Connectedness to Nature
The unifying element of most of my research is connectedness to nature—the extent to which nature is included in peoples’ sense of self.
Connectedness to Nature
Defined as the extent to which nature is included in peoples’ sense of self, which often manifests as a sense of oneness with nature.
Shows robust associations with pro-environmental behavior (Mackay & Schmitt, 2019) and psychological wellbeing (Pritchard et al. 2020). It’s good for nature AND people!
Like many other researchers in my field, I believe that connectedness is a crucial element for a sustainable, healthy, and happy future for all members of this planet.
Below are some of the studies I have done (or am working on) explicitly focusing on connectedness to nature.
If you are interested in learning more about what we currently know about the predictors of connectedness to nature, check out my review article:
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)
Or check out a similar chapter of mine on Outdoor Environmental Education
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)
To learn about a new perspective on connectedness to nature, check out my recently published article:
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)
MeaningInNature.com 