Growing Up, Naturally: The Mental Health Legacy of Early Nature Affiliation

Abstract

Abstract While many studies now demonstrate the emotional and psychological benefits associated with higher levels of nature connectedness, much less is known about how factors such as childhood nature experiences might influence nature connectedness development. In this two-phase mixed-methods study, the relationship between nature connectedness and childhood nature experiences was explored among a sample of Canadian undergraduate university students. The objectives of the study were twofold: (1) To determine associations between quantitative measures of nature connectedness, positive childhood nature experiences, and mental health via an online survey (Phase One) and (2) To compare, qualitatively, the self-reported childhood nature experiences of students who are relatively more nature connected to those who are less nature connected via in-depth interviews (Phase Two). Quantitative findings from the Phase One online survey demonstrate that, in a sample of university students (N = 308), nature connected...