The natural world often evokes feelings of beauty, and it is known that appreciation of beauty in nature is associated with a number of beneficial outcomes, such as well-being and proenvironmental behaviors. Here we investigated the relationship between engagement with natural beauty and trait mindfulness. Specifically, we examined whether mindful awareness, or mindful acceptance, was associated with aesthetic responses to the natural world. In an online survey (N = 268), trait mindfulness was assessed with the Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale. Aesthetic responses to the natural world were assessed with the Engagement with Natural Beauty scale. Participants with higher levels of mindful awareness reported significantly higher levels of engagement with natural beauty, while controlling for connectedness to nature and openness to experience. Mindful acceptance did not predict engagement with natural beauty. Participants with higher levels of mindful awareness may have an enhanced capacity to notice and receive sensory impressions from the natural world, thus increasing their appreciation of natural beauty. The results may be useful for the development of effective ways (for example, mindful awareness exercises) to increase engagement with natural beauty, which could in turn enhance the benefits associated with being in natural environments.
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