Connection with nature may support adolescents’ emotional regulation and improve their sense of life satisfaction Prior research suggests that adolescents’ connection with nature (CN) may be related to their life satisfaction (LS), an indicator of well-being. Given the many developmental changes that occur during adolescence, it is important to identify approaches to help young people maintain high levels of LS. This study aimed to examine the relationship between adolescents’ CN and their LS, as well as possible underlying mechanisms that drive this relationship. The mechanisms examined included cognitive reappraisal, a cognitive process of regulating emotions, and affect, experiences of positive and negative emotions. The research was based in an eco-existential positive psychology theoretical framework which “recognizes the symbiotic, two-way connection between human happiness and the well-being of the larger natural world.”
A sample of 667 adolescents (340 boys and 327 girls), ranging in age from 13 to 17 years, were recruited from a school in central China. The school was selected due to its proximity to a national scenic area. Data was collected utilizing four questionnaires administered during class. The Extended Inclusion of Nature in Self (EINS) questionnaire was used to measure adolescents’ CN and LS was assessed with the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) questionnaire. To examine the influence of underlying mechanisms in the relationship between CN and LS, measures of cognitive reappraisal and affect were also collected. The Cognitive Reappraisal (CR) scale was used to assess adolescents’ ability to regulate their emotions. Finally, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PNAS) measured both positive affect (PA), including positive emotions such as joy and engagement, and negative affect (NA), including negative emotions such as anger and anxiety. Analysis also examined differences based on gender.
Analysis revealed a significant relationship in which participants with higher CN were likely to also have higher LS. Analysis also tested for the mediating roles of PA, NA, and CR. The results indicated that PA played a significant role within the relationship between CN and LS. This finding suggests a pathway through which CN promotes PA, which in turn improves LS. On the other hand, neither CR nor NA were found to play a significant mediating role. However, CR was found to significantly influence PA, suggesting a “cognitive reappraisal-affect” pathway in the relationship between CN and LS. Based on this finding the researchers conclude “adolescents who have a stronger CN are more likely to employ positive cognitive reappraisal strategies,” resulting in experiencing higher levels of PA and lower levels of NA, which supports greater LS. Significant differences based on participants’ gender were only detected in the pathway from CR to NA, with higher CR being linked to lower NA among girls. This suggests that for girls, but not boys, CR aids in reducing NA. No other significant differences were observed based on gender.
Findings suggest that “feeling a sense of intimacy with nature can encourage adolescents to positively regulate their emotions, thereby increasing their PA, decreasing their NA, and promoting their LS.” Therefore, the researchers encourage expanding opportunities for adolescents to engage with nature to improve their emotional experience. The study also lends support to the theory of eco-existential positive psychology, as a relationship with nature may be mutually beneficial for both humans and the natural world. Further research is needed to explore the relationship between CN and LS through experimental or longitudinal studies.
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