Digital Detox in Nature: Measuring Cortisol Reduction and Attention Restoration Among Gen Z

Abstract

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This paper discusses the consequences of a 7-day digital detox in nature, in regard to physiological and cognitive results, with special attention to Generation Z (Gen Z) college students. As more and more people are becoming worried about the effect of over-digitizing on health, especially the youth, this study investigates how reconnecting with nature can be beneficial. One hundred and twenty participants were selected in three groups randomly and allotted to groups that comprised nature retreat, urban setting and control group to enable comparative analysis of results. The physiological outcome was a cortisol, which is one of the major stress hormones, and cognitive functioning was determined as a sustained attention. The findings revealed that the nature retreat group recorded a large decrease in cortisol (34 percent) relative to both the other groups, which means that physiological stress had reduced. Also, the nature retreat group reported an increase in sustained attention by 28% and this implies that there was positive impact on cognitive restoration. These results highlight the possibility of the nature-based interventions, specifically the need to unplug, in the facilitation of physiological and mental health. The study suggests that nature therapy should be included in wellness programmes and digital wellness policies especially among Gen Z, who are increasingly using digital technologies.