Protecting nature in diverse ways
The socio-demographic spread of benefits from connecting with nature
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 10889481 |
|---|---|
| Authors | K Sollis (0000-0002-0636-8805, University of Tasmania, corresponding author), Lily M Van Eeden (0000-0002-0456-9670, RMIT University), Usitha Rajeevan (0009-0000-0925-1568, University of Tasmania), Kate Lee (0000-0002-8329-079X, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research), Brenda B Lin (0000-0002-6011-9172, CSIRO Land and Water), Lucy Keniger (University of Tasmania), Peter Marsh (0000-0002-4371-2628, University of Tasmania), Emily J Flies (0000-0002-1013-0330, University of Tasmania) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 55 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 312-326 |
| Publication date | 2026-02-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | AMBIO (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0044-7447 • E-ISSN: 1654-7209 |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1007/s13280-025-02233-6 |
| PMID | 40839048 |
| OpenAlex | W4413399666 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 56 |
Nature connection and its relationships with stewardship vary across social and environmental contexts. Through a nationally representative survey in Australia, this study examined engagement in four different pro-environmental behaviours (PEBs) (advocacy, consumer-conscious, conservation, and gardening), their socio-demographic correlates, and the associations with both nature connection and well-being. We found strong associations between nature connection and all examined PEBs; however, different groups were more likely to engage in different types of PEBs. For example, younger adults are more likely to engage in advocacy and conservation behaviours, while older Australians are more likely to engage in consumer-conscious behaviours and gardening. All PEBs were significantly associated with well-being; however, only the advocacy behaviours variable remained significant when including nature connection as a control variable. These findings highlight the importance of biodiversity policies that holistically enhance nature connection for a range of people, alongside sustainability measures to support the well-being of both people and planet
Connection (principal bundle · Economics · Environmental resource management · Geography · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Stewardship (theology · Sustainability · Animal and Plant Science Education · Ecology · Engineering · Environmental Education and Sustainability · Psychology · Social Psychology · Urban Green Space and Health
Meta‐analysis of human connection to nature and proenvironmental behavior
The Structure of Environmental Concern
The environmental action scale
Overcoming the coupled climate and biodiversity crises and their societal impacts
Do people who feel connected to nature do more to protect it? A meta-analysis
Psychological and physical connections with nature improve both human well-being and nature conservation
Environmental Behavior in Cross-National Perspective
Human–nature connectedness as a pathway to sustainability
Nature contact, nature connectedness and associations with health, wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviours
Connectedness to Nature
The relationship between nature connectedness and happiness
Earth beyond six of nine planetary boundaries
The connectedness to nature scale
The Relationship Between Climate Change Issue Engagement, Connection to Nature and Mental Wellbeing
What does ‘nature’ mean
Evolving systems of pro-environmental behavior among wildscape gardeners
Nature connection, pro-environmental behaviours and wellbeing
Web Versus Other Survey Modes
Climate change anxiety and mental health
Human-nature connectedness as leverage point
The green care code
Beyond the ecocentric
‘Ecological embeddedness’ and Its Public Health Implications
Human–nature connection
Racial and Ethnic Differences in Connectedness to Nature and Landscape Preferences Among College Students
Is Nature Relatedness Associated with Better Mental and Physical Health
Both Direct and Vicarious Experiences of Nature Affect Children’s Willingness to Conserve Biodiversity
Disconnected
Pro-environmental behavior (PEB) across different demographic compositions of the Bhutanese population
Reconnecting with nature for sustainability
The connection between subjective wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviour
Gender differences in environmental behaviors in China
New Ways of Thinking about Environmentalism
New Environmental Theories
The Nature Relatedness Scale
Concepts and measures related to connection to nature
A Multi-dimensional Measure of Environmental Behavior
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |