IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i5p2140-d1603500.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Between Pro-Environmental Identity and Attitudes: A PRISMA Systematic Review of the Relationship Between Connectedness to Nature and Pro-Environmental Attitudes for Sustainability

Author

Listed:
  • Martina Bellotti

    (Department of Education, Literatures, Intercultural Studies, Languages and Psychology, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, Italy)

  • Mirko Duradoni

    (Department of Education, Literatures, Intercultural Studies, Languages and Psychology, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, Italy)

  • Maria Fiorenza

    (Department of Education, Literatures, Intercultural Studies, Languages and Psychology, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, Italy)

  • Andrea Guazzini

    (Department of Education, Literatures, Intercultural Studies, Languages and Psychology, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, Italy)

Abstract

In recent decades, the scientific literature has increasingly linked specific human activities to various environmental issues, with climate change being a prominent concern. Environmental Psychology has thus placed its focus on comprehending the dynamics driving Pro-environmental Behaviors (PEBs). Research spotlights two crucial constructs fueling PEBs: Connectedness to Nature (CTN) and Environmental Attitudes (EAs). In the absence of a well-established model, this systematic review strives to advance the understanding of their compound relationship. Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive literature search across Google Scholar, PsycInfo, PsycArticles, PubMed, Science Direct, Sociological Abstracts, and Academic Search Complete databases produced 2658 records. Of these records, only 19 studies met the eligibility criteria after passing the abstract selection phase and were consequently included in this systematic review. Our analysis revealed that CTN and EAs are distinct constructs but showed moderate-to-high correlations. This review posits two hypotheses: (i) CTN may function as a dimension of identity and serve as an EA antecedent and (ii) CTN could be a combination of both implicit and explicit EAs. Subsequently, an interaction model is devised to comprehensively elucidate PEB dynamics and guide effective interventions for their promotion in the context of sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Martina Bellotti & Mirko Duradoni & Maria Fiorenza & Andrea Guazzini, 2025. "Between Pro-Environmental Identity and Attitudes: A PRISMA Systematic Review of the Relationship Between Connectedness to Nature and Pro-Environmental Attitudes for Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-19, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:5:p:2140-:d:1603500
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/5/2140/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/5/2140/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Franz X. Bogner & Michael Wiseman, 2006. "Adolescents’ attitudes towards nature and environment: Quantifying the 2-MEV model," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 26(4), pages 247-254, December.
    2. Blankenberg, Ann-Kathrin & Alhusen, Harm, 2019. "On the determinants of pro-environmental behavior: A literature review and guide for the empirical economist," University of Göttingen Working Papers in Economics 350, University of Goettingen, Department of Economics, revised 2019.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Frauke Meyer & Hawal Shamon & Stefan Vögele, 2022. "Dynamics and Heterogeneity of Environmental Attitude, Willingness and Behavior in Germany from 1993 to 2021," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-22, December.
    2. Marit Kristine List & Fabian T. C. Schmidt & Daria Mundt & Dennis Föste-Eggers, 2020. "Still Green at Fifteen? Investigating Environmental Awareness of the PISA 2015 Population: Cross-National Differences and Correlates," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-20, April.
    3. Chiara Mazzocchi & Luigi Orsi & Guido Sali, 2021. "Consumers’ Attitudes for Sustainable Mountain Cheese," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-17, February.
    4. Eirini Triantafyllidou & Anastasia Zabaniotou, 2022. "From Theory to Praxis: ‘Go Sustainable Living’ Survey for Exploring Individuals Consciousness Level of Decision-Making and Action-Taking in Daily Life Towards a Green Citizenship," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 2(1), pages 113-139, March.
    5. Christiane Lübke, 2021. "The Climate Change Dilemma: How Cooperation Beliefs Influence Energy Conservation Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-15, May.
    6. Bram De Rock & Florine Le Henaff, 2023. "Walk the Talk: Measuring Green Preferences with Social Media Data," Working Papers ECARES 2023-17, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    7. Olawale Fatoki, 2022. "Determinants of Employee Electricity Saving Behavior in Small Firms: The Role of Benefits and Leadership," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-20, April.
    8. Phillip T. Bengel & Carina Peter, 2022. "Technology in Nature—mDGBL as a Successful Approach to Promote Complex Contents?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.
    9. Maksim Vlasov & Sergey N. Polbitsyn & Michael Olumekor & Hossam Haddad & Nidal M. Al-Ramahi, 2024. "Socio-Cultural Factors and Components of the Digital Economy in Ethnic Minority Regions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-14, May.
    10. Tessa-Marie Baierl & Bruce Johnson & Franz X. Bogner, 2021. "Assessing Environmental Attitudes and Cognitive Achievement within 9 Years of Informal Earth Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-19, March.
    11. Hirofumi KUROKAWA & Kengo IGEI & Akinori KITSUKI & Kenichi KURITA & Shunsuke MANAGI & Makiko NAKAMURO & Akira SAKANO, 2022. "Nudges to Increase the Effectiveness of Environmental Education," Discussion papers 22047, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    12. Azmi Al Bahij & Lativa Qurrotaini & Nada Nabila Madofi & Ari Suryawan, 2025. "The Impact of Pro-Environmental Behavior on Student Well-Being," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(4), pages 4040-4046, April.
    13. Sahra Svensson-Hoglund & Jennifer D. Russell & Jessika Luth Richter, 2023. "A Process Approach to Product Repair from the Perspective of the Individual," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 3(3), pages 1327-1359, September.
    14. Tina Böhme & Laura S. Stanszus & Sonja M. Geiger & Daniel Fischer & Ulf Schrader, 2018. "Mindfulness Training at School: A Way to Engage Adolescents with Sustainable Consumption?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-22, October.
    15. Andrew G. Meyer, 2022. "Do economic conditions affect climate change beliefs and support for climate action? Evidence from the US in the wake of the Great Recession," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 60(1), pages 64-86, January.
    16. Carol Vigurs & Chris Maidment & Michael Fell & David Shipworth, 2021. "Customer Privacy Concerns as a Barrier to Sharing Data about Energy Use in Smart Local Energy Systems: A Rapid Realist Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-33, February.
    17. Peng, Congmin & She, Po-Wen & Wu, Chin-Wen, 2024. "The impact of air pollution on consumer behavior in the Great Britain," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 1007-1022.
    18. Toshima Makoondlall-Chadee & Chandradeo Bokhoree, 2024. "Understanding the Influencing Factors of Pro-Environmental Behavior in the Hotel Sector of Mauritius Island," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-35, October.
    19. Kengo IGEI & Hirofumi KUROKAWA & Masato ISEKI & Akinori KITSUKI & Kenichi KURITA & Shunsuke MANAGI & Makiko NAKAMURO & Akira SAKANO, 2022. "Nudges to Increase the Effectiveness of Environmental Education: New evidence from a field experiment," Discussion papers 22111, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    20. Martin Binder & Ann-Kathrin Blankenberg & Heinz Welsch, 2020. "Pro-environmental Norms, Green Lifestyles, and Subjective Well-Being: Panel Evidence from the UK," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 152(3), pages 1029-1060, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:5:p:2140-:d:1603500. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.