Growing natural connections : the effects of types and modalities of nature on youth's connectedness to nature

• Main Authors: Low, Audria Huixuan, Chung, Carynn Yan Min, Cheong, Irene Jia Yi, Loke, Charmaine Xin Yu
• Other Authors: Sonny Ben Rosenthal
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2022
• Subjects: Social sciences::Communication
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/155909
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

It is crucial to cultivate pro-environmental behaviour in youth as they have a significant stake in the future of the environment. A strong predictor of pro-environmental behaviour in individuals is connectedness to nature, which is an emotional feeling of a bond with nature. However, current research lacks a consensus on how to effectively cultivate youth’s connectedness to nature. To address this gap, this study investigates how modality of nature experiences and type of nature influence connectedness to nature in youth. The study used a pretest-posttest 2 (modality of nature experience) 2 (type of nature) factorial experiment (n = 164). Hypotheses testing used mediation and mediation-moderation analyses. Results showed that experiences in actual nature were significantly more effective than mediated nature in fostering connectedness to nature, possibly due to the direct and rich sensorial engagement only available in actual nature. These results reaffirm the necessity of actual nature experiences in cultivating connectedness to nature and thus the propensity to engage in pro-environmental behaviour, which has implications for environmental education.