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Happiness is in our Nature: Exploring Nature Relatedness as a Contributor to Subjective Well-Being
Journal of Happiness Studies
Short Title: Journal of Happiness Studies
Format: Journal Article
Publication Date: 2011/04/01/
Pages: 303 - 322
Sources ID: 34466
Visibility: Public (group default)
Abstract: (Show)
Nature relatedness (NR) describes the affective, cognitive, and experiential aspects of human–nature relationships (Nisbet in Environ Behav 41: 715–740, 2009). Evidence from three studies suggests that individual differences in NR are associated with differences in well-being. In study 1 (N = 184), we explore associations between NR and a variety of well-being indicators, and use multiple regression analyses to demonstrate the unique relationship of NR with well-being, while controlling for other environmental measures. We replicate well-being correlates with a sample of business people (N = 145) in Study 2. In study 3 (N = 170), we explore the influence of environmental education on NR and well-being, and find that changes in NR mediate the relationship between environmental education and changes in vitality. We discuss the potential for interventions to improve psychological health and promote environmental behaviour.