: children growing up in urban environments may never get the chance to wander through forests or explore the natural world. Their only understanding of animals and plants may come from books, television, or the internet—and often, these portrayals are far from positive. With little firsthand experience, nature becomes a foreign, sometimes frightening concept.
The Lost Benefits of Nature
While the detrimental effects of biophobia are concerning on a psychological level, the consequences stretch much further. Nature, as it turns out, isn’t just beautiful to look at—it has well-documented health benefits. Research has shown that spending time outdoors can lower stress, improve mood, and even enhance cognitive performance. In children, exposure to nature has been linked to better school performance, reduced symptoms of ADHD, and increased emotional well-being.
But what happens when people are afraid of nature? What happens when their instinct is to avoid the very thing that could heal them? Kjellberg Jensen’s study makes it clear: biophobia creates a barrier between people and the well-being that nature provides. “Negative emotions can cause people to miss out on nature’s health benefits,” he says, “and also contribute to attitudes and behaviors that run counter to conservation and sustainability efforts.”
In essence, biophobia not only harms individual well-being but could also harm the planet. If people fear nature, they are less likely to care for it, protect it, or advocate for its preservation. This could have lasting effects on global conservation efforts, making it even harder to combat the climate crisis and protect endangered species.
The Path to Reversing Biophobia
Despite the troubling nature of these findings, the study is not all doom and gloom. Kjellberg Jensen and his colleagues believe there is hope. The first step in addressing biophobia, they argue, is increasing exposure to nature. By creating more green spaces within urban environments and fostering biodiversity in cities, we can give children—especially those in urban settings—the opportunity to develop positive experiences with nature early in life.
“The phenomenon of biophobia is broad and requires a diverse toolkit,” says Kjellberg Jensen. “In some cases, it is about increasing knowledge and contact with nature; in others, it could be about reducing points of conflict between humans and nature. We need to understand the mechanisms behind the negative emotions better to reverse the trend.”
In other words, the solution isn’t one-size-fits-all. It will require a multifaceted approach, from urban planning that integrates natural elements into cityscapes, to educational programs that help people of all ages connect with the outdoors in a meaningful way. But perhaps the most important step is simply fostering a greater understanding of nature’s value—and making it a priority to reconnect with the environment, rather than fear it.
Why This Research Matters
The research on biophobia may sound niche, but its implications are far-reaching. As urbanization continues and our relationship with the natural world becomes increasingly distant, understanding biophobia is essential. Without addressing this growing fear of nature, we risk losing touch with the very thing that sustains life on Earth. Furthermore, the more disconnected we become from nature, the harder it will be to protect and preserve the environment for future generations.
By confronting biophobia, we not only stand a chance of healing our relationship with the Earth, but we also open the door to better mental and physical health for millions of people. Nature is a source of well-being; it has always been there, waiting for us to reconnect with it. If we can reverse the negative emotions that keep us away, we may find a world more capable of healing—not just the planet, but ourselves as well.
More information: Johan Kjellberg Jensen et al, Toward a unified understanding of people’s aversion to nature: biophobia, Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment (2025). DOI: 10.1002/fee.70019
