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Dispositional Mindfulness May Be Associated With Deeper Connections With Nature
Ecopsychology
Format: Journal Article
Publication Date: Nov 30, 2016
Pages: 225 - 231
Sources ID: 34586
Notes: DOI 10.1089/eco.2017.0018; ISSN 19429347; ISSN 1942-9347 (print)
Visibility: Public (group default)
Abstract: (Show)
Feeling connected with nature has broad benefits and can manifest in many ways. One important component of nature connectedness is believing that the self and nature are “one” or interdependent. Mindfulness is associated with greater interdependence and also appears to be associated with feeling connected with nature. Decentering is a mechanism of mindfulness that involves creating a reflective distance from which thoughts and emotions can be observed as transient, internal phenomena and not unequivocal truths. Assuming a decentered perspective may allow individuals to get “out of their heads” and into the surrounding world. This study examined the relationships between dispositional mindfulness, decentering, and nature connectedness in a sample (N = 467) of American adults. Results indicated that dispositional mindfulness was positively associated with nature connectedness, with two dispositional mindfulness facets, observing and non-reacting, accounting for the majority of this association. Furthermore, decentering mediated the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and nature connectedness. Key Words: Nature connectedness—Mindfulness—Decentering—Self.