Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles by Holli-Anne Passmore
![Research paper thumbnail of Parental/guardians’ connection to nature better predicts children’s nature connectedness than visits or area-level characteristics. [Passmore, H.-A., Martin, L., Richardson, M., White, M., Hunt, A., & Pahl, S.]](https://a.academia-assets.com/images/blank-paper.jpg)
Parental/guardians’ connection to nature better predicts children’s nature connectedness than visits or area-level characteristics. [Passmore, H.-A., Martin, L., Richardson, M., White, M., Hunt, A., & Pahl, S.] Ecopsychology, 2021
Serious attention and investments are being made by local, regional, and national organizations i... more Serious attention and investments are being made by local, regional, and national organizations into policies and programs geared toward reconnecting children with nature to enhance children’s well-being and the well-being of the planet. However, this attention and investment commonly focuses on access to, or time in, nature, rather than on nature connectedness, despite evidence consistently supporting the important role that nature connectedness plays in con- tributing to greater well-being of both humans and the natural environment. A shift in policy efforts toward focusing on enhancing children’s nature connectedness may better serve these dual well- being outcomes. Such efforts need to be informed by a greater understanding regarding factors that predict nature connectedness in children. Using data from the Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment survey commissioned by Natural England, we assessed child nature connectedness as a function of child, parental/ guardians’, and area-level characteristics (N = 209 children, N = 209 adults). Children’s age, neighborhood deprivation, and green space emerged as significant predictors of child nature connectedness. Parental/guardians’ level of nature connectedness, though, emerged as the strongest predictor of children’s nature connectedness, even when considered in concert with other child, adult, and area-level characteristics. Our findings provide important information to help guide nature connection initiatives, emphasizing the need for policy and program efforts to move beyond a focus on access and visits.
https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2020.0033
Journal of Social Psychology, 2021
In a series of four studies (Ns = 245, 135, 155, 222), we explored the effects of viewing nature ... more In a series of four studies (Ns = 245, 135, 155, 222), we explored the effects of viewing nature scenes on promoting recovery from ostracism. We first manipu lated experiences of ostracism, then randomly assigned participants to view photos of either nature, urban scenes, or neutral objects. Across all four studies, participants who viewed nature photos reported significantly lower levels of state social pain, along with significantly higher levels of affect balance and self-esteem. Moreover, when asked to look back and recall how they felt at the time of being ostracized, participants who viewed nature photos reported significantly higher levels of retrospective satisfaction of basic emotional needs than did participants in control conditions. An internal meta-analysis revealed an effect size of d = 0.58. These studies are the first, to our knowledge, to provide experimental evidence of how exposure to nature can alleviate the pain of social ostracism.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2020.1784826
![Research paper thumbnail of Moments, not minutes: The nature-wellbeing relationship. [Richardson, M., Passmore, H-A., Lumber, R., Thomas, R., & Hunt, A. ]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/67459719/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Moments, not minutes: The nature-wellbeing relationship. [Richardson, M., Passmore, H-A., Lumber, R., Thomas, R., & Hunt, A. ] International Journal of Wellbeing, 2021
A wealth of literature has evidenced the important role that the greater-than-human natural envir... more A wealth of literature has evidenced the important role that the greater-than-human natural environment plays in our mental health and wellbeing (reviews by Bratman et al., 2019; Capaldi et al., 2014, 2015; Pritchard et al., 2019). Spending time in nature, engaging with nature directly and indirectly, and a strong sense of nature connectedness (a psychological/emotional connection with nature) have each been shown to positively impact well-being. Few studies, however, have examined the importance that various nature-related factors have on our well-being when examined in concert with each other, and no studies have simultaneously examined the differential influences of nature connectedness and engagement. In the current study, using a national United Kingdom sample of 2,096 adults, we provide new insights into this gap in the literature. Our primary focus was on examining, when considered simultaneously, the patterns and relative predictive importance to hedonic wellbeing (i.e., happiness), eudaimonic wellbeing (i.e., worthwhile life), illbeing (i.e., depression and anxiety), and general physical health of five nature-related factors: (1) nature connectedness, (2) time in nature, (3) engagement with nature through simple everyday activities, (4) indirect engagement with nature, and (5) knowledge and study of nature. A consistent pattern of results emerged across multiple analytical approaches (i.e., correlations, linear regression, dominance analyses, commonality analysis), wherein time in nature was not the main (or significant) predictive nature-related factor for wellbeing. Rather, nature connectedness and engaging with nature through simple activities (e.g., smelling flowers) consistently emerged as being the significant and prominent factors in predicting and explaining variance in mental health and wellbeing. Implications for practical application and policy/programme planning are discussed.
https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v11i1.1267
Perspectives: Using positive psychology and the United Nations’ sustainable development goals to build a better world.
[Lambert, L., Warren, M. A., Brulé, G., O’Brien, C., Murray, S., Mulay-Shah, A., Passmore, H.-A., Zelenski, J. M., Asfour, M., & Alsubaiei, S] Middle East Journal of Positive Psycholog, 2020
How the COVID-19 pandemic will affect society long-term remains to be seen, but the role taken by... more How the COVID-19 pandemic will affect society long-term remains to be seen, but the role taken by wellbeing researchers and practitioners can shape our communal future. Never has wellbeing and the field of psychology been better equipped, nor more relevant, in addressing issues of sustainable development known to significantly contribute to and underlie wellbeing. While efforts have been made across many areas, with each converging into the need for a more systemic view evidenced by theoretical developments in the field of positive psychology, wellbeing cannot remain the purview of individuals alone. Positive psychology interventions can be expanded to include attention to social and ecological issues as well. To support our claim, we explore issues that researchers and practitioners are tackling globally and consider how the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can guide that work. We also look at which of the SDGs are most critical in the Middle East region. Researchers and practitioners must align their activities towards the resolution of broad systemic issues bearing on wellbeing identified by the SDG agenda and in this manner, effectively contribute to the creation of a better world.
https://www.middleeastjournalofpositivepsychology.org/index.php/mejpp/article/view/112
![Research paper thumbnail of The Green Care Code: How nature connectedness and simple activities help explain pro-nature conservation behaviours.
[Richardson, M., Passmore, H.-A., Barbett., L., Lumber, R., Thomas, R., & Hunt, A.]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/67459674/thumbnails/1.jpg)
The Green Care Code: How nature connectedness and simple activities help explain pro-nature conservation behaviours.
[Richardson, M., Passmore, H.-A., Barbett., L., Lumber, R., Thomas, R., & Hunt, A.] People and Nature, 2020
1. The biodiversity crisis demands greater engagement in pro-nature conservation behaviours. Rese... more 1. The biodiversity crisis demands greater engagement in pro-nature conservation behaviours. Research has examined factors which account for general pro-environmental behaviour; that is, behaviour geared to minimizing one's impact on the environment. Yet, a dearth of research exists examining factors that account for pro-nature conservation behaviour specifically—behaviour that directly and actively supports conservation of biodiversity.
2. This study is the first of its kind to use a validated scale of pro-nature conservaion behaviour. Using online data from a United Kingdom population survey of 1,298 adults (16+ years), we examined factors (composed of nine variable-blocks of items) that accounted for pro-nature conservation behaviour.
3. These were: individual characteristics (demographics, nature connectedness), nature experiences (time spent in nature, engaging with nature through simple activities, indirect engagement with nature), knowledge and attitudes (knowledge/study of nature, valuing and concern for nature) and pro-environmental behaviour.
4. Together, these explained 70% of the variation in people's actions for nature.
5. Importantly, in a linear regression examining the relative importance of these variables to the prediction of pro-nature conservation behaviour, time in nature did not emerge as significant.
6. Engaging in simple nature activities (which is related to nature connectedness) emerged as the largest significant contributor to pro-nature conservation behaviour. Commonality analysis revealed that variables worked together, with nature connectedness and engagement in simple activities being involved in the largest portion of explained variance.
7. Overall, findings from the current study reinforce the critical role that having a close relationship with nature through simple everyday engagement plays in pro-nature conservation behaviour. Policy recommendations are made.
https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10117
![Research paper thumbnail of Towards a greater global understanding of wellbeing: A proposal for a more inclusive measure.
[Lambert, L., Lomas, T., van de Weijer, M., Passmore, H.-A., Joshanloo, M., Harter, J., Ishikawa, Y., Lai, A., Kitigawa, T., Chen, D., Kawakami, T., Miyata, H., & Deiner, E. ]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/67459686/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Towards a greater global understanding of wellbeing: A proposal for a more inclusive measure.
[Lambert, L., Lomas, T., van de Weijer, M., Passmore, H.-A., Joshanloo, M., Harter, J., Ishikawa, Y., Lai, A., Kitigawa, T., Chen, D., Kawakami, T., Miyata, H., & Deiner, E. ] International Journal of Wellbeing, 2020
The science of wellbeing has come a long way from the early days of measuring wellbeing via a nat... more The science of wellbeing has come a long way from the early days of measuring wellbeing via a nation’s GDP, and wellbeing measures and concepts continue to proliferate to capture its various elements. Yet, much of this activity has reflected concepts from Western cultures, despite the emphasis placed on wellbeing in all corners of the globe. To meet the challenges and opportunities arising from cross-disciplinary research worldwide, the Well-Being for Planet Earth Foundation and the Gallup World Poll have joined forces to add more culturally relevant constructs and questions to existing Gallup modules. In this white paper, we review the discussion from the international well-being summit in Kyoto, Japan (August 2019), where nine such additions were proposed and highlight why a more global view of wellbeing is needed. Overall, the new items reflect a richer view of wellbeing than life satisfaction alone and include hedonic and eudaimonic facets of wellbeing, social wellbeing, the role of culture, community, nature, and governance. These additions allow for the measurement of a broader conceptualization of wellbeing, more refined and nuanced cross-cultural comparisons, and facilitate a better examination of the causes of variation in global wellbeing. The new Gallup World Poll additions will be trialled in 2020, with additional inclusions from this summit to be made in 2021.
https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v10i2.1037
Journal of Happiness Studies, 2019
While developing excellence in knowledge and skills, academic institutions have often overlooked ... more While developing excellence in knowledge and skills, academic institutions have often overlooked their obligation to instill wellbeing. To address this, we introduced a 14-week positive psychology intervention (PPI) program (Happiness 101) to university students from 39 different nations studying in the United Arab Emirates (N = 159). Students were exposed to 18 different PPIs. Pre, post, and 3-month-post measures were taken assessing hedonic and eudaimonic well-being, and beliefs regarding the fear and fragility of happiness. At the end of the semester, relative to a control group (N = 108), participants exposed to the Happiness 101 program reported higher levels of both hedonic and eudaimonic well-being, and lower levels of fear of happiness and the belief that happiness is fragile. Boosts in life satisfaction and net-positive affect, and reduction of fear of happiness and the belief that happiness is fragile were maintained in the Happiness 101 group 3 months post-intervention.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-9993-z
Stigma and Health, 2019
This research investigated (a) the role of empathy and stigmatizing attitudes in the use of noun ... more This research investigated (a) the role of empathy and stigmatizing attitudes in the use of noun labels applied to people with psychological disorders (e.g., John is a schizophrenic), and (b) whether depicted violence increases such usage. In Study 1, undergraduate participants (N ⫽ 308) read two mock newspaper stories in counterbalanced order: one depicting a man with schizophrenia committing a nonviolent crime and one depicting a man with schizophrenia committing a highly violent crime. Participants then selected seven headlines for each of the two news stories, in each case choosing between headlines employing either a noun label (e.g., Schizophrenic Snaps) or a person-first label (e.g., Person with Schizophrenia Snaps), following which they completed measures of trait empathy and stigmatizing attitudes. As hypothesized, lower empathy and higher stigmatizing attitudes predicted noun label usage, and violent depictions of a person with schizophrenia increased the use of noun label headlines. In Study 2, with 313 undergraduate participants, we replicated the effect of violence on noun label headline usage and demonstrated that dehumanization mediates this relationship. Several implications of these findings are discussed.
https://doi.org/10.1037/sah0000127
Canadian Journal of School Psychology, 2019
The aim of this research was to examine kindergarten to 12th grade teachers‟ (N = 257) perception... more The aim of this research was to examine kindergarten to 12th grade teachers‟ (N = 257) perceptions of school kindness. Teachers were asked to define kindness, provide examples of kindness they had done and received, identify key agents of kindness, and rate the quality of kind acts within their schools. Findings indicate that teachers define and enact kindness in comparable ways, that most teachers believe they have a strong to moderate influence on shaping students‟ kindness, and that teachers‟ perceptions of school kindness varies as a function of the grade they taught.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0829573517732202
Journal of Happiness Studies, 2018
This paper (a) makes the argument for conceiving Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT), when a... more This paper (a) makes the argument for conceiving Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT), when applied to the enhancement of well-being, as a positive psychological inter- vention, and (b) supports this view by reviewing evidence for ACT’s impact on university student well-being. Searches of the literature identified five randomized experiments that measured improvements in university student well-being as a function of ACT interven- tions relative to control conditions. A meta-analysis revealed a significant, small pooled effect size on well-being (d = 0.29), providing initial evidence of ACT’s role as a positive psychological intervention among university students. Strengths and limitations of the extant literature are discussed, as are implications of, and future directions for, this area of study. It is concluded that research, theory, and application within well-being scholarship may be facilitated by recognizing ACT’s application to the enhancement of well-being.
https://doi.org/10.1037/sah0000127
Social Indicators Research, 2018
Wellbeing is predictive of improved learning outcomes, better mental health, prosocial and civic ... more Wellbeing is predictive of improved learning outcomes, better mental health, prosocial and civic behavior, higher work productivity, and enhanced life satisfaction. Given that literature in support of wellbeing is robust, it is incumbent on local communities to put this research into practice and develop culturally-competent programs that promote the skills to increase it. In collaboration with Alnowair, a non-profit organization committed to increas- ing wellbeing in Kuwait, a semester-long positive psychology program, called Bareec, was designed to generate positive emotions and increase levels of flourishing in university and secondary school students. The Bareec program consisted of 15-min weekly instructions in positive psychology and positive psychology interventions. To test the program’s efficacy, Bareec was implemented in the national public university and in 10 secondary schools (total N = 977). Relative to control groups, Bareec university participants showed greater levels of flourishing (eudaimonic wellbeing; d = .32), while secondary school partici- pants showed enhanced positive affect (hedonic wellbeing; d = .27) in addition to a small improvement in flourishing (d = .15).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-018-1987-z
Journal of Mental Health, 2018
Background: Increasingly colleges and universities are offering canine therapy to help students d... more Background: Increasingly colleges and universities are offering canine therapy to help students de-stress as a means of supporting students’ emotional health and mental well-being. Despite the popularity of such programs, there remains a dearth of research attesting to their benefits. Aims: Participants included 1960 students at a mid-size western Canadian University. The study’s aims were to assess the stress-reducing effects of a weekly drop-in, canine-therapy program and to identify how long participants spent with therapy canines to reduce their stress. Methods: Demographic information was gathered, length of visit documented and a visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess entry and exit self-reports of stress. Results: Participants’ self-reported stress levels were significantly lower after the canine therapy intervention. Participants spent an average of 35 min per session. Conclusions: This study supports the use of drop-in, canine therapy as a means of reducing university students’ stress. The findings hold applied significance for both counseling and animal therapy practitioners regarding the dose intervention participants seek to reduce their stress.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2017.1417551
Engaging with natural beauty may be related to well-being because it connects people to nature: Evidence from three cultures.[Capaldi, C. A., Passmore, H.-A., Ishii, R., Chistopolskaya, K. A., Vowinckel, J., Nikolaev, E. L., & Semikin, G. I.] Ecopsychology, 2017
Connecting with nature has been described by some as an important psychological need. Indeed, res... more Connecting with nature has been described by some as an important psychological need. Indeed, research shows that a strong connec- tion to nature predicts flourishing across a wide range of well-being indices. Engaging with natural beauty may be one route by which people satisfy this presumed need to connect with nature. Based on this reasoning, the purpose of the current research was to investi- gate whether nature connectedness mediates the relationship be- tween engagement with natural beauty (i.e., the tendency to notice and be moved by beauty in nature) and well-being in three different cultures. Four cross-sectional surveys involving Canadian, Japanese, and Russian undergraduate students were conducted (N = 1,390). Engagement with natural beauty and nature connectedness were positively associated with a variety of well-being measures. More- over, we found relatively consistent support for the indirect effect of nature connectedness in explaining the relationship between en- gagement with natural beauty and well-being. This finding replicated across five different measures and indices of well-being, two different measures of nature connectedness, and three different cultures. Overall, this research suggests that engaging with natural beauty may have an impact on well-being by promoting a stronger subjec- tive connection with nature.
![Research paper thumbnail of Flourishing in nature: A review of the well-being benefits of connecting with nature and its application as a positive psychology intervention.
[Capaldi, C. A., Passmore, H.-A., Nisbet, E. K., Zelenski, J. M., & Dopko, R. L.]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/67459687/thumbnails/1.jpg)
International Journal of Wellbeing, 2015
From the increasing number of people living in urban areas to the continued degradation of the na... more From the increasing number of people living in urban areas to the continued degradation of the natural environment, many of us appear to be physically and psychologically disconnected from nature. We consider the theoretical explanations and present evidence for why this state of affairs might result in suboptimal levels of hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing by reviewing the large body of research on the mental health benefits of connecting with nature. The advantages of contact with nature as a potential wellbeing intervention are discussed, and examples of how this research is being applied to reconnect individuals to nature and improve wellbeing are given. We conclude by considering the limitations of, and proposing future directions for, research in this area. Overall, evidence suggests that connecting with nature is one path to flourishing in life.
https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v5i4.1
Journal of Happiness Studies, 2017
Two studies with 230 and 363 Canadian undergraduate students tested the relationship between incr... more Two studies with 230 and 363 Canadian undergraduate students tested the relationship between incremental theories of well-being (i.e., beliefs regarding the malleability of well-being) and a positive mental outlook. In Study 1, incremental theories of well-being were associated with Prioritizing Positivity (purposely incorporating pleasant activities into one’s daily routine) and showed a positive relationship with several other indicators of positive mental functioning (e.g., intrinsic motivation, eudaimonic motivation). In Study 2, incremental theories of well-being were associated with Positivity (viewing life and experiences with a positive outlook) and were positively correlated with additional indicators of positive mental functioning (e.g., harmony in life, self-compassion). In both studies, the relationship between incremental theories of well-being and both hedonic and eudaimonic well-being held true across different measures. A synthesis of major results using a Bayesian meta-analytic procedure suggested a moderate association between an incremental well-being mindset and well-being. Results of these studies help to situate incremental views toward well-being within a broad positivity framework, and to expand the nomological web of correlates of implicit theories of well-being.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-017-9934-2
Walls of Well-Being (WOWs): A pilot study of a new methodology to explore children’s and adolescent's perceived sources of happiness.
[Holder, M. D., Passmore, H.-A., Broom, C., Berg, S., Li, E., Hickey, R., & Martin, C.] International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, 2016
Lay theories are everyday explanations and attributions given for psychological phenomena. They ... more Lay theories are everyday explanations and attributions given for psychological phenomena. They are important because they affect people's behaviours and cognitions. Lay theories have typically been studied using interviews and surveys of individuals. We describe a pilot study that employed a new, community-based, methodology that we used to explore children's and adolescents' lay theories of happiness. We collected 802 responses to the phrase “I feel happy when ______” which was stencilled repeatedly on large walls we called Walls of Well-Being (WOWs) installed in a kindergarten-elementary school and a junior-high school. An interpretive, grounded theory approach for coding these qualitative data was used. Five main themes emerged in the children/adolescents’ responses: Activities, Relationships, Other Oriented, Personal Feelings, and Receiving. Chi-square analyses revealed significant differences in the prevalence of response themes between the two schools demonstrating that the WOWs are sensitive to community differences. Advantages and disadvantages of the WOWs methodology are discussed as well as suggestions for mitigating disadvantages in future studies utilizing WOWs. This new method holds promise as an assessment tool that could be applied across a wide range of psychological phenomena (e.g., gratitude and hope) and environments (e.g., hospitals and businesses).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s41042-017-0008-9
Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology, 2016
Awe is a feeling of wonder and amazement in response to experiencing something so vast that it tr... more Awe is a feeling of wonder and amazement in response to experiencing something so vast that it transcends the one’s current frames of reference. Across three experiments (N=557), we tested the inhibition effect of awe on aggression. We used a narrative recall task paradigm (Study 1 and 2) and a video (Study 3) to induce the emotion of awe. After inducing awe, we first examined participants’ emotion and the sense of “small self” and then the manifestation of aggressiveness in a Shooting Game (Study 1), Tangram Help/Hurt Task (Study 2 and 3) and Aggression-IAT (Study 3), respectively. Results indicated that awe reduced aggression, and increased prosociality and a sense of small self relative to neutral affect and positive emotions of happiness and amusement. Mediation analysis evidenced mixed support for a sense of small self mediating the effect of awe on aggression and prosociality.
https://doi.org/10.1017/prp.2016.8
International Journal of Emotional Education – Special Issue, 2017
The aim of this research was to examine kindergarten to 12th grade teachers’ (N = 257) perception... more The aim of this research was to examine kindergarten to 12th grade teachers’ (N = 257) perceptions of school kindness. Teachers were asked to define kindness, provide examples of kindness they had done and received, identify key agents of kindness, and rate the quality of kind acts done within their schools. Findings indicate that subtle differences emerged in the themes found in teachers’ definitions and examples of kindness, that most teachers believed they had a strong to moderate influence on shaping students’ kindness, and that teachers’ perceptions of school kindness varied as a function of the grade they teach.
https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1137976
Journal of Positive Psychology, 2017
We examined the effects of a two-week nature-based well-being intervention. Undergraduates (N = ... more We examined the effects of a two-week nature-based well-being intervention. Undergraduates (N = 395) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: nature, human-built, or a business-as-usual control. Participants paid attention to how nature (or human-built objects, depending on assignment) in their everyday surroundings made them feel, photographed the objects/scenes that evoked emotion in them, and provided a description of emotions evoked. Post-intervention levels of net-positive affect, elevating experiences, a general sense of connectedness (to other people, to nature, and to life as a whole), and prosocial orientation were significantly higher in the nature group compared to the human-built and control groups. Trait levels of nature connectedness and engagement with beauty did not moderate nature's beneficial impact on well-being. Qualitative findings revealed significant differences in the emotional themes evoked by nature versus human-built objects/scenes. This research provides important empirical support for nature involvement as an effective positive psychology intervention.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2016.1221126
Anthrozoos, Aug 16, 2016
Transitioning from high school to university can prove to be a formidable challenge for many firs... more Transitioning from high school to university can prove to be a formidable challenge for many first-year students, with many experiencing homesickness. Given that students who experience homesickness are more likely than their non-homesick cohorts to drop out of university (Burt, 1993), universities have a vested interest in supporting students during their first-year transition. Programs that provide opportunities for human-animal interactions on campus are gaining popularity as one way of increasing students' well-being. The current study examined the effects of an eight-week animal-assisted therapy (AAT) program on first-year university students’ well-being. An initial feasibility study (N = 86) was conducted that provided opportunities for students to interact, in small groups, with trained therapy dogs and their volunteer handlers. Results indicated that this program reduced participants' levels of homesickness and increased their satisfaction with life. An experimental study was then conducted utilizing a similar eight-week group AAT program. Participants (N = 42) were randomly assigned to either the AAT treatment condition or to a control condition. At the end of the eight weeks, participants in the AAT program reported greater reductions in homesickness and greater increases in satisfaction with life than did those in the control condition. From beginning to end of the program, participants in the treatment group evidenced reductions in homesickness, and increases in satisfaction with life and connectedness to campus over the course of the program; while participants in the control evidenced an increase in homesickness and no changes in satisfaction with life and connectedness to campus. Results of both the feasibility study and the experimental study support the use of AAT programs to increase the well-being of first-year university students experiencing homesickness.
https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2016.1181364
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Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles by Holli-Anne Passmore
https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2020.0033
https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2020.1784826
https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v11i1.1267
https://www.middleeastjournalofpositivepsychology.org/index.php/mejpp/article/view/112
2. This study is the first of its kind to use a validated scale of pro-nature conservaion behaviour. Using online data from a United Kingdom population survey of 1,298 adults (16+ years), we examined factors (composed of nine variable-blocks of items) that accounted for pro-nature conservation behaviour.
3. These were: individual characteristics (demographics, nature connectedness), nature experiences (time spent in nature, engaging with nature through simple activities, indirect engagement with nature), knowledge and attitudes (knowledge/study of nature, valuing and concern for nature) and pro-environmental behaviour.
4. Together, these explained 70% of the variation in people's actions for nature.
5. Importantly, in a linear regression examining the relative importance of these variables to the prediction of pro-nature conservation behaviour, time in nature did not emerge as significant.
6. Engaging in simple nature activities (which is related to nature connectedness) emerged as the largest significant contributor to pro-nature conservation behaviour. Commonality analysis revealed that variables worked together, with nature connectedness and engagement in simple activities being involved in the largest portion of explained variance.
7. Overall, findings from the current study reinforce the critical role that having a close relationship with nature through simple everyday engagement plays in pro-nature conservation behaviour. Policy recommendations are made.
https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10117
https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v10i2.1037
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-9993-z
https://doi.org/10.1037/sah0000127
https://doi.org/10.1177/0829573517732202
https://doi.org/10.1037/sah0000127
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-018-1987-z
https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2017.1417551
https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v5i4.1
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-017-9934-2
https://doi.org/10.1007/s41042-017-0008-9
https://doi.org/10.1017/prp.2016.8
https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1137976
https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2016.1221126
https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2016.1181364
https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2020.0033
https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2020.1784826
https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v11i1.1267
https://www.middleeastjournalofpositivepsychology.org/index.php/mejpp/article/view/112
2. This study is the first of its kind to use a validated scale of pro-nature conservaion behaviour. Using online data from a United Kingdom population survey of 1,298 adults (16+ years), we examined factors (composed of nine variable-blocks of items) that accounted for pro-nature conservation behaviour.
3. These were: individual characteristics (demographics, nature connectedness), nature experiences (time spent in nature, engaging with nature through simple activities, indirect engagement with nature), knowledge and attitudes (knowledge/study of nature, valuing and concern for nature) and pro-environmental behaviour.
4. Together, these explained 70% of the variation in people's actions for nature.
5. Importantly, in a linear regression examining the relative importance of these variables to the prediction of pro-nature conservation behaviour, time in nature did not emerge as significant.
6. Engaging in simple nature activities (which is related to nature connectedness) emerged as the largest significant contributor to pro-nature conservation behaviour. Commonality analysis revealed that variables worked together, with nature connectedness and engagement in simple activities being involved in the largest portion of explained variance.
7. Overall, findings from the current study reinforce the critical role that having a close relationship with nature through simple everyday engagement plays in pro-nature conservation behaviour. Policy recommendations are made.
https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10117
https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v10i2.1037
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-9993-z
https://doi.org/10.1037/sah0000127
https://doi.org/10.1177/0829573517732202
https://doi.org/10.1037/sah0000127
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-018-1987-z
https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2017.1417551
https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v5i4.1
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-017-9934-2
https://doi.org/10.1007/s41042-017-0008-9
https://doi.org/10.1017/prp.2016.8
https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1137976
https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2016.1221126
https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2016.1181364
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-13921-6_10
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-13921-6_16
https://www.routledge.com/Nature-and-Health-Physical-Activity-in-Nature/Brymer-Rogerson-Barton/p/book/9780367723323
https://www.routledge.com/Nature-and-Health-Physical-Activity-in-Nature/Brymer-Rogerson-Barton/p/book/9780367723323
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5195-8_11
The benchmarks for mental health that we outline in this chapter are positive, going beyond the absence of problems. In the past, research has focused on the measurement and reporting of negative indicators, such as the avoidance of sub- stance abuse and delinquency (Gillham et al. 2002 ; Moore and Keyes 2003 ). This pathology or defi cit model has been the traditional and predominant approach to studying how children develop (Halle 2003 ; Roberts et al. 2002 ), and a similar defi cit framework has been dominant in the fi elds of early-childhood and youth development (Lerner 2009 ; VanderVen 2008 ). However, with the new millennium came an increased focus upon positive indicators of youth well-being, as the following two examples attest.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6398-2_5
Within this literature, a variety of theoretical perspectives and research methodologies have been adopted. For example, many researchers invoke the General Learning Model to explain the mechanisms by which video games may influence behaviour. Other researchers refer to frameworks involving moral education, character education, and care ethics in their examination of the relationship between gaming and prosocial development. Diverse parameters have been explored in these studies. For example, different studies have assessed both the immediate and delayed impacts of gaming, and investigated the effects of different durations of video game playing. Additionally, based on each study’s operational definitions of “aggressive behaviour” and “prosocial behaviour”, a variety of behaviours have been assessed and different measures have been employed. For instance, studies have used self-report measures of empathy, the character strengths of generosity and kindness, and the level of civic engagement; word-completion and story completion tasks, in addition to tit-for-tat social situation games such as “Prisoners' Dilemma”, have also been used. These studies have examined changes in both aggressive and prosocial behaviours.
“Video games” collectively span a wide spectrum of content, contexts, and player engagement modalities. Therefore, researchers have focused on different aspects of video games and on different aspects of the context or structure within which the games are played. Competitive versus cooperative games have been studied, as have antisocial versus prosocial games; additionally, combinations of these facets (e.g., games that use violent or antisocial methods to achieve prosocial goals) have been studied. The effects of solo game playing versus co-playing with a parent or another research participant have also been studied.
A cross-section of the variety of perspectives, methodologies, findings and foci of research within the study of video game playing and prosocial behaviour is included in this literature review. Despite the wide array of research approaches and questions, gaps exist within the video game—prosocial behaviour literature. This is not surprising given that this is a relatively new domain of research. We conclude the chapter, therefore, by proposing future research questions and directions with which to address this gap in our knowledge.
This paper discusses highlights from the ever-increasing body of research findings and empirical data evidencing the positive and additive effects that nature has on our mental health and well-being. Included in this discussion are findings from a recent series of studies conducted at Grant MacEwan University that this author was involved in. The research summarized in this paper demonstrates that our relationship with nature is vital to our mental health and well-being.
The tendency for us to search for and find meaning in life, our tendency to affiliate with nature, and our propensity towards spirituality have all been described as essential needs or instinctual drives. It is natural, therefore, to suggest that these fundamental motivations are intertwined. In the current research, we sought to examine these interrelationships within a single study. A sample of 211 undergraduate students completed multiple self-report measures of each of these constructs. Significant, positive correlations were found between nature affiliation, well-being, meaning in life, and the transcendent aspect of spirituality. Findings are discussed with respect to
future research on the interrelationships between these constructs within a Self-Determination Theory framework.
Nature affiliation and meaning in life have each been shown to correlate with well-being. In Study 1, we tested the hypothesis that those who are highly nature affiliated may derive a sense of meaningful existence from their closeness with nature, and that this in turn would predict greater well-being. A
sample of 311 undergraduate students completed multiple self-report measures of nature affiliation, meaning in life, and well-being. Structural equation modeling supported the hypothesis: meaning in life mediated the relationship between nature affiliation and well-being. These findings parallel those found previously for the relationship between religiosity and well-being (Byron & Miller-Perrin, 2009; Steger & Frazier, 2005). Therefore, in Study 2, we simultaneously examined whether the nature —meaning in life — well-being pattern would parallel that shown previously for religiousness — purpose in life —well-being. In Study 2, 436 undergraduate students completed self-report measures of nature affiliation, religiosity, meaning in life, and well-being. Structural equation modeling showed that meaning in life mediated relationships between nature affiliation and well-being, and between
religiosity and well-being. Findings are discussed with respect to future research incorporating broader spirituality measures in order to examine interrelationships among nature, spirituality, religion, meaning, and well-being.