Connecting with nature: The missing link between a satisfied life and a healthy life?

Nature connection is an important leverage point for human wellbeing and planetary health. In this paper, we examine the varying relationships between nature connection and wellbeing measures through a nationally-representative survey in Australia. We find a positive association between nature connection and two measures of wellbeing: life satisfaction (measured through the personal wellbeing index; PWI) and health-related quality-of-life (measured through the Australian Quality of Life (AQoL) tool). Nature connection was associated with all PWI life domains with a strength of association similar to the relationship between income and PWI. We find a stronger association between nature connection and how satisfied a person feels about their life (PWI) than how well a person feels they function in life (AQoL). Those with higher levels of nature connection tend to have greater life satisfaction than expected from their health-related quality-of-life. These findings highlight the potential to improve wellbeing via nature connection, by expanding opportunities to meaningfully connect with nature.