Exploring the Relationship Between Connectedness With Nature, Environmental Identity, and Environmental Self-Identity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

A meta-analysis was carried out to investigate the relationship between connectedness with nature, environmental identity, and environmental self-identity. Through meta-analyzing these relationships, we are able to assess the true estimate of their magnitude. The results revealed a strong correlation between measures of connectedness with nature and environmental identity (r = .75 [0.67, 0.83], k = 11) as well as environmental self-identity (r = .57 [.31, .84], k = 5). Further moderation analysis indicated that the relationship between connectedness with nature and environmental identity is different for graphical and questionnaire instruments used for assessing connectedness with nature; the aggregated correlation for graphical instruments (r = .62 [.56, .67], k = 9) was significantly lower than for questionnaires (r = .82 [.74, .91], k = 9). We suggest revisiting the various instruments assessing human-nature relatedness to maximize unique variance among them.

The CN-12: A Brief, Multidimensional Connection With Nature Instrument

“…This suggests that identity may make the most significant contribution to the CN construct, relative to other dimensions. Interestingly, a recent meta-analysis suggested that CN and environmental identity were distinct yet highly correlated constructs ( Balundė et al, 2019 ). However, 10 of the 11 studies included in the meta-analyses assessed environmental identity using the EID; thus, it is plausible that the EID-Identity dimension made the largest contribution to the overlap between environmental identity and CN in that study.…”

“…Another potential dimension that merits investigation is spatial or contextual CN; that is, the role that specific geographical locations may have in CN (Klaniecki et al, 2018;Giusti, 2019), perhaps leveraging insights from the place attachment literature (e.g., Gosling and Williams, 2010;Ramkissoon et al, 2013;Beery and Wolf-Watz, 2014). As noted by Balundė et al (2019), a comprehensive understanding of the breadth of the CN construct may provide insights that enable targeted interventions to foster PEB.…”

Concepts Describing and Assessing Individuals’ Environmental Sustainability: An Integrative Review and Taxonomy

“…The proposed taxonomy includes five identity constructs, namely environmental identity, connectedness to nature, nature relatedness, ecological identity, and environmental self-identity. All five constructs cover different facets of the human-nature relationship (for a review, see, e.g., Balundë et al, 2019 ), which describe the connection and inclusion of nature as part of the self on the one hand, and the self-view as an environmentally friendly person on the other. While the former four constructs all address the planet scope, environmental self-identity indicates a personal practice context.…”

“…Examples include concepts of emotional affinity toward nature ( Kals et al, 1999 ), the inclusion of nature in self (INS) ( Schultz, 2002 ), implicit association with nature ( Schultz et al, 2004 ), connectivity to nature ( Dutcher et al, 2007 ), disposition to connect with nature ( Brügger et al, 2011 ), and identification with nature ( Schmitt et al, 2019 ). Against this background, a number of researchers have reviewed similarities and differences among these concepts (for details, see, e.g., Brügger et al, 2011 ; Balundë et al, 2019 ). With regard to measuring connectedness to nature, Mayer and Frantz (2004) provide the connectedness to nature scale (CNS) that addresses identities and attitudes within a planet scope.…”

Spaceship Earth Revisited: The Co-Benefits of Overcoming Biological Extinction of Experience at the Level of Person, Place and Planet

“…Since emerging research indicates that time spent in nature in early life predicts later-life engagement in nature-based activities [52][53][54][55] and subsequent pro-environmental attitudes (and quite likely, pro-environmental behaviors) [56,57], a greater understanding of experiential losses in the context of sustaining life on Spaceship Earth seems urgent. In a self-reinforcing way, experience within natural environments may help develop an emotional connectedness with nature and an enduring "environmental identity" [58,59]. Children with greater experiential nature exposure are more likely to react to signs of environmental harm [60] and protect the environment in the future [56,57].…”