Meaning In Nature

An academic research page.

Using environmental, social, and positive psychology to promote stronger connections to the world around us.

Full List of Publications

Journal Articles

Lengieza, M. L., Swim, J. K., DeCoster, J., Guerriero, J. G., Saito, O., le Coent, P., Sella, L., Chien, H., Hérivaux, C., Rota, F. S., & Ragazzi, E. (2025). A Five-Culture Validation of the Environmental Value-Bases Scale: A Measure of Instrumental, Intrinsic, and Relational Environmental Values. Sustainability, 17(22), 10102. https://doi.org/10.3390/su172210102

Hughes, J. P., Lengieza, M., & Knight, G. (2025). Beauty not Sustainability: Support for mowing and rewilding is most influenced by subjective visual appeal not ecological friendliness. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 129076. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2025.129076

Richardson, M., Lengieza, M. L., White, M. P., Tran, U. S., Voracek, M., Stieger, S., & Swami, V. (2025). Macro-level determinants of nature connectedness: An exploratory analysis of 61 countries. Ambio. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-025-02275-w

Lengieza, M. L., Richardson, M., & Hughes, J. P. (2025). Feature networks: The environmental features that are central to nature- connectedness experiences. Landscape and Urban Planning, 259, 105362. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2025.105362

Lengieza, M. L., Richardson, M., & Aviste, R. (2024). Situation Networks: The emotions and activities that are central to nature-connectedness experiences. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 102491. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2024.102491

Lengieza, M. L. (2024). Eudaimonic self-expansion: The effects of eudaimonic reflections on nature connectedness. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 102231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2024.102231

Lengieza, M. L., Aviste, R., & Swim, J. K. (2023). Nature as community: An overlooked predictor of pro-environmental intentions. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 102127; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2023.102127

Lengieza, M. L., Aviste, R., Richardson, M. (2023). The Human–Nature Relationship as a Tangible Target for Pro-environmental Behaviour: Guidance from Interpersonal Relationships. Sustainability. 15(16), 12175; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612175 (Download)

Lengieza, M. L., Hunt, C. A., & Swim, J. K. (2022). Ecotourism, eudaimonia, and sustainability insights. Journal of Ecotourism. 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/14724049.2021.2024215

Swim, J. K., Aviste, R., Lengieza, M. L., & Fasano, C. J. (2022). OK Boomer: A decade of generational differences in feelings about climate change. Global Environmental Change, 73, 102479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2022.102479

Cameron, C. D., Lengieza, M. L., Hadjiandreou, E., Swim, J. K., Chiles, R. M., (2022). Empathic choices for animals versus humans: The role of choice context and perceived cost. The Journal of Social Psychology,  162(1), 161-177. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2021.1997890

Lengieza, M. L. & Swim, J. K. (2021). The Paths to Connectedness: A review of the antecedents of connectedness to nature. Frontiers in Environmental Psychology. 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.763231 (Download)

Lengieza, M. L. & Swim, J. K. (2021). Diminished public self-awareness in nature contributes to the positive effects of contact with nature on connectedness to nature. Ecopsychology, 13(3), 210-218. http://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2020.0047

Gu. X., Hunt, C. A., Lengieza, M. L., Niu, L., Wu, H., Wang, Y., Jia, X. (2021). Community perceptions of ecotourism to Changbai Mountain biosphere reserve. Sustainability, 13(1), 199; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010199

Lengieza, M. L., Swim, J. K., & Hunt, C. A. (2021). Effects of post-trip eudaimonic reflections on affect, self-transcendence, and philanthropy. The Service Industries Journal, 41(3-4), 285-306. https://doi.org/10.1080/02642069.2019.1636966

Lengieza, M. L., Hunt, C. A., & Swim, J. K. (2019b). Travel-induced learning: a validation of the sustainability insight scale. Current Issues in Tourism, 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2019.1584160

Swim, J. K., Geiger, N., & Lengieza, M. L. (2019). Climate change protests as a motivator for bystander collective action. Frontiers in Communication, 4, 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2019.00004

Lengieza, M. L., Hunt, C. A., & Swim, J. K. (2019a). Measuring eudaimonic travel experiences. Annals of Tourism Research, 74, 195-197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2018.05.002

Borton, J. L., Oakes, M. A., & Lengieza, M. L. (2016). Fixated on rejection: Attentional blindness following socially rejecting faces in people with defensive self-esteem. Self and Identity, 16(1), 62-81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15298868.2016.1218924

Book Chapters

Lengieza, M.L., Aviste, R., Swim, J.K. (2023). Connectedness to Nature Through Outdoor Environmental Education: Insights from Psychology. In: Činčera, J., Johnson, B., Goldman, D., Alkaher, I., Medek, M. (eds) Outdoor Environmental Education in the Contemporary World. International Explorations in Outdoor and Environmental Education, vol 12. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-29257-6_4 (download preprint)