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Why Do Individuals Engage with the Natural World? A Self-Determination Theory Perspective on the Effect of Nature Engagement and Well-Being

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  • Elliott S. Lee

    (University of Victoria)

  • Myles A. Maillet

    (University of Victoria)

  • Frederick M. E. Grouzet

    (University of Victoria)

Abstract

There is an apparent contradiction between the general appreciation for nature, the benefits from engaging with it, and the declining rates of engagement with it. We propose that self-determination theory’s distinction between autonomous and controlled motivation can explain this contradiction. Using data from multiple samples (total N = 1755), we examined how the types of motivation—ranging from autonomous to controlled—can explain why people engage with nature, as well as the benefits of engaging with nature. As expected, relative autonomous motivation to engage with nature was related to engagement with nature. In addition, we found that satisfaction of psychological needs while in nature is positively associated with autonomous motivation and several types of well-being including flourishing, affect, life satisfaction, and eudaimonic well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Elliott S. Lee & Myles A. Maillet & Frederick M. E. Grouzet, 2022. "Why Do Individuals Engage with the Natural World? A Self-Determination Theory Perspective on the Effect of Nature Engagement and Well-Being," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(3), pages 1501-1532, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ariqol:v:17:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s11482-021-09970-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s11482-021-09970-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rosseel, Yves, 2012. "lavaan: An R Package for Structural Equation Modeling," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 48(i02).
    2. Ed Diener & Derrick Wirtz & William Tov & Chu Kim-Prieto & Dong-won Choi & Shigehiro Oishi & Robert Biswas-Diener, 2010. "New Well-being Measures: Short Scales to Assess Flourishing and Positive and Negative Feelings," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 97(2), pages 143-156, June.
    3. Honaker, James & King, Gary & Blackwell, Matthew, 2011. "Amelia II: A Program for Missing Data," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 45(i07).
    4. Ethan McMahan & David Estes, 2011. "Hedonic Versus Eudaimonic Conceptions of Well-being: Evidence of Differential Associations With Self-reported Well-being," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 103(1), pages 93-108, August.
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