Disconnection from the natural world may be contributing to our planet's destruction. The authors propose a new construct, Nature Relatedness (NR), and a scale that assesses the affective, cognitive, and experiential aspects of individuals' connection to nature. In Study 1, the authors explored the internal structure of the NR item responses in a sample of 831 participants using factor analysis. They tested the construct validity of NR with respect to an assortment of environmental and personality measures. In Study 2, they employed experience sampling methodology examining if NR people spend more time outdoors, in nature. Across studies, NR correlated with environmental scales, behavior, and frequency of time in nature, supporting the reliability and validity of NR, as well as the contribution of NR (over and above other measures) to environmental concern and behavior. The potential of NR as a useful method for investigating human-nature relationships and the processes underlying environmental concern and behaviors are discussed.

The construct of (dis)connection with nature or “nature relatedness” has become increasingly useful in the study of environmental behavior as well as psychological health and well-being. Strong nature relatedness is associated with greater happiness and ecologically sustainable behavior. A number of scales reliably assess individual differences in nature relatedness, but some circumstances may necessitate a brief measure. We developed a short-form version of the nature relatedness scale (NR-6), comprised of 6 items from the “self” and “experience” dimensions, and tested the new scale's predictive ability across multiple samples and with longitudinal data in students, community members, and business people. The new NR-6 scale demonstrated good internal consistency, temporal stability, and predicted happiness, environmental concern, and nature contact. This new brief measure of connectedness may have advantages where time and space are limited and the research context requires an assessment of connectedness elements rather than environmental attitudes.

Nature relatedness, Happiness, Well-being, Positive affect, Vitality, Environmental attitudes, Environmental education,

Abstract:From the increasing number of people living in urban areas to the continued degradation of the natural environment, many of us appear to be physically and psychologically disconnected from nature. We consider the theoretical explanations and present evidence for why this state of affairs might result in suboptimal levels of hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing by reviewing the large body of research on the mental health benefits of connecting with nature. The advantages of contact with nature as a potential wellbeing intervention are discussed, and examples of how this research is being applied to reconnect individuals to nature and improve wellbeing are given. We conclude by considering the limitations of, and proposing future directions for, research in this area. Overall, evidence suggests that connecting with nature is one path to flourishing in life.

Modern lifestyles disconnect people from nature, and this may have adverse consequences for the well-being of both humans and the environment. In two experiments, we found that although outdoor walks in nearby nature made participants much happier than indoor walks did, participants made affective forecasting errors, such that they systematically underestimated nature's hedonic benefit. The pleasant moods experienced on outdoor nature walks facilitated a subjective sense of connection with nature, a construct strongly linked with concern for the environment and environmentally sustainable behavior. To the extent that affective forecasts determine choices, our findings suggest that people fail to maximize their time in nearby nature and thus miss opportunities to increase their happiness and relatedness to nature. Our findings suggest a happy path to sustainability, whereby contact with nature fosters individual happiness and environmentally responsible behavior.

Subjective connection with nature, or nature relatedness, is similar to other environmental worldview measures in predicting sustainable attitudes and behaviors, yet is unique in predicting happiness. In two studies, the authors assessed the overlap between nature relatedness and other subjective connections (e.g., with friends or country) and examined these connections as a possible confound in explaining the link between nature relatedness and happiness. Study 1 adapted a measure of general connectedness and administered it to student (n = 331) and community (n = 415) samples along with multiple nature relatedness and happiness indicators. Study 2 examined more established measures of subjective connections in another community sample (n = 204). General connectedness predicted happiness well, yet nature relatedness remained a significant distinct predictor of many happiness indicators, even after controlling for other connections. Results support the notion that nature relatedness could be a path to human happiness and environmental sustainability, though confirming this causal direction requires additional research.

Despite the links between the environment and health, campaigns designed to promote sustainable behaviour are rarely framed in terms of human health, and strategies to change health behaviour are not often applied to environmental behaviour. We illustrate the connections between health and the environment, and health behaviour and environmental behaviour. We also describe health behaviour models, and provide an analysis of how they might inform the research on environmental actions. We discuss research, education, and public policy implications of applying a health framework to environmental issues and promoting behaviour that is healthy for both the planet and human beings. Environmental problems have serious consequences for human health (World Health Organization, 2008). Moreover, human behaviour affects the environment. Our behaviour and lifestyles contribute to global warming, habitat destruction, and depletion of the ozone layer (Winter, 2000). Clearly, to protect human health and well-being we need to take care of our environment and live sustainably. Psychologists can help efforts to shift people toward environmentally friendly behaviour by contributing their knowledge about how and why people behave the way they do and suggesting strategies for behaviour change. Indeed, a number of factors that contribute to environmental destruction have been identified, but policymakers and governments have had limited success in achieving widespread behaviour change. Despite the links between the environment and health, environmental information and campaigns are rarely framed in terms of human health. In addition, although there is excellent research and theory on environmental problems (see Gifford, 2008), environmental psychology also has not emphasised parallels between changing environmental behaviour and health behaviour change.The goal of this article is to illustrate the connection between health and environmental behaviours and provide an analysis of how health psychology might inform the research on environmental issues and public policy strategies aimed at increasing sustainable behaviour. Using established models of health behaviour change may improve the design of interventions to increase pro-environmental actions.Framing some environmental actions as health behaviours may also provide new ways to approach the problem of motivating behaviour change and lead to new perspectives in potential interventions to increase pro-environmental action.We begin with a brief summary of effects of the environment on health and follow with a discussion of similarities between both kinds of behaviour as well as some determinants of behaviour change in both spheres. We then describe major models of health behaviour change, suggest their applicability to environmental behaviour, and review the limited research that has applied these models to environmental issues. We next provide recommendations for research, education, and public policy, including raising awareness of the environment-health links to promote sustainable be...

Abstract:From the increasing number of people living in urban areas to the continued degradation of the natural environment, many of us appear to be physically and psychologically disconnected from nature. We consider the theoretical explanations and present evidence for why this state of affairs might result in suboptimal levels of hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing by reviewing the large body of research on the mental health benefits of connecting with nature. The advantages of contact with nature as a potential wellbeing intervention are discussed, and examples of how this research is being applied to reconnect individuals to nature and improve wellbeing are given. We conclude by considering the limitations of, and proposing future directions for, research in this area. Overall, evidence suggests that connecting with nature is one path to flourishing in life.