Personally Relevant Indoor Nature Imagery’s Impact on Students’ Well-Being, Connection to Nature, and Eco-Conscious Behaviors

Previous research has shown that experiences in nature are predictive of increased connection to nature, well-being, and pro-environmental behavior. The current study investigated whether daily exposure to indoor nature imagery would also improve well-being and eco-conscious behaviors, and whether personally relevant images would enhance this hypothesized effect. Participants completed a test assessing baseline connection to nature and well-being, specifically satisfaction with life, positive and negative emotions, and stress. In the 2 (Nature vs. Built) X 2 (Familiar vs. Unfamiliar) study design, 125 participants either received a poster from a photo that they submitted (a personally-relevant nature scene or personally-relevant built scene) or a poster of an unfamiliar natural or built scene. After four weeks of daily exposure to this new poster in their home, participants completed a post-test which included the same measures of well-being and connection to nature, along with a novel eco-conscious behaviors measure involving environmental petitions. The nature intervention significantly improved participants’ satisfaction with life. The personal relevancy of images did not enhance well-being, either alone nor in interaction with image content. The finding that daily exposure could lead to improved well-being has implications for addressing mental health concerns

Preparing for a Changing Climate: The State of Adaptation Planning in Maine’s Coastal Communities

Climate change is having a range of impacts on Maine’s coastal communities, impacts that will be further exacerbated by increased coastal flooding, storm events, and a warming Gulf of Maine. To better understand the status of adaptation planning by Maine coastal communities, we conducted a survey and in-depth interviews with decision makers from coastal communities. We found that communities are addressing the effects of climate change and have moved towards specific implementation strategies. Adaptation planning to date includes incorporation of climate change impacts in comprehensive planning and addressing impacts on roads, culverts, and waterfront infrastructure. Respondents indicated the need for more specific data on the direct impacts of climate change in their communities over the next two years. They identified a preference for spatial data and interactive websites, followed by support from technical experts. Although the majority of respondents had an understanding of the physical vulnerabilities their communities face, they identified a need for increased resources to assess social vulnerability impacts. Additionally, communities face challenges in identifying appropriate funding sources that match identified needs. Adaptation planning processes are often stymied by the lack of dedicated funding that enables coastal communities to be proactive in addressing the physical and social impacts of climate change

Presence Scale Development: Psychometrics and Validity

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2023This Master’s Thesis reports on Exploratory Factor Analyses in two pilot samples (N = 599, N = 384) and Confirmatory Factor Analyses (N = 601) in a new nationally representative sample to complete a scale to measure Presence, a newly identified construct. After the factor structure of Presence replicated in both pilot studies, the conceptual model of Presence was revised and item deletion was performed through a series of Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses on both pilot datasets to evaluate item properties, such as cross-loadings, reliabilities, and model fit, in tandem with theoretical considerations. Confirmatory Factor Analyses on the final new dataset revealed that the 14 item Presence Scale exhibited strong psychometric properties and model fit. Validity analyses comparing Presence with theoretically related constructs were also examined and indicate that Presence is a novel contribution to psychology

An Extended Replication Study of the Well-Being Intervention, the Noticing Nature Intervention (NNI)

The current study is an expanded replication study examining the efficacy of a modified version of Passmore and Holder's (2017) nature-based well-being intervention, the Noticing Nature Intervention (NNI). Undergraduates (N=173) from a university in China were randomly assigned to engage in the NNI for 2 weeks (i.e., pay attention to, and provide a brief description of, how the everyday nature you encounter makes you feel) or to engage in one of two active control conditions. Both quantitative and qualitative findings replicated previous results. At the end of the 2-week intervention, compared to control groups, participants who engaged in the NNI reported significantly higher levels of well-being and significantly lower levels of ill-being (ds from 0.41 to 0.69). As in the 2017 study, these well-being benefits were not moderated by trait levels of connectedness to nature. Further replicating the 2017 results, these well-being benefits were not a function of the NNI group spending significantly more time in nature (ds=0.05-0.07,); rather, boosts to well-being and reduction of ill-being were the result merely of paying attention to the everyday nature participants encountered in their daily routines. Analysis of qualitative findings revealed that positive emotions were significantly more likely to be reported by participants in the NNI condition (z = 6.5), while negative emotions were significantly less likely to be reported by those in the NNI condition (z = -7.3). This research provides further empirical support for the Noticing Nature Intervention as an effective well-being intervention