Dataset Information

Connectedness to Nature: Its Impact on Sustainable Behaviors and Happiness in Children.

ABSTRACT: Given the environmental problems humanity is currently facing, and considering that the future of the planet lies in the hands of children and their actions, research on the determinants of sustainable behaviors in children has become more relevant; nonetheless, studies on this topic focusing on children are scarce. Previous research on adults suggests, in an isolated manner, the relationship between connectedness to nature, the development of behaviors in favor of the environment, and positive results derived from them, such as happiness and well-being. In the present research, connectedness to nature was considered as a determinant of sustainable behaviors, and happiness was considered as a positive consequence of the latter. This research aimed to demonstrate the relationship between these variables in children. Two hundred and ninety-six children with an average age of 10.42 years old participated in the study, in which they responded to a research instrument that measured connectedness to nature, sustainable behaviors (pro-ecological behavior, frugality, altruism, and equity), and happiness. To analyze the relationships between these variables, a model of structural equations was specified and tested. The results revealed a significant relationship between connectedness to nature and sustainable behaviors, which, in turn, impact happiness. This suggests that children who perceive themselves as more connected to nature tend to perform more sustainable behaviors; also, the more pro-ecological, frugal, altruistic, and equitable the children are, the greater their perceived happiness will be. The implications for studying and promoting sustainable behaviors are discussed within the framework of positive psychology.

SUBMITTER: Barrera-Hernandez LF

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7054437 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Connectedness to Nature: Its Impact on Sustainable Behaviors and Happiness in Children.

Barrera-Hernández Laura Fernanda LF Sotelo-Castillo Mirsha Alicia MA Echeverría-Castro Sonia Beatriz SB Tapia-Fonllem César Octavio CO

Frontiers in psychology 20200226

Given the environmental problems humanity is currently facing, and considering that the future of the planet lies in the hands of children and their actions, research on the determinants of sustainable behaviors in children has become more relevant; nonetheless, studies on this topic focusing on children are scarce. Previous research on adults suggests, in an isolated manner, the relationship between connectedness to nature, the development of behaviors in favor of the environment, and positive ...[more]

PMID: 32174866

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Project description:BACKGROUND:The urban environment has been criticized for promoting 'nature-deficit' and 'child-nature disconnectedness'. Keeping in mind the importance of nature exposure and its extensive health benefits, many environmental programs around the world hope to (re)connect children with nature. To evaluate the effectiveness of such efforts, valid tools to measure Connectedness to Nature (CN) are needed but do not exist today, especially for use with pre-schoolers. METHODS:The original CN Index was modified and tested among the Parents of Preschool Children (CNI-PPC) in an urban setting (Hong Kong) for its internal consistency (n = 299) and external validity (n = 194). The 'Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire' (SDQ) was chosen for divergent and convergent analysis. Conventional recommendations for test adaptation and translation were used. RESULTS:Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) revealed that the 16-item scale adequately captured four major dimensions: enjoyment of nature, empathy for nature, responsibility toward nature, and awareness of nature (Cronbach's ? were respectively .86, .87, .75 and .80). When tested against the SDQ, a validated measure for child psychological functioning, and identification of children's problem behaviours, three CNI-PPC factors influenced the SDQ outcomes: (1) the more enjoyment of nature children displayed the less overall distress and impairment they exhibited (? = -.64); (2) greater responsibility toward nature in children was associated with less hyperactivity (? = -.50), fewer behavioural and peer difficulties (? = -.62 and ? = -.65 respectively) and improved prosocial behaviour (? = .77); (3) the more aware children were of nature, the less emotional difficulties they exhibited (? = -.51). The variance explained was large (range R2 = .42 to .80). CONCLUSIONS:Thus, CNI-PPC factors have meaningful and substantive associations with the strengths and difficulties parents perceive in their children. This indicates that the CNI-PPC is a valid and reliable instrument to measure CN at an age when children cannot respond for themselves. Further, this simple tool can help researchers/practitioners to better understand how connectedness to nature affects child psychological functioning and wellbeing. TRIAL REGISTRATION:ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02715544. Registered 8 March 2016.

Dataset Information

Connectedness to Nature: Its Impact on Sustainable Behaviors and Happiness in Children.

Publications

Connectedness to Nature: Its Impact on Sustainable Behaviors and Happiness in Children.

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