Drawing upon the perspective of eco-existential positive psychology, this research investigates the association between adolescents’ connection with nature and their life satisfaction, while also examining the mediating role of cognitive reappraisal and affect. The respondents were 667 Chinese adolescents aged 13–17 years who accomplished the following questionnaires: Extended Inclusion of Nature in Self, Cognitive Reappraisal, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. The results reveal that adolescents’ connection with nature, mediated by positive affect and cognitive reappraisal-positive affect, is positively associated with life satisfaction. In addition, negative affect is negatively associated with life satisfaction, and cognitive reappraisal- negative affect also plays a mediating role between adolescents’ CN and negative affect. The research expands the theory of eco-existential positive psychology and demonstrates that establishing a connection with nature enhances adolescents’ sense of existential well-being (life satisfaction). It also shows how adolescents can enhance their life satisfaction by connecting with nature, engaging in cognitive reappraisal, and maintaining a positive affect.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AndersonJ. C., & GerbingD. W. (1988). Structural equation modeling in practice: A review and recommended two-step approach. Psychological Bulletin, 103, 411–423; doi: 10.1037//0033-2909.103.3.411
2.
ArbuckleJ. L. (2003). AMOS 5.0 update to the AMOS user’s guide. Chicago, IL: Smallwaters.
3.
ArutaJ. J. B. R. (2023). The quest to mental well-being: Nature connectedness, materialism and the mediating role of meaning in life in the Philippine context. Current Psychology, 42(2),1058–1069; doi: 10.1007/s12144-021-01523-y
4.
Bakir-DemirT., BerumentS. K., & AkkayaS. (2021). Nature connectedness boosts the bright side of emotion regulation, which in turn reduces stress. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 76, 101642; doi: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2021.101642
5.
BilbaoN. M. I., & Alfaro InzunzaJ. (2023). Child and adolescent well‐being: Potentials of intersectionality for community psychology. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 33(6),1537–1548; doi: 10.1002/casp.2731
6.
BratmanG. N., DailyG. C., LevyB. J.,& GrossJ. J. (2015). The benefits of nature experience: Improved affect and cognition. Landscape and Urban Planning, 138, 41–50; doi: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2015.02.005
7.
ByrneB. M. (2009). Structural equation modeling with AMOS: Basic concepts, applications, and programming. London: Routledge.
8.
CapaldiC. A., DopkoR. L., & ZelenskiJ. M. (2014). The relationship between nature connectedness and happiness: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 976; doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00976
9.
CasasF., FiguerC., GonzalezM., MaloS., AlsinetC., & SubarrocaS. (2007). The well-being of 12- to16-year old adolescents and their parents: Results from 1999 to 2003 Spanish samples. Social Indicators Research, 83(1),87–115; doi: 10.1007/s11205-006-9059-1
10.
CavioniV., GrazzaniI., OrnaghiV., AgliatiA., & PepeA. (2021). Adolescents’ mental health at school: The mediating role of life satisfaction. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 720628; doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.720628
11.
CervinkaR., RödererK., & HeflerE. (2012). Are nature lovers happy? On various indicators of well-being and connectedness with nature. Journal of Health Psychology, 17(4),379–388; doi: 10.1177/1359105311416873
12.
ChaH. S., & YangS. J. (2020). The longitudinal mediating effects of perceived parental neglect on changes in Korean Adolescents’ life satisfaction by gender. Asian Nursing Research, 14(5),286–292; doi: 10.1016/j.anr.2020.08.006
13.
ChalquistC. (2009). A look at the ecotherapy research evidence. Ecopsychology, 1(2),64–74; doi: 10.1089/eco.2009.0003
14.
ChenL., ZhangJ., & ZhangZ. (2022). Organizational participation in community and life satisfaction of retirees: The mediating roles of positive and negative affect and moderating role of family relation. PsyCh Journal, 11(1),65–76; doi: 10.1002/pchj.489
15.
DewT., Huebner,., & E., S. (1994). Adolescents’ perceived quality of life: An explorator investigation. Journal of School Psychology, 32(2),185–199; doi: 10.1016/0022-4405(94)90010-8
16.
DienerE., EmmonsR. A., LarsenR. J., & GriffinS. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71–75; doi: 10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13
17.
diZeregaG. (1996). Deep ecology and liberalism: The greener implications of evolutionary liberal theory. The Review of Politics, 58(4),699–734.
18.
DongX., & GengL. (2023a). The role of mindfulness and meaning in life in adolescents’ dispositional awe and life satisfaction: The broaden-and-build theory perspective. Current Psychology, 42(33),28911–28924; doi: 10.1007/s12144-022-03924-z
19.
DongX., & GengL. (2023b). Nature deficit and mental health among adolescents: A perspectives of conservation of resources theory. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 87, 101995; doi: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2023.101995
20.
DongX., XiangY., ZhaoJ., LiQ., ZhaoJ.,& ZhangW. (2020). How mindfulness affects benign and malicious envy from the perspective of the mindfulness reperceiving model. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 61, 436–442; doi: 10.1111/sjop.12596
21.
ExtremeraN., & ReyL. (2016). Ability emotional intelligence and life satisfaction: Positive and negative affect as mediators. Personality and Individual Differences, 102, 98–101; doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2016.06.051
22.
FidoD., ReesA., ClarkeP., PetronziD., & RichardsonM. (2020a). Examining the connection between nature connectedness and dark personality. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 72, 101499; doi: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2020.101499
23.
FidoD., ReesA., WallaceL., & MantzorouL. (2020b). Psychopathy moderates the relationship between nature connectedness and cognitive reappraisal. Ecopsychology, 12(4),301–308; doi: 10.31234/osf.io/fv3bu
24.
FleuryB. G., GalharretJ., LeméeC., WittenbergI., OlivosP., LoureiroA., JeukenY., LaïlleP., & NavarroO. (2023). Nature and well‐being in seven European cities: The moderating effect of connectedness to nature. Applied Psychology. Health and Well-Being, 15(2),479–498; doi: 10.1111/aphw.12390
25.
FredricksonB. L. (2001). The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. The American Psychologist, 56(3),218–226; doi: 10.1037/0003-066X.56.3.218
26.
FrumkinH. (2001). Beyond toxicity: Human health and the natural environment. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 20(3),234–240; doi: 10.1016/S0749-3797(00)00317-2
27.
FrumkinH., BratmanG. N., BreslowS. J., CochranB., Kahn, P. H.Jr, LawlerJ. J., LevinP. S., TandonP. S., VaranasiU., WolfK. L., & WoodS. A. (2017). Nature contact and human health: A research agenda. Environmental Health Perspectives, 125(7),e075001; doi: 10.1289/EHP1663
28.
FujitaF., DienerE., & SandvikE. (1991). Gender differences in negative affect and well-being: The case for emotional intensity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61(3),427–434; doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.61.3.427
29.
GoldbeckL., SchmitzT. G., BesierT., HerschbachP., & HenrichG. (2007). Life satisfaction decreases during adolescence. Quality of Life Research: An International Journal of Quality of Life Aspects of Treatment, Care and Rehabilitation, 16(6),969–979; doi: 10.1007/s11136-007-9205-5
30.
Gomez‐BayaD., MendozaR., GasparT., & GomesP. (2018). Responses to positive affect, life satisfaction and self‐esteem: A cross‐lagged panel analysis during middle adolescence. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 59(4),462–472; doi: 10.1111/sjop.12450
31.
GrossJ. J. (2002). Emotion regulation: Affective, cognitive, and social consequences. Psychophysiology, 39, 281–291; doi: 10.1017/s0048577201393198
32.
GrossJ. J. (2013). Emotion regulation: Taking stock and moving forward. Emotion (Washington, D.C.), 13(3),359–365; doi: 10.1037/a0032135
33.
GrossJ. J., & JohnO. P. (2003). Individual differences in two emotion regulation processes: Implications for affect, relationships, and well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85, 348–362; doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.85.2.348
34.
GuevaraR.M., & UrchagaJ.D. (2018). Life satisfaction and family relationships and with peers in adolescence. Cauriensia, 13, 243–258; doi: 10.17398/2340-4256.13.243
35.
HeD., ShiM., & YiF. (2014). Mediating effects of affect and loneliness on the relationship between core self-evaluation and life satisfaction among two groups of Chinese adolescents. Social Indicators Research, 119(2), 747–756; doi: 10.1007/s11205-013-0508-3
36.
HowellA. J., DopkoR. L., PassmoreH.-A., & BuroK. (2011). Nature connectedness: Associations with well-being and mindfulness. Personality and Individual Differences, 51(2),166–171; doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2011.03.037
37.
HowellA. J., PassmoreH.-A., & BuroK. (2013). Meaning in nature: Meaning in life as a mediator of the relationship between nature connectedness and well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies, 14(6),1681–1696; doi: 10.1007/s10902-012-9403-x
38.
HuebnerE. S. (1994). Preliminary development and validation of a multidimensional life satisfaction scale for children. Psychological Assessment, 6(2),149–158; doi: 10.1037/1040-3590.6.2.149
39.
HuebnerE. S., & DewT. (1996). The interrelationships of positive affect, negative affect and life satisfaction in an adolescent sample. Social Indicators Research, 38(2),129–137; doi: 10.1007/BF00300455
Kahn, P. H.Jr,.,& Hasbach, P. H.Jr., (2013). The rewilding of the human species. In KahnP. Hand HasbachP. H.(Eds.), The rediscovery of the wild (pp. 207–232) Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
42.
KahnP. H, & HasbachP. H. (Eds). (2012). Ecopsychology: Science, totems, and the technological species. Cambridge: The MIT Press.
43.
KamideH., & AraiT. (2024). Human-object interaction, connectedness with nature, and life satisfaction: A cross-sectional study. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1360518; doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1360518
44.
KimmererR.W. (2013). Braiding sweetgrass: Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and the teachings of plants. Minneapolis, MN: Milkweed Editions. doi: 10.3138/seminar.55.4.rev005
45.
KongF., GongX., SajjadS., YangK., & ZhaoJ. (2019). How is emotional intelligence linked to life satisfaction? The mediating role of social support, positive affect and negative affect. Journal of Happiness Studies, 20(8),2733–2745; doi: 10.1007/s10902-018-00069-4
46.
KorpelaK. M., PasanenT., RepoV., HartigT., StaatsH., MasonM., AlvesS., FornaraF., MarksT., SainiS., ScopellitiM., SoaresA. L., StigsdotterU. K., & Ward ThompsonC. (2018). Environmental strategies of affect regulation and their associations with subjective well-being. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 562; doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00562
47.
KuppensP., RealoA., & DienerE. (2008). The role of positive and negative emotions in life satisfaction judgment across nations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95(1),66–75; doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.95.1.66
48.
LeBlancS., UzunB., & AydemirA. (2021). Structural relationship among mindfulness, reappraisal and life satisfaction: The mediating role of positive affect. Current Psychology, 40(9),4406–4415; doi: 10.1007/s12144-019-00383-x
49.
LevE., Kahn, P. H.Jr, ChenH., & EsperumG. (2020). Relatively wild urban parks can promote human resilience and flourishing: A case study of Discovery Park, Seattle, Washington. Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, 2; doi: 10.3389/frsc.2020.00002
50.
LiJ., YaoM.,& LiuH. (2021). From social support to adolescents’ subjective well-being: The mediating role of emotion regulation and prosocial behavior and gender difference. Child Indicators Research, 14, 77–93; doi: 10.1007/s12187-020-09755-3
51.
LiR., LiuH., YaoM., & ChenY. (2019). Regulatory focus and subjective well-being: The mediating role of coping styles and the moderating role of gender. The Journal of Psychology, 153(7),714–731; doi: 10.1080/00223980.2019.1601066
52.
LiX., MaL., & LiQ. (2022). How mindfulness affects life satisfaction: Based on the mindfulness-to-meaning theory. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1056856; doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.887940
53.
LinW.-H., & YiC.-C. (2019). The effect of family cohesion and life satisfaction during adolescence on later adolescent outcomes: A prospective study. Youth & Society, 51(5),680–706; doi: 10.1177/0044118X17704865
54.
LittleT. D., CunninghamW. A., ShaharG., & WidamanK. F. (2002). To parcel or not to parcel: Exploring the question, weighing the merits. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 9(2),151–173; doi: 10.1207/S15328007SEM0902_1
55.
LiuH. X., NongH. F., RenH., & LiuK. (2022). The effect of nature exposure, nature connectedness on mental well-being and ill-being in a general Chinese population. Landscape and Urban Planning, 222, 104397; doi: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2022.104397
56.
LiuT., GengL., YeL., & ZhouK. (2019). “Mother Nature” enhances connectedness to nature and pro-environmental behavior. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 61, 37–45; doi: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2018.12.003
57.
LouvR. (2008). Last child in the woods: Saving our children from nature-deficit disorder. Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Books.
58.
MartinC., & CzellarS. (2016). The extended inclusion of nature in self scale. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 47, 181–194; doi: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2016.05.006
59.
MayerF. S., & FrantzC. M. (2004). The connectedness to nature scale: A measure of individuals’ feeling in community with nature. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 24, 503–515; doi: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2004.10.001
60.
MayerF. S., FrantzC. M., Bruehlman-SenecalE., & DolliverK. (2009). Why is nature beneficial? The role of connectedness to nature. Environment and Behavior, 41(5),607–643; doi: 10.1177/0013916508319745
61.
McMahanE. A., & EstesD. (2015). The effect of contact with natural environments on positive and negative affect: A meta-analysis. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 10(6),507–519; doi: 10.1080/17439760.2014.994224
62.
MoksnesU. K., & EspnesG. A. (2013). Self-esteem and life satisfaction in adolescents—Gender and age as potential moderators. Quality of Life Research: An International Journal of Quality of Life Aspects of Treatment, Care and Rehabilitation, 22(10),2921–2928; doi: 0.1007/s11136-013-0427-4
63.
PascaL., CarrusG., LoureiroA., NavarroÓ., PannoA., Tapia FollenC., & AragonésJ. I. (2022). Connectedness and well-being in simulated nature. Applied Psychology. Health and Well-Being, 14(2),397–412; doi: 10.1111/aphw.12309
64.
PassmoreH.-A., & HowellA. J. (2014). Eco-existential positive psychology: Experiences in nature, existential anxieties, and well-being. The Humanistic Psychologist, 42(4),370–388; doi: 10.1080/08873267.2014.920335
65.
PirchioS., PassiatoreY., PannoA., CipparoneM., & CarrusG. (2021). The effects of contact with nature during outdoor environmental education on students’ wellbeing, connectedness to nature and pro-sociality. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 648458; doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.648458
66.
PodsakoffP. M., MacKenzieS. B., PodsakoffN. P., & LeeJ. Y. (2003). Common method biases in behavioral research: A critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. The Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(5),879–903; doi: 10.1037/0021-9010.88.5.879
67.
PonizovskiyV., ArantR., LarsenM., & BoehnkeK. (2020). Sticking to common values: Neighbourhood social cohesion moderates the effect of value congruence on life satisfaction. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 30(5),530–546; doi: 10.1002/casp.2457
68.
PreacherK. J., & HayesA. F. (2008). Asymptotic and resampling strategies for assessing and comparing indirect effects in multiple mediator models. Behavior Research Methods, 40(3),879–891; doi: 10.3758/BRM.40.3.879
69.
RichardsonM., & ReesA. (2019). Nature connectedness, emotional regulation, and ecological concern in mental well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies, in press.
RichardsonM., & McEwanK. (2018). 30 days wild and the relationships between engagement with nature’s beauty, nature connectedness and well-being. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 1500; doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01500
72.
RobertsA., HindsJ., & CamicP. M. (2020). Nature activities and wellbeing in children and young people: A systematic literature review. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 20(4), 298–318; doi: 10.1080/14729679.2019.1660195
73.
RonenT., HamamaL., RosenbaumM., & Mishely-YarlapA. (2016). Subjective well-being in adolescence: The role of self-control, social support, age, gender, and familial crisis. Journal of Happiness Studies, 17(1),81–104; doi: 10.1007/s10902-014-9585-5
74.
RoszakT, GomesM. E, & KannerA. D. (Eds). (1995). Ecopsychology: Restoring the earth, healing the mind. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books.
75.
SadowskiI., BökeN., MettlerJ., HeathN., & KhouryB. (2022). Naturally mindful? The role of mindfulness facets in the relationship between nature relatedness and subjective well-being. Current Psychology, 41(8),5358–5373; doi: 10.1007/s12144-020-01056-w
76.
SchultzP. W. (2001). The structure of environmental concern: Concern for self, other people, and the biosphere. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 21(4),327–339; doi: 10.1006/jevp.2001.0227
77.
SchultzP. W. (2002). Inclusion with nature: the psychology of human-nature relations. In SchmuckP, & SchultzP. W.(Eds.), Psychology of Sustainable Development (pp. 61–78). Dordrecht, Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers.
78.
ShumC., DockrayS., & DockrayS. (2024). The relationship between cognitive reappraisal and psychological well-being during early adolescence: A scoping review. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 1–30; doi: 10.1177/02724316241231918
79.
SirlopúD., & RengerD. (2020). Social recognition matters: Consequences for school participation and life satisfaction among immigrant students. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 30(5),561–575; doi: 10.1002/casp.2463
80.
SortheixF. M., & LönnqvistJ. (2015). Person-group value congruence and subjective well-being in students from Argentina, Bulgaria and Finland: The role of interpersonal relationships. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 25(1),34–48; doi: 10.1002/casp.2193
81.
ThomsenD. K., MehlsenM. Y., ViidikA., SommerlundB., & ZachariaeR. (2005). Age and gender differences in negative affect—Is there a role for emotion regulation? Personality and Individual Differences, 38(8),1935–1946; doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2004.12.001
82.
UlrichR. S., SimonsR. F., LositoB. D., FioritoE., MilesM. A., & ZelsonM. (1991). Stress recovery during exposure to natural and urban environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 11(3),201–230; doi: 10.1016/S0272-4944(05)80184-7
83.
VaranasiU. (2020). Focusing attention on reciprocity between nature and humans can be the key to reinvigorating planetary health. Ecopsychology, 12(3), 188–194; doi: 10.1089/eco.2020.0011
84.
WangD. Y., HuM. M., & XuQ. F. (2017). Testing the factorial invariance of the satisfaction with life scale across Chinese adolescents. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 45(3),505–516; doi: 10.2224/sbp.6222
85.
WangJ., GengL., SchultzP. W., & ZhouK. (2019). Mindfulness increases the belief in climate change: The mediating role of connectedness with nature. Environment and Behavior, 51(1),3–23; doi: 10.1177/0013916517738036
86.
WangX., GengL., ZhouK., YeL., MaY., & ZhangS. (2016). Mindful learning can promote connectedness to nature: Implicit and explicit evidence. Consciousness and Cognition, 44, 1–7; doi: 0.1016/j.concog.2016.06.006
87.
WatsonD., ClarkL. A., & TellegenA. (1988). Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54(6),1063–1070; doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.54.6.1063
88.
WhittenT., StevensR., RucttingerL., TzoumakisS., GreenM. J., LaurensK. R., HolbrookA., & CarrV. J. (2018). Connection to the natural environment and well-being in middle childhood. Ecopsychology, 10(4),270–279; doi: 0.1089/eco.2018.0010
89.
XiangY., & YuanR. (2021). Why do people with high dispositional gratitude tend to experience high life satisfaction? A broaden-and-build theory perspective. Journal of Happiness Studies, 22(6),2485–2498; doi: 10.1007/s10902-020-00310-z
90.
YanW., YangK., WangQ., YouX., & KongF. (2021). Subjective family socioeconomic status and life satisfaction in chinese adolescents: The mediating role of self-esteem and social support. Youth & Society, 53(7),1047–1065; doi: 10.1177/0044118X20941344
91.
YangC., ChenX., YaoJ., & AnJ. (2022). How is connectedness with nature linked to life satisfaction or depression among Chinese people living in rural low-income households? A Serial Mediation Model. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, 827046; doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.827046
92.
ZaborskisA., KavaliauskienėA., DimitrovaE., & ErikssonC. (2022). Pathways of adolescent life satisfaction association with family support, structure and affluence: A cross-national comparative analysis. Medicina, 58(7),970; doi: 10.3390/medicina58070970
93.
ZhangJ. W., PiffP. K., IyerR., KolevaS., & KeltnerD. (2014). An occasion for unselfing: Beautiful nature leads to pro-sociality. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 37, 61–72; doi: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2013.11.008
94.
ZhangR. P. (2016). Positive affect and self-efficacy as mediators between personality and life satisfaction in Chinese College Freshmen. Journal of Happiness Studies, 17(5),2007–2021; doi: 10.1007/s10902-015-9682-0
