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Twitter: @findingnature

Blog: findingnature.org.uk

Web: derby.ac.uk/NCxRG

Nature ConnectednessProf. Miles Richardson

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Nature Connectedness Research Group

www.derby.ac.uk/science

derby.ac.uk…we are not a nation of nature lovers.

Our relationship with nature has failed…

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From - Kesebir, S., & Kesebir, P. (2017). A growing

disconnection from nature is evident in cultural

products. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 12(2), 258-

269.

‘All about me’

From - Twenge, J. M., Campbell, W. K., & Gentile, B.

(2012). Increases in individualistic words and phrases in

American books, 1960–2008. PloS one, 7(7), e40181.

derby.ac.ukFrom: @CartoonRalph cartoonralph.co.uk

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Nature Connectedness (NCx)

• Different to contact and exposure to nature.

What is Nature Connectedness?

• An internationally recognised psychological construct.

• A person’s sense of their relationship with nature.

• Measurable & malleable

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Growth of Nature Connectedness Research

Researc

h P

apers

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

2000 2005 2010 2015 2020

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Why Nature Connectedness Matters

• Systematic review of 50 studies

shows nature connection related

to feeling good & functioning

well.

Vitality

Life Satisfaction

Lower Anxiety

Body Image

Pritchard, A., Richardson, M., Sheffield, D, & McEwan, K.

(2019). The relationship between nature connectedness and

eudaimonic wellbeing: a meta-analysis. Journal of Happiness

Studies, 1-23.

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Why does Nature Connection Matter?

“strong & robust association between nature connection & PEB,

as well as evidence that nature connection causes PEB” Mackay, C.M.L., Schmitt, M.T., (2019).

Why Nature Connectedness Matters More

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• Natural England Strategic Research Network project to measure NC

at the population level to complement the data on contact.

• Existing measures not suited to a national survey with adults &

children.

• NC Working Group tested and validated a new short, simple 6 item

scale for use with adults and children - the ‘Nature Connection

Index’ (NCI)

Nature Connection Index Project

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Measures - The Nature Connection Index

Richardson, et al. (2019). A Measure of Nature Connectedness for Children and Adults: Validation, Performance, and

Insights. Sustainability, 11(12), 3250.

The NCI is measured on a 7-point scale ranging from completely

agree to completely disagree and asks:

1. I always find beauty in nature

2. I always treat nature with respect

3. Being in nature makes me very happy

4. Spending time in nature is very important to me

5. I find being in nature really amazing

6. I feel part of nature

• The measure can be used with children and adults and generates

a meaningful score from zero to 100.

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The INS and other outcomes

Please circle the picture below which best describes your

relationship with the natural environment. How interconnected are

your with nature right now?

Other Outcomes

• Hedonic wellbeing – single item happiness.

• Eudemonic wellbeing – single item worthwhile life.

• Pro-Conservation Behaviours.

• Pro-Environmental Behaviours.

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NC & Pro-nature behaviours: The Basics

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Nature Connection Across the Lifespan

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

75

7 to 9 10 to12

13 to15

16 to18

19 to21

22 to25

26 to30

31 to40

41 to50

51 to60

61 to70

Over70

NC

I

For a Sustainable Future?

Richardson, M., Hunt, A., Hinds, J., Bragg, R., Fido, D., Petronzi, D., Barbett, L., Clitherow, T.J., and White, M. (2019). An Affective Measure of

Nature Connectedness for Children and Adults: Validation, Performance and Insights. Sustainability, 11(12), 3250.

Age

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Why the Adolescent Dip Matters

• A national analysis of 29,784 Canadian adolescents.

• Connection to nature ‘important’ - associated with a 25%

reduction in high mental health symptoms

• Adolescent engagement with nature ‘protective for their

psychological well-being’.

• Connection to nature drops 30% from age 9 to 15

Piccininni, C., Michaelson, V., Janssen, I., &

Pickett, W. (2018). Outdoor play and nature

connectedness as potential correlates of

internalized mental health symptoms among

Canadian adolescents. Preventive

medicine, 112, 168-175.

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Comparing Visits and Connection

• Theory and research has focussed on time, type & frequency and largely

overlooked the person specific factors in human-nature interactions.

• Survey of 4,960 adults in England. UK official statistics = representative sampling.

• Meaningful as greater in magnitude to benchmark socio-demographic factors.

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• Nature connectedness important

over and above nature contact

for worthwhile life and pro-nature

behaviours.

• Nature connectedness is a key

target to foster a worthwhile and

sustainable life – a ‘good life’.

• The 2019 IPBES report on the

decline in wildlife stated that to

save nature we need to re-

evaluate what we mean by a

"good life".

Key findings

Martin, L., White, M. P., Hunt, A., Richardson, M., Pahl, S.,

& Burt, J. (2020). Nature contact, nature connectedness and

associations with health, wellbeing and pro-environmental

behaviours. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 101389.

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A New Relationship with Nature

• Nature connectedness is important in its own right for wellbeing

and pro-nature behaviours.

• Meaningful as greater in magnitude to benchmark socio-

demographic factors.

• A connected life is a worthwhile life,

– a sustainable life,

– a good life.

let nature be your story