How Nature Connectedness Influences Well-being

Concept	Definitions
Nature connectedness	Nature connectedness is a psychological construct that includes the affective and cognitive aspects of a person’s relationship with nature. It involves love and appreciation for nature, emotional connection, inclusion of nature in one’s sense of self, and a sense of oneness with the natural world. It goes beyond simply spending time in nature.
Well-being	Well-being refers to several psychological dimensions, including purpose in life, hope, life satisfaction, resilient coping, optimism, and mindfulness in the context of hedonic well-being (feeling good) and eudaimonic well-being (functioning well)

Concept

Definitions

Nature connectedness

Nature connectedness is a psychological construct that includes the affective and cognitive aspects of a person’s relationship with nature. It involves love and appreciation for nature, emotional connection, inclusion of nature in one’s sense of self, and a sense of oneness with the natural world. It goes beyond simply spending time in nature.

Well-being

Well-being refers to several psychological dimensions, including purpose in life, hope, life satisfaction, resilient coping, optimism, and mindfulness in the context of hedonic well-being (feeling good) and eudaimonic well-being (functioning well)

Dimension of well-being	How nature connectedness influences it	Detailed explanation
Purpose in life	Nature connectedness strengthens a sense of meaning, direction, and purpose.	People who feel connected to nature often experience a stronger sense that their life has meaning and direction. Nature becomes part of their identity, values, and understanding of themselves within the wider world.
Hope	Nature connectedness supports feelings of hope and possibility.	Feeling emotionally connected to nature helps individuals maintain hope, especially during uncertainty or environmental concern. Nature connectedness may support the belief that positive pathways and meaningful action remain possible.
Life satisfaction	Nature connectedness increases overall satisfaction with life.	Individuals who feel more connected to nature often report greater satisfaction with their lives. Although the relationship varies across countries, the overall association remains positive.
Resilient coping	Nature connectedness strengthens resilience and coping capacity.	Nature connectedness helps individuals respond to stress, adversity, and challenges with greater emotional flexibility and psychological strength. Resilient coping is one of the strongest and most consistent outcomes associated with nature connectedness.
Optimism	Nature connectedness supports a more optimistic outlook on life.	Individuals who feel connected to nature often experience greater optimism and expectation of positive outcomes. Nature connectedness may reinforce emotional stability, hope, and trust in future possibilities.
Mindfulness	Nature connectedness enhances present-moment awareness and mindful attention.	The article identifies mindfulness as one of the strongest and most consistent correlates of nature connectedness. Spending time in meaningful relationship with nature supports awareness, reflection, contemplation, and attentiveness to present experience.
Emotional regulation	Nature connectedness supports healthier emotional processing and stress regulation.	Individuals with stronger nature connectedness often show greater emotional regulation and lower stress. Nature may provide emotional grounding and help people process difficult emotions more gently.
Psychological restoration	Nature connectedness promotes mental restoration and recovery from fatigue.	Meaningful engagement with nature supports psychological restoration by reducing mental exhaustion and supporting emotional recovery. Mindful engagement with nature further strengthens this process.
Sense of identity and belonging	Nature connectedness strengthens feelings of belonging and interconnectedness.	Because nature connectedness includes incorporating nature into one’s sense of self, individuals often experience a deeper sense of belonging within the living world and feel less psychologically separate from nature.
Buffer against hardship	Nature connectedness acts as a protective factor during adversity.	The study shows stronger well-being benefits of nature connectedness in countries with lower human development and lower environmental performance. This suggests that nature connectedness functions as a psychological buffer against broader social and environmental difficulties.
Collective and relational well-being	Nature connectedness strengthens relational and communal dimensions of well-being.	In more collectivist societies, the relationship between nature connectedness and well-being becomes even stronger. Individuals in these cultures often understand themselves through relationships and interdependence, which extends to nature.
Human and planetary well-being	Nature connectedness supports both personal well-being and environmental care.	Nature connectedness is beneficial not only for mental health, but also for sustainability and pro-environmental behavior. Strengthening human relationships with nature may therefore benefit both people and the planet.

Dimension of well-being

How nature connectedness influences it

Detailed explanation

Purpose in life

Nature connectedness strengthens a sense of meaning, direction, and purpose.

People who feel connected to nature often experience a stronger sense that their life has meaning and direction. Nature becomes part of their identity, values, and understanding of themselves within the wider world.

Hope

Nature connectedness supports feelings of hope and possibility.

Feeling emotionally connected to nature helps individuals maintain hope, especially during uncertainty or environmental concern. Nature connectedness may support the belief that positive pathways and meaningful action remain possible.

Life satisfaction

Nature connectedness increases overall satisfaction with life.

Individuals who feel more connected to nature often report greater satisfaction with their lives. Although the relationship varies across countries, the overall association remains positive.

Resilient coping

Nature connectedness strengthens resilience and coping capacity.

Nature connectedness helps individuals respond to stress, adversity, and challenges with greater emotional flexibility and psychological strength. Resilient coping is one of the strongest and most consistent outcomes associated with nature connectedness.

Optimism

Nature connectedness supports a more optimistic outlook on life.

Individuals who feel connected to nature often experience greater optimism and expectation of positive outcomes. Nature connectedness may reinforce emotional stability, hope, and trust in future possibilities.

Mindfulness

Nature connectedness enhances present-moment awareness and mindful attention.

The article identifies mindfulness as one of the strongest and most consistent correlates of nature connectedness. Spending time in meaningful relationship with nature supports awareness, reflection, contemplation, and attentiveness to present experience.

Emotional regulation

Nature connectedness supports healthier emotional processing and stress regulation.

Individuals with stronger nature connectedness often show greater emotional regulation and lower stress. Nature may provide emotional grounding and help people process difficult emotions more gently.

Psychological restoration

Nature connectedness promotes mental restoration and recovery from fatigue.

Meaningful engagement with nature supports psychological restoration by reducing mental exhaustion and supporting emotional recovery. Mindful engagement with nature further strengthens this process.

Sense of identity and belonging

Nature connectedness strengthens feelings of belonging and interconnectedness.

Because nature connectedness includes incorporating nature into one’s sense of self, individuals often experience a deeper sense of belonging within the living world and feel less psychologically separate from nature.

Buffer against hardship

Nature connectedness acts as a protective factor during adversity.

The study shows stronger well-being benefits of nature connectedness in countries with lower human development and lower environmental performance. This suggests that nature connectedness functions as a psychological buffer against broader social and environmental difficulties.

Collective and relational well-being

Nature connectedness strengthens relational and communal dimensions of well-being.

In more collectivist societies, the relationship between nature connectedness and well-being becomes even stronger. Individuals in these cultures often understand themselves through relationships and interdependence, which extends to nature.

Human and planetary well-being

Nature connectedness supports both personal well-being and environmental care.

Nature connectedness is beneficial not only for mental health, but also for sustainability and pro-environmental behavior. Strengthening human relationships with nature may therefore benefit both people and the planet.