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Updated: Sep 1, 2025

Measuring Biophysical and Psychological Stress Levels Following Visitation to Three Locations with Differing Levels of Nature
Published on: June 19, 2019
Pro-Environmental Behaviors: Relationship With Nature Visits, Connectedness to Nature and Physical Activity
Andreia Teixeira1, Ronaldo Gabriel2, José Martinho3
156066University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.
Purpose:
Examine the association of visits to the natural environment, connectedness to nature, physical activity, and the adoption of pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) in individuals aged 18 years or older.
Design:
Cross-sectional study.
Setting:
City of Vila Real, located in the north of Portugal.
Subjects:
We recruited 194 individuals (61 men and 133 women) aged 18-75 years.
Mesures:
A self-administered questionnaire was used to measure nature visits, connectedness to nature, PEBs, and demographic characteristics. Neighborhood green space was appreciated through a Simplified Land Occupation Map and physical activity was measured using ActiGraph accelerometers (wGT3X-BT).
Analysis:
Correlations and nonlinear canonical correlation analysis were used to analyze the data. The coefficients of canonical and multiple correlations were calculated.
Results:
Nature visits were associated with involvement in environmental volunteering (V = .317, P ≤ .05) among men. In these, higher levels of moderate-vigorous PA were associated with green travel behavior (η2 = .325, P ≤ .05). Connectedness with nature was related (P ≤ .05) to private sphere behaviors, such as purchase of eco-products (η2 = .191) and local/seasonal products (η2 = .186) in females and encouraging care and protection of natural environment (η2 = .336, P ≤ .01) in males.
Conclusions:
Nature visits, connection to nature, and physical activity levels were related to the adoption of PEBs in the private and public sphere, and these relationships differed between men and women.
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