Ecopsychology

The 21st century world has become a place of immigrants, refugees, newcomers, and displaced persons. Many are exiled from their place of birth, and easy modes of transportation have allowed people who have the means to do so, to move freely about the Earth. Whether by choice or forced by socioeconomic or political reasons, the people of the Earth are on the move. So, where does the identity of the person lie? Is it with the new environment, or do immigrants always long for the land or place of their birth? This essay draws on readings from the fields of native science, ecopsychology, and deep ecology to explore the ways that an individual's identity is rooted or can be rooted in the place of their birth and childhood, and even after they have moved from this place, it still informs their being in myriad ways.

Despite emerging evidence that green space is beneficial for all, there is little evidence comparing the association of green space with healthy ageing outcomes for people with socioeconomic advantages and those without such privileges. This article investigates the association between green space availability and healthy ageing outcomes for disadvantaged socioeconomic groups relative to privileged counterparts. Green space was classified as grass, low-lying vegetation, and tree canopy. Healthy ageing indices were calculated for 34,085 participants in the Sax Institute's 45 and Up Study (baseline 2006–2009), New South Wales, Australia. Partitioning was by socioeconomic and demographic characteristics and the association was assessed using regression analysis. Increasing grass cover was associated with declining health after age 45 years. Increasing low-lying vegetation (>10%) was associated with increased functional capacity but not resilience or healthy ageing. Green space association with the healthy ageing score was higher for widows (β 0.013, 95% CI 0.00–0.03) compared with individuals with a partner (β 0.003, 95% CI 0.00–0.01). Also, the association was higher for participants earning <$20k/annum (β 0.015, 95% CI 0.01–0.02) versus those earning >$70k (β 0.007, 95% CI 0.00–0.01). This beneficial association was higher for participants with no academic qualifications (β 0.021, 95% CI 0.01–0.04) and for participants who are disabled (β 0.028, 95% CI 0.00–0.06) in their respective groups. Green space contributes more to the healthy ageing of disadvantaged groups than affluent groups. Targeted investment in green space provision, especially tree canopy >30%, can be readily leveraged to provide beneficial health outcomes and reduce the effect of socioeconomic disparity for disadvantaged communities.

We explore how human–nature connection and well-being in an urban context relate to nature in general, but with special attention to “values” of nature beyond the immediate city settings. We apply the “visions of nature” framework through a quantitative survey (N = 362) held among the citizens of Lima, Peru to better understand their ideas, values, and images of relationships with nature. To achieve this, our research questions are as follows: (1) Which “images of nature” do residents of metropolitan Lima distinguish, and what level of naturalness do they attribute to them?, (2) Which types of “values of nature” do Lima residents acknowledge and adhere to the most?, and (3) Which “images of human–nature relationships” do residents of Lima identify as the most appropriate? Furthermore, we explore whether well-being is reflected in values attributed to nature. We found images of both wild and domesticated nature, which different groups of respondents assigned with divergent levels of naturalness. Differences appear to be linked to respondents' generational contexts and life experiences. The images of relationship that most respondents adhered to (Practical and Ecocentric steward) entail a sense of responsibility toward nature, motivated by the traditional instrumental values but certainly also by intrinsic and relational values of nature. We argue that citizens adhering to those images of relationship experience a form of nature connection with nature beyond the urban context and recommend that well-being research should not only address the significance of nearby urban nature, but also of extra-urban nature.

Nature connectedness is often studied in relation to the interaction and contact with nature of individuals. In this study, we evaluate volunteers (n = 24) who conformed a group of excursionists in the Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve (PGDABR), who are residents of Hermosillo (ages 18–62), in northwestern Mexico. The excursion consisted of a 2-day weekend visit to the Sonoran Desert region in which participants hiked, watched native species, stargazed, and enjoyed the crater's scenery, among other activities in nature. Volunteers were evaluated with an adapted 32-item questionnaire before and after their excursion. The instrument was comprising the Nature Connectedness (NC), Nature Relatedness, and Love and Care for Nature scales (LCNSs) to measure the sample level of feeling oneself as a part of nature and within it. This study aims to estimate if regions such as the Sonoran Desert, which presents extreme climate conditions, contribute to an enhancement on individuals' NC level. Findings indicate that participants displayed significant increasement levels on the NC and LCNSs after excursioning in PGDABR.

This narrative shares a collection of stories drawing on my explorations in clinical psychology, Buddhist wisdom, and immersive experiences in nature. The embrace of the natural world, which welcomes us back into the web of life unconditionally, has been my greatest teacher in authentic self-compassion. Years of meditation training have helped foster a greater receptivity within me to the rhythms and cycles of nature, which embody an intrinsic sense of belonging and equanimity with all of life. My relationship with nature has helped heal my relationship with my own mind. These stories represent pivotal guideposts along a journey toward feeling more at home in myself and in the world.

The positive outcomes for human health from the development of a strong human–nature relationship are increasingly well established, and the role of a connection with nature in this process has been studied from different perspectives. The study intends to validate the brief version of the Connectedness to Nature Scale (CNS) through psychometric validation criteria. The scale was completed by a total of 1343 individuals in seven countries, and data analysis was performed using R for confirmatory factor analyses and for measurement invariances. The short version of the CNS shows a good level of reliability and is, therefore, usable and suitable for cross-cultural research in the domain of human–nature relationship topics. The mixed invariance results suggest that it is sensitive to linguistic and cultural contexts.

Time spent in nature (TSN) is related to improved health and well-being; however, many adults spend little time in nature. Interventions based on health behavior theories may be effective at increasing TSN. Attitudes toward a behavior have been shown to be a strong predictor of both intention and behaviors, but valid and reliable measures regarding these attitudes are lacking. The study aim was to develop a valid and reliable attitude toward TSN scale. This scale was developed using a sequential procedure: domain identification and item generation, content validity, question pretesting, survey administration, item reduction, factors extraction, dimensionality, reliability, and validity. The investigative team generated 49 unique items. Content validity and pretesting reduced the item set to 21. A countrywide sample of 2109 adults (50.3% male, median age = 58.1; 38.8% non-White) completed an online survey. Using split-half measures, principal components analysis indicated a three-factor solution: positive attitudes, negative attitudes, and concerns about being in nature. The factor structure was upheld in confirmatory factor analyses with strong internal consistency (α = 0.92 positive attitudes; 0.84 negative attitudes; 0.84 concerns). The scales were strongly related to intentions and TSN with large effect sizes. The study resulted in a reliable and valid three-factor attitudes toward spending time in nature scale that could be used to develop interventions to increase TSN.

A personal narrative of the author's extended backpacking trip in the North Cascades just after her 65th birthday. Themes of regret, gratitude, and connection are addressed within the context of wilderness hiking. The author cites a personal walking meditation of thankfulness and calls on consciously acknowledging relationship with the intricate processes of the human and more than human world as antidote to despair.