The natural world around me; a qualitative exploration of young people's relationship to nature and how it relates to their wellbeing and feelings of pro-environmental behaviour

Abstract

There is a deficit of qualitative research which aims to understand young people's experiences of and relationship to nature. Drawing on youth work methodology, this interdisciplinary study employed an exploratory qualitative approach to understand how young people's relationship with nature influences their wellbeing attitudes towards pro-environmental behaviour. Three focus groups were conducted with 21 young people, aged 12–26, from diverse cultural backgrounds. Thematic analysis of the focus group data resulted in four dominant themes: 1) the foundations of our relationship to nature; 2) pathways to wellbeing; 3) barriers to nature connection and 4) nature connection in the face of climate and ecological crisis. This study spotlights the significance of nature connectedness in supporting youth mental health and laying the foundation for environmental stewardship. Findings extend previous theoretical perspectives, suggesting a unique relationship between young people and nature with distinctive ecocentric roots. Understanding this relationship has the potential to unite activity from health services to environmental policy and beyond, ultimately benefiting both human and ecological wellbeing. Implications for research policy and practice are discussed. Visual representation of nature connection by one of the young people. This is a drawing that one of the participants created during the focus group while they were reflecting on the discussion. This was unpromoted, and the participant created the drawing of their own free will and shared it with the researcher post-focus group. They communicated that the image captures the contrast between urban and natural environments and their unique relationship to nature – whereby nature connection is a source of calm for them. We believe this encapsulates some of the overarching findings of this paper. Additionally, this speaks to the diversity of communication styles and the need to facilitate and support varied communication styles outside of solely verbal communication. The drawing is being shared with the permission of the creator. We have received assent and consent from both the participant and their parental guardian to present their signed and dated drawing. • Nature connectedness plays a key role in supporting youth mental health environmental stewardship. • Interventions designed to foster nature connectedness and address the barriers to nature connection should be prioritised. • Young people's voices highlight the need for – “A change in the way we see the World and our place within it” (Tamara, 15). • Young people's understanding of the World through lenses which are innately relational is integral to a sustainable future.

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