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Nature Exposure and Subjective Well-Being: The Mediating Roles of Connectedness to Nature and Awe

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  • Meihui Zhou

    (Laboratoire de Psychologie et d’Ergonomie Appliquées, Université Gustave Eiffel, Université de Paris, 25 Allée des Marronniers, 78000 Versailles, France
    Institute of Developmental and Educational Psychology, School of Marxism, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China)

  • Ying Luo

    (Institute of Developmental and Educational Psychology, School of Marxism, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China)

  • Zihan Xu

    (Institute of Developmental and Educational Psychology, School of Marxism, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China)

  • Ronghua Zhang

    (Institute of Developmental and Educational Psychology, School of Marxism, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
    Department of Ideological and Political Education, School of Marxism, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China)

  • Xiaoliang Liu

    (Department of Ideological and Political Education, School of Marxism, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China)

Abstract

Nature exposure has been linked to enhanced subjective well-being; however, the underlying psychological mechanisms of this phenomenon remain underexplored. This study explores the mediating roles of connectedness to nature and awe in the relationship between nature exposure and subjective well-being. A sample of 301 high-school students (age = 17.09 ± 0.77) in China was examined via a questionnaire study. The findings indicate that connectedness to nature and awe significantly mediate the relationship between nature exposure and subjective well-being, with a positive correlation between these variables. Specifically, higher levels of nature exposure are associated with greater connectedness to nature and more profound experiences of awe, which, in turn, are linked to increased subjective well-being. These results underscore the important roles of connectedness to nature and the experience of awe in feeling subjective well-being in nature.

Suggested Citation

  • Meihui Zhou & Ying Luo & Zihan Xu & Ronghua Zhang & Xiaoliang Liu, 2025. "Nature Exposure and Subjective Well-Being: The Mediating Roles of Connectedness to Nature and Awe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-13, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:12:p:5406-:d:1676918
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yan Yang & Jing Hu & Fengjie Jing & Bang Nguyen, 2018. "From Awe to Ecological Behavior: The Mediating Role of Connectedness to Nature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-14, July.
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