Poster #125 - Nature Connectedness as a Protective Factor of Positive Youth Development

• In Event: Poster Session 06

Abstract

Children today spend less time in nature than children of any other generation (National Recreation and Park Association, 2020). This has contributed to a decrease in children’s nature connectedness, which is one’s sense of their relationship to the natural environment and is predominantly developed through outdoor play during childhood (Andrejewski et al., 2011). Decreases in nature exposure and, subsequently, nature connectedness during childhood threaten the well-being of children and the well-being of the environment (Andrejewski, 2011; Braus et al., 2018; Chewla, 2020). Nature exposure and children’s connection to nature support their healthy development and school readiness and foster long-term pro-environmental habits (Chewla, 2020; Cudworth et al., 2021). Despite existing literature providing evidence for positive outcomes associated with children’s exposure and connection to nature, these outcomes have not been highlighted for their potential to be protective factors against maladaptive developmental trajectories associated with adverse childhood experiences. Understanding the role of nature as a protective mechanism may especially be important as the climate crisis becomes a shared early adverse context that children are born into. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the roles of childhood nature exposure and nature connectedness in positive youth development and as a protective factor against maladaptive developmental trajectories.

This study used surveys and interviews in attempt to investigate protective factors associated with nature exposure and nature connectedness that may mitigate risks for negative developmental outcomes associated with adverse childhood experiences. Participants were 163 adults (68.7% female; 19.6% male; .6% nonbinary) from 18 to 65+ years of age. A majority of participants were from the United States (68%).

Survey data was collected through Qualtrics, and interviews took place on Zoom. IBM SPSS v. 27 and NVivo 12 were used to analyze data. Ten themes were identified upon analysis of the surveys and interviews, with eight themes being associated with positive youth development and having protective qualities against maladaptive developmental trajectories. Four overarching themes, Protection, Relationships and Community, Positive Identity Development, and Emotions, were found to house the ten individual themes found. Participants indicated that their exposure and connection to nature during childhood made them feel protected (72.22%), nurtured (72.22%) and supported (58.33%). 47.22% expressed that their exposure and connection to nature protected them against adversities they faced during childhood. Participants also felt that nature exposure and connection during childhood also fostered their relationships (58.33%) and community connection (55.56%), identity development (88.89%), and their life-long passions (58.56%). Nature exposure and connection during childhood was also found to invoke hopefulness (55.56%) and positive emotionality (69.44%). Participants also reported experiencing negative emotionality (44.44%) and hopelessness (55.56%) when thinking about the potential future loss of their childhood natural environment due to climate change.

Our findings highlight the importance of nature exposure and nature connectedness as protective factors against maladaptive developmental trajectories. Nature-based programming in the home, school, and community systems may not only support the healthy development of children, but they may also encourage long-lasting, pro-environmental behaviors in support of the planet.

Author

• Sarina Alavi, Columbia University
  Presenting Author