Both childhood and adult nature experiences predict nature connection among adult urban residentsCurrent research provides convincing evidence of positive associations between nature connection and adult and childhood nature experiences. Yet, little is known about which stages in life are optimal for the formation of nature connection. This study addresses this gap by examining the relationship between nature connection and nature experiences at different stages in life. One of the questions addressed in this study relates to whether childhood nature experiences are a prerequisite to adult nature connection or whether nature connection can be cultivated through adult nature experiences alone.
Data for this study was based on survey responses of 1000 adult residents of a large city in Australia. The survey collected information on (a) childhood environmental experiences, (b) childhood home setting (urban, rural), (c) adult nature experiences at home, (d) adult nature experiences in the city, and (e) the type of activity that occurs most often during the individual’s contact with nature. Items on the survey assessing childhood nature experiences included measures of family nature values and extent of access to nature in the home and school settings. The survey also included a nature connection scale measuring the affective and experiential aspects of an individual’s nature connection.
Survey responses showed that “both adult and childhood nature experiences have a positive relationship, of comparable strength, with current nature connection levels.” This finding is consistent with previous research. Survey responses also showed that the duration of adult nature experiences – both at home and within the wider city environment -- are significant predictors of nature connection. Childhood nature experience was not a significant moderator of the positive relationship between duration of adult nature experiences in the city and nature connection. This finding suggests that childhood nature experiences are not necessarily a prerequisite to adult nature connection. Most of the respondents indicated that rest and relaxation were their main reasons for spending time with nature.
This research suggests that people’s nature connection may be developed through frequent
and direct contact with nature at any life stage. The fact that duration of nature contact proved to be a significant predictor of nature connection suggests that initiatives designed to foster nature connection would do well to focus on increasing time in nature.
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