Connectedness and well-being in simulated nature.

Area of Science:

• Environmental psychology
• Human well-being studies
• Nature connectedness research

Background:

• Human well-being is intrinsically linked to nature through physical, cognitive, and emotional connections.
• Different environmental types possess varying degrees of naturalness, prompting investigation into their differential impacts on individuals.
• Understanding how exposure to diverse natural environments influences human connectedness and overall well-being is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of viewing different types of natural environments on environmental connectedness and well-being.
• To determine if the type of environment (totally natural, quasi-natural, non-natural) influences psychological responses.
• To explore the mediating roles of affect and nature connectedness in the relationship between environment type and well-being.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 454 participants from five countries.
• Participants viewed images of totally natural, quasi-natural, or non-natural environments on a computer screen.
• Data were collected through questionnaires assessing affect, nature connectedness, and well-being, followed by mediation and ANOVA analyses.

Main Results:

• A significant indirect effect of environment type on well-being was found, mediated by positive and negative affect and nature connectedness.
• Totally natural and quasi-natural environments elicited significantly higher levels of connectedness and well-being compared to non-natural environments.
• Participant preference also varied, with natural and quasi-natural environments being favored over non-natural ones.

Conclusions:

• Exposure to images of natural environments, including quasi-natural ones, is effective in promoting well-being and fostering connectedness to nature.
• The findings underscore the psychological benefits of nature, even when experienced through mediated forms like images.
• Interventions aimed at improving mental health could incorporate natural environments to enhance psychological outcomes.