TY - JOUR
T1 - The impacts of nature connectedness on children's well-being
T2 - Systematic literature review
AU - Arola, Terhi
AU - Aulake, Marianne
AU - Ott, Anna
AU - Lindholm, Matti
AU - Kouvonen, Petra
AU - Virtanen, Petri
AU - Paloniemi, Riikka
N1 - Available online 28 November 2022, Version of Record 2 December 2022.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Authors
PY - 2023/2
Y1 - 2023/2
N2 - Direct and indirect well-being benefits of children and adolescent's nature connectedness are a growing societal interest. Accordingly, they are increasingly studied and the field of research is evolving rapidly. However, the conceptualization and operationalization of nature connectedness, well-being and their interaction, as well as the empirical methods that are used to analyze them, vary remarkably. We conducted a systematic literature review on how children's nature connectedness and its well-being impacts have been studied during the past two decades and what are the key findings regarding the connection. Our analysis covered qualitative and quantitative studies, which all showed the positive effects of nature connectedness on well-being. Qualitative studies gave a voice to children in defining nature and its well-being impacts, while quantitative studies measured the connection using various nature connectedness scales. We conclude with recommendations for developing the research field in the future to fulfil current research gaps and to guide societal development to support children's well-being.
AB - Direct and indirect well-being benefits of children and adolescent's nature connectedness are a growing societal interest. Accordingly, they are increasingly studied and the field of research is evolving rapidly. However, the conceptualization and operationalization of nature connectedness, well-being and their interaction, as well as the empirical methods that are used to analyze them, vary remarkably. We conducted a systematic literature review on how children's nature connectedness and its well-being impacts have been studied during the past two decades and what are the key findings regarding the connection. Our analysis covered qualitative and quantitative studies, which all showed the positive effects of nature connectedness on well-being. Qualitative studies gave a voice to children in defining nature and its well-being impacts, while quantitative studies measured the connection using various nature connectedness scales. We conclude with recommendations for developing the research field in the future to fulfil current research gaps and to guide societal development to support children's well-being.
KW - children
KW - agency
KW - health
KW - nature relationship
KW - nature connectedness
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jenvp.2022.101913
DO - 10.1016/j.jenvp.2022.101913
M3 - Review Article
SN - 0272-4944
VL - 85
JO - Journal of Environmental Psychology
JF - Journal of Environmental Psychology
M1 - 101913
ER -