The Impact of a “Three Good Things in Nature” Writing Task on Nature Connectedness, Pro-nature Conservation Behavior, Life Satisfaction, and Mindfulness in Children
Journal article
Authors | Harvey, C., Sheffield, D., Richardson, M. and Wells, R. |
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Abstract | This research explores relationships between nature connectedness, pro-nature conservation behaviour, life satisfaction and mindfulness in children aged 9-11 years and assesses the impact of a 3 good-things in nature writing intervention. Participants were assigned to either an experimental condition, writing about 3 good-things in nature, or a control condition, writing about any three things, over 5 days. In total, 138 children provided complete data. Multiple regression showed nature connectedness and environmental perceptions predicted pro-nature conservation behaviour whilst nature connectedness and mindfulness predicted life satisfaction. MANOVA examined group differences and revealed a significant multivariate effect of time with univariant effects for nature connectedness, mindfulness and life satisfaction, but not pro-nature conservation behaviour. A significant multivariate time x group interaction was observed whereby univariate ANOVA revealed time x group interactions for pro-conservation behaviour and nature connectedness. Post hoc t-tests for pro-conservation behaviour indicated no group differences at baseline, but higher pro-conservation behaviour post-intervention in the experimental condition. For nature connectedness, post-hoc t-tests indicated higher levels in the experimental condition at all three time points; whilst change in nature connectedness from baseline to post-intervention was greater in the experimental group than the control. There was no group difference in change in nature connectedness from baseline to follow-up. Data was collected during late spring/early summer which may result in seasonal effects. Future research could address this by collecting data throughout the year. This research demonstrates support for relationships between nature connectedness and both pro-conservation behaviour and life satisfaction in children and shows that short interventions can impact on nature connectedness and pro-conservation behaviour, although the impact on nature connectedness was relatively short-lived. |
Keywords | Nature connectedness; Pro-conservation behaviour; 3 Good-Things in nature intervention; children |
Year | 2022 |
Journal | Ecopsychology |
Journal citation | 15 (1) |
Publisher | Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers |
ISSN | 1942-9347 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2022.0014 |
Web address (URL) | http://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2022.0014 |
Accepted author manuscript | License All rights reserved File Access Level Open |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 15 Mar 2023 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 15 Apr 2022 |
Deposited | 20 Apr 2023 |
https://repository.derby.ac.uk/item/9y1yz/the-impact-of-a-three-good-things-in-nature-writing-task-on-nature-connectedness-pro-nature-conservation-behavior-life-satisfaction-and-mindfulness-in-children
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Accepted author manuscript
3GT intervention paper Ecopsychology Pre print.docx | ||
License: All rights reserved | ||
File access level: Open |
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