Shared time in nature increases feelings of social connection amongst university students

IF 6.1 1区心理学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Journal of Environmental Psychology Pub Date : 2024-06-01 DOI:10.1016/j.jenvp.2024.102343

Lauren Henderson, Laura Tipper, Sioned Willicombe, Merideth Gattis

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Abstract

While the impact of nature on individual psychological outcomes has been widely researched, few studies have investigated the impact of time in nature on social connection across individuals. We conducted a within-subjects experiment to evaluate whether natural environments increase feelings of interpersonal closeness, or social connection. Fifty-two undergraduate students completed search tasks with a social partner in a city park and an office. Self-reported social connection was significantly higher following task completion in the natural environment compared to indoors. Self-reported nature connection was also significantly higher following task completion in the natural environment compared to indoors. These results are consistent with the proposal that shared time in nature increases feelings of social connection as well as nature connection. These findings have important implications for understanding the relations between nature and community building.

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在大自然中共享时光能增强大学生的社会联系感

虽然自然对个体心理结果的影响已被广泛研究，但很少有研究调查在自然中度过的时间对个体间社会联系的影响。我们进行了一项主体内实验，以评估自然环境是否会增加人际亲近感或社会联系。52 名本科生在城市公园和办公室与一名社交伙伴一起完成了搜索任务。在自然环境中完成任务后，自我报告的社会联系明显高于室内。在自然环境中完成任务后，自我报告的自然联系也明显高于室内。这些结果与在自然中共享时间会增加社会联系感和自然联系感的观点一致。这些发现对于理解自然与社区建设之间的关系具有重要意义。

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来源期刊

Journal of Environmental Psychology Multiple-

CiteScore

10.60

自引率

8.70%

发文量

140

审稿时长

62 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Environmental Psychology is the premier journal in the field, serving individuals in a wide range of disciplines who have an interest in the scientific study of the transactions and interrelationships between people and their surroundings (including built, social, natural and virtual environments, the use and abuse of nature and natural resources, and sustainability-related behavior). The journal publishes internationally contributed empirical studies and reviews of research on these topics that advance new insights. As an important forum for the field, the journal publishes some of the most influential papers in the discipline that reflect the scientific development of environmental psychology. Contributions on theoretical, methodological, and practical aspects of all human-environment interactions are welcome, along with innovative or interdisciplinary approaches that have a psychological emphasis. Research areas include: •Psychological and behavioral aspects of people and nature •Cognitive mapping, spatial cognition and wayfinding •Ecological consequences of human actions •Theories of place, place attachment, and place identity •Environmental risks and hazards: perception, behavior, and management •Perception and evaluation of buildings and natural landscapes •Effects of physical and natural settings on human cognition and health •Theories of proenvironmental behavior, norms, attitudes, and personality •Psychology of sustainability and climate change •Psychological aspects of resource management and crises •Social use of space: crowding, privacy, territoriality, personal space •Design of, and experiences related to, the physical aspects of workplaces, schools, residences, public buildings and public space