Engagement with Nature and the Home Environment: Wellbeing and Proenvironmental Behavior among Irish and Italian University Students during the COVID-19 Emergency

Iana Ivanova Tzankova, Catherine O’Sullivan, Alessandra Iva Facciuto, Luciana Sacchetti, Fabiana Fini, Elvira Cicognani () and Annalisa Setti
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Iana Ivanova Tzankova: Department of Education Studies “G. M. Bertin”, University of Bologna, Via Filippo Re 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Catherine O’Sullivan: School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, North Mall Enterprise Centre, T23 V2AY Cork, Ireland
Alessandra Iva Facciuto: School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, North Mall Enterprise Centre, T23 V2AY Cork, Ireland
Luciana Sacchetti: Planning & Communication Division, University of Bologna, Via Marsala 49, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Fabiana Fini: Workplace Health and Safety Service, University of Bologna, Largo Trombetti 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Elvira Cicognani: Department of Psychology “R. Canestrari”, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Annalisa Setti: School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, North Mall Enterprise Centre, T23 V2AY Cork, Ireland

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 14, 1-10

Abstract: Growing evidence shows that exposure to nature and psychological engagement with nature improve health and wellbeing and promote greater proenvironmental engagement. The unprecedented situation created by COVID-related lockdowns seems to have brought both potential distress with household confinements and greater research on experiences in nature. University students may have been particularly impacted as the quality of their home arrangements can vary substantially. The aim of the study was to examine how psychological engagement with nature (nature connectedness and noticing nature), time spent in nature, and household conditions relate to psychological wellbeing and proenvironmental behavior among university students. An online survey was administered to a sample of 566 university students from Italy and Ireland. Hierarchical multiple regressions were performed to investigate the relationships between variables. The results indicate that time spent in nature and psychological engagement with nature in terms of nature connectedness and noticing nature were associated with increased wellbeing and pro-nature-conservation behavior, controlling for demographic covariates. Moreover, the perception of chaos in one’s household was related to decreased wellbeing during the prolonged COVID-19 emergency. The findings highlight the need to invest in accessible natural places for students and to focus campus sustainability practices on encouraging nature connectedness to promote wellbeing and proenvironmental engagement.

Keywords: nature connectedness; time in nature; household chaos; wellbeing; proenvironmental behavior (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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