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A Measure of Nature Connectedness for Children and Adults: Validation, Performance, and Insights

Author

Listed:
  • Miles Richardson

    (Human Sciences Research Centre, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK)

  • Anne Hunt

    (Valuing Environment Team, Natural England, York YO1 7PX, UK)

  • Joe Hinds

    (Department of Psychology, Social Work and Counselling, Faculty of Education & Health, University of Greenwich, Greenwich, London SE10 9LS, UK)

  • Rachel Bragg

    (Care Farming UK, Bristol BS3 4NA, UK)

  • Dean Fido

    (Human Sciences Research Centre, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK)

  • Dominic Petronzi

    (Human Sciences Research Centre, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK)

  • Lea Barbett

    (Human Sciences Research Centre, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK)

  • Theodore Clitherow

    (European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3HD, UK)

  • Matthew White

    (European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3HD, UK)

Abstract

With benefits to both human well-being and pro-nature conservation behaviors, nature connectedness is emerging as an important psychological construct for a sustainable future. The growing research and applied and policy-related interests require a straightforward measure of nature connectedness that is suitable for both children and adult populations. To establish the reliability of the new Nature Connection Index (NCI) three factor analyses were conducted. One was based on a large Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment (MENE) dataset for adults ( n = 3568) with a replication from data sets collected online ( n = 553), and a third used MENE data from children ( n = 351). To validate the NCI as a measure for nature connectedness an online comparison study ( n = 153) included the NCI alongside other established measures. The results showed that the NCI was a reliable and valid scale that offers a short, simple alternative to other measures of nature connectedness, particularly for populations including both children and adults, measured face to face or online. The utility of the NCI is also supported, with variations associated with various pro-environmental and pro-conservation behaviors observed, and importantly the NCI also revealed changes in nature connectedness across the lifespan.

Suggested Citation

  • Miles Richardson & Anne Hunt & Joe Hinds & Rachel Bragg & Dean Fido & Dominic Petronzi & Lea Barbett & Theodore Clitherow & Matthew White, 2019. "A Measure of Nature Connectedness for Children and Adults: Validation, Performance, and Insights," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-16, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:12:p:3250-:d:239255
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. J Burgess & C M Harrison & P Filius, 1998. "Environmental Communication and the Cultural Politics of Environmental Citizenship," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 30(8), pages 1445-1460, August.
    2. Elizabeth Nisbet & John Zelenski & Steven Murphy, 2011. "Happiness is in our Nature: Exploring Nature Relatedness as a Contributor to Subjective Well-Being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 12(2), pages 303-322, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alexia Barrable & David Booth, 2020. "Nature Connection in Early Childhood: A Quantitative Cross-Sectional Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-15, January.
    2. Aivaras Vijaikis & Mykolas Simas Poškus, 2024. "Does Being an Environmental Citizen Lead to Greater Well-Being? The Self-Determination Theory Approach," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(3), pages 21582440241, August.
    3. Lea Barbett & Edward J. N. Stupple & Michael Sweet & Malcolm B. Schofield & Miles Richardson, 2020. "Measuring Actions for Nature—Development and Validation of a Pro-Nature Conservation Behaviour Scale," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-20, June.
    4. Debra Lindsay & Karen Dobkins, 2025. "Going Deeper: Development and Validation of a Multidimensional DEEP Connection to Nature Scale," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-23, June.
    5. Alexia Barrable & David Booth & Dylan Adams & Gary Beauchamp, 2021. "Enhancing Nature Connection and Positive Affect in Children through Mindful Engagement with Natural Environments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-11, April.
    6. Vanessa Woods & Melinda Knuth, 2023. "The Biophilia Reactivity Hypothesis: biophilia as a temperament trait, or more precisely, a domain specific attraction to biodiversity," Journal of Bioeconomics, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 271-293, December.
    7. David Sheffield & Carly W. Butler & Miles Richardson, 2022. "Improving Nature Connectedness in Adults: A Meta-Analysis, Review and Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-23, September.
    8. Claire L. Wicks & Jo L. Barton & Leanne Andrews & Sheina Orbell & Gavin Sandercock & Carly J. Wood, 2023. "The Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on the Contribution of Local Green Space and Nature Connection to Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-12, March.
    9. Maria Paula Ardila Echeverry & Andrea Gauthier & Heidi Hartikainen & Asimina Vasalou, 2025. "Designing for Digital Education Futures: Design Thinking for Fostering Higher Education Students’ Sustainability Competencies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-33, May.
    10. Willian Sierra-Barón & Andrés Gómez-Acosta & María Delfina Luna-Krauletz & Sergio Falla-Tapias & Erika Judith López-Santamaria, 2025. "Measurement of Connectedness with Nature: Evidence of Validity and Reliability for Use in Colombian Urban and Rural Sustainability Contexts," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(8), pages 1-13, July.
    11. Alexia Barrable & David Booth, 2022. "Disconnected: What Can We Learn from Individuals with Very Low Nature Connection?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-9, June.
    12. de la Fuente de Val, Gonzalo, 2025. "How nature and landscape quality connect: An exploratory study of their relationship with urban green spaces," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    13. Xingping Cao & Junlin Qiu & Leyu Wang & Gefen Zhou, 2022. "An Integrative Model of Tourists’ Pro-Environmental Behavior Based on the Dual Path of Rational Planning and Embodied Emotion," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-19, June.
    14. Lilly Joschko & Anna María Pálsdóttir & Patrik Grahn & Maximilian Hinse, 2023. "Nature-Based Therapy in Individuals with Mental Health Disorders, with a Focus on Mental Well-Being and Connectedness to Nature—A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-24, January.
    15. Andreia Teixeira & Ronaldo Gabriel & José Martinho & Graça Pinto & Luís Quaresma & Aurélio Faria & Irene Oliveira & Helena Moreira, 2021. "Connectedness to Nature Does Not Explain the Variation in Physical Activity and Body Composition in Adults and Older People," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-20, November.
    16. Iana Ivanova Tzankova & Catherine O’Sullivan & Alessandra Iva Facciuto & Luciana Sacchetti & Fabiana Fini & Elvira Cicognani & Annalisa Setti, 2023. "Engagement with Nature and the Home Environment: Wellbeing and Proenvironmental Behavior among Irish and Italian University Students during the COVID-19 Emergency," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(14), pages 1-10, July.
    17. Qian Sun & Mary Loveday & Saw Nwe & Nike Morris & Emily Boxall, 2023. "Green Social Prescribing in Practice: A Case Study of Walsall, UK," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(17), pages 1-20, September.
    18. Linda Powers Tomasso & Jose Guillermo Cedeño Laurent & Jarvis T. Chen & Paul J. Catalano & John D. Spengler, 2021. "Cultural Sets Shape Adult Conceptualizations and Relationships to Nature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-21, October.
    19. Ahmed Tarek Zaky Fouad & Danielle Sinnett & Isabelle Bray & Rachael McClatchey & Rebecca Reece, 2023. "Measures of Greenspace Exposure and Their Association to Health-Related Outcomes for the Periods before and during the 2020 Lockdown: A Cross-Sectional Study in the West of England," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-18, March.
    20. Katharine Willis & Ashita Gupta, 2023. "Place-Keeping in the Park: Testing a Living Lab Approach to Facilitate Nature Connectedness in Urban Greenspaces," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-19, June.

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