Strategic Research Network for People and Nature evidence round up - May 2019
Welcome to the latest round up of information for May. Contributions featuring members of the SRN and direct recipients of this round up are highlighted in green below.
We are conscious that this is a long document as we have attempted to capture a wide range of information that may be of interest. We always welcome feedback on whether this is useful as a way of sharing information or whether it duplicates something that already exists? Any suggestions for improvements are welcome.
If you have your own work or know of other papers that would be of interest please do send it to Martin Gilchrist, at any time for inclusion in the next round up. Thank you, as always, to those of you who have sent in contributions this month.
Many thanks
Martin Gilchrist, Sarah Preston and Anne Hunt
This round up has the following sections
RESEARCH AND REPORTS
Featured Research - The Relationship Between Nature Connectedness and Eudaimonic Well-Being: A Meta-analysis
FUNDING CALLS / DATES
Featured Call - Understanding the potential of place to impact health and health inequalities Application dates: 03 April 2019 to 12 November 2019. NIHR call
NATURE IN THE NEWS
Featured News - Guardian article - Into thin air: Carol Ann Duffy presents poems about our vanishing insect world
RESEARCH AND REPORTS
The Impact of Participation in an Outdoor Education Program on Physical Education Teacher Education Student Self-efficacy to Teach Outdoor Education
K Hovey, D Niland, JT Foley - Journal of Teaching in Physical Education
Results indicated a significant increase in self-efficacy scores from pre- to post-test in all content areas (OE skills, Group Dynamic skills, Models and Theories). Overall, the OE program had a large effect in changing self-efficacy scores. Participation in the program positively affected PETE students’ self-efficacy for teaching OE, which may improve their ability to ultimately teach this content in physical education settings.
Learning Transfer in Socioeconomically Differentiated Outdoor Adventure Education Students
L Meerts-Brandsma, J Sibthorp, S Rochelle - Journal of Experiential Education
This study focused on understanding how learning outcomes differed between students who did and did not receive scholarships to attend an OAE program and whether students apply what they learn in OAE to their lives similarly. Regardless of group, students reported learning comparable lessons and using what they learned in OAE similarly. What differed was the transfer context, meaning the conditions where students applied their learning. Scholarship students do vary demographically from non-scholarship students, but most students in both groups attended college during or after NOLS. This may explain why they applied their learning in similar ways.
College Students and Nature: Differing Thoughts of Fear, Danger, Disconnection, and Loathing
DE Taylor - Environmental Management
This paper analyzes racial, gender, class, and academic differences in the way college students think about nature. The study found that white students are less likely than racial/ethnic minorities to think about disconnection, predators, getting lost, loathsome or hateful places, fear, and danger when they think of nature. However, the results also show that it would be inaccurate to describe racial/ethnic minorities as universally fearful of and disconnected from nature. Moreover, the paper demonstrates that race is not the only explanatory variable that has significant impacts in multivariate models. Gender, age, parental education, and first-generation college attendance also has significant impacts on the dependent variables.
Natural based Learning for Early Childhood Cognitive Development
R Amiliya, H Harun - International Conference on Special and Inclusive Education
The effectiveness of nature-based learning is evaluated by designing learning activities conducted by quasi-experimental method to 28 children. Two variables: Natural-based learning and cognitive development. The results show that there is a significant increase in early childhood cognitive development by 53.6%.
Teacher and student perceptions of an outdoor classroom
C Guardino, KW Hall, E Largo-Wight, C Hubbuch - Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education
A six-week study was conducted with two kindergarten teachers and 37 kindergarten students aged five and six to determine their perceptions of teaching and learning in a traditional indoor classroom compared to a newly constructed outdoor classroom. Quantitative observations and qualitative interview data revealed that both the teachers and the students reported an increased perception of wellbeing, pleasure, and interest when teaching and learning in the outdoor classroom. In addition, research assistants noted that the children with disabilities were less distracted and more on-task when working in the outdoor classroom.
Youth Exploring the Relationship between School Gardens, Food Literacy and Mental Well-Being Using Photovoice
V Lam, K Romses, K Renwick
The youth explicitly connected relaxation with the themes of love and connectedness, growing food, garden as a place, cooking, and food choices. This was linked to nature, beauty, environment and sustainability. Youth clubs or groups were also identified as a key enabler for connection. Youth shared their food literacy experiences, observing that their engagement improved some aspect of their mental well-being. They identified food literacy and gardens as being the most important to mental well-being including: connecting, personal health and personal growth. The youth recognized that connecting comes from having community, relationships and respect.
Association of Education Outside the Classroom and pupils' psychosocial well-being: Results from a school year implementation.
Bolling et al – Journal of School Health
Danish students regularly exposed to outdoor education made greater improvements in prosocial behavior over a school year than students in a comparison group. Students from low socioeconomic backgrounds also showed a greater decrease in hyperactivity-inattention and peer problems. Fewer, longer sessions of outdoor learning seemed more effective than shorter sessions.
The longitudinal association between natural outdoor environments and mortality in 9218 older men from Perth, Western Australia
Wilma L. Zijlema et al - Environment International
- 9218 men aged 65+ years from Perth, Western Australia were studied from 1996 to 2014.
- Residential surrounding greenness, parks, natural space and waterbodies were mapped.
- Associations between surrounding greenness and mortality were confounded by education.
- Living close to one (vs. no) natural space was associated with decreased mortality risk.
- Associations between waterbodies and mortality were inconsistent.
The use of nature–based activities for the well-being of older people: An integrative literature review
C Gagliardi, F Piccinini - Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
- A wide range of settings and applications involving older people were found.
- The selected papers showed a great variety of methods and study designs.
- Experimental evidences are needed to achieve more reliable and consistent results
- The examined studies offered numerous examples of the healing power of nature for the health and well-being of older people
Beyond Restoration: Considering Emotion Regulation in Natural Well-Being
M Richardson - Ecopsychology
Our relationship with the rest of the natural world can help emotion regulation, yet the role of nature in the regulation of emotions is often overlooked. As the health benefits provided by nature are increasingly recognized, there is a need for accessible models that can explain and promote those well-being benefits and this article provides an account of the well-being benefits of nature based on affect regulation. Applied implications of this perspective are presented.
Twitter sentiment in New York City parks as measure of well-being
RA Plunz et al - Landscape and Urban Planning
- Twitter as an effective measure of people’s expression of sentiment.
- Geo-located twitter data as well-being indicator associated with urban park space.
- Urban park sentiment varies for spatial context and user characteristics.
- Twitter data as a potential resource for urban design and planning.
Participation in local food projects is associated with better psychological well-being: Evidence from the East of England.
D Watson, Z Bharucha, N Weinstein, S Bohm - Journal of Public Health
An online survey compared participants of local food initiatives with members of the general population. Participants scored higher than non-participants on life satisfaction but differences in psychological distress were insignificant. More actively engaged participants scored higher on positive well-being and longer duration participation was associated with higher life satisfaction and less psychological distress. Finally, we found that participation contributes to psychological need satisfaction, better diet and connection to nature, three known drivers of well-being.
Associations of green space metrics with health and behavior outcomes at different buffer sizes and remote sensing sensor resolutions
Jason G. Su et al - Environment International
- Coarser spatial resolution in Landsat data tended to over-estimate green cover
- Higher vegetation index was associated with better perceived health, better mental health and greater physical activity
- Satellite sensor spatial resolution did not impact identified associations between green space metrics and health outcomes
- Green space metrics from larger buffer sizes showed stronger associations with health outcomes
Green and blue spaces and physical functioning in older adults: Longitudinal analyses of the Whitehall II study
Carmen de Keijzer et al - Environment International
- Higher greenness was associated with slower age-related decline in walking speed.
- Higher greenness was associated with higher grip strength at baseline.
- Proximity to natural environments was associated with slower decline in walking speed.
- Proximity to natural environments was more beneficial in areas with higher compared to lower deprivation.
- Proximity to blue space was not significantly associated with physical functioning.
The Relationship Between Nature Connectedness and Eudaimonic Well-Being: A Meta-analysis
A Pritchard, M Richardson, D Sheffield, K McEwan - Journal of Happiness Studies
This meta-analysis was undertaken to explore the relationship of nature connection with eudaimonic well-being. From 20 samples a small significant effect size was found for the relationship of nature connection and eudaimonic well-being; there was no significant difference between this and the effect size from 30 samples for hedonic well-being. Of the eudaimonic well-being subscales, personal growth had a moderate effect size which was significantly larger than the effect sizes for autonomy, purpose in life/meaning, self-acceptance, positive relations with others and environmental mastery, but not vitality. Thus, individuals who are more connected to nature tend to have greater eudaimonic well-being, and in particular have higher levels of self-reported personal growth.
An exploratory study of extreme sport athletes' nature interactions: From well-being to pro-environmental behavior
TE MacIntyre et al - Frontiers in Psychology
The purpose of this study was to gain insight and understanding into the individuals’ attitudes towards the benefits of extreme sport activities for well-being, resilience and pro-environmental behavior. The findings convey great commonalities across the participants with regard to their mindset, their emotional well-being as well as their connectivity with nature and attitudes towards the natural environment. The cognitive-affective-social-behavioral linkage of the benefits of extreme sport participation for well-being, psychological recovery and pro-environmental behavior are highlighted.
The Compromises of Rewilding in Swedish Laponia: Implications for Nature Reconciliation
JR Leduc - The Journal of Transdisciplinary Environmental Studies
In this paper we examine the human element to rewilding. This study is examined in the context of an upcoming river-based rewilding project in Swedish Laponia undertaken by Rewilding Lapland. The case reveals tensions with indigenous Sami reindeer herders, in particular over the role of predators in serving as exotic keystone species and more generally conflicts in environmental aesthetics over what wilderness is supposed to look like.
The psychological and social benefits of a nature experience for children: A preliminary investigation
RL Dopko, CA Capaldi, JM Zelenski - Journal of Environmental Psychology
- To examine potential well-being benefits, children attended a nature school.
- Children reported more positive and negative emotions, and a closer connection to nature.
- Children were also more pro-social at the nature school.
Measuring pro-environmental behavior: Review and recommendations
F Lange, S Dewitte - Journal of Environmental Psychology
- Reviews approaches to the measurement of pro-environmental behavior.
- Covers self-reports, field observations, and laboratory assessment.
- Discusses strengths and weaknesses of measurement approaches.
- Recommends measurement approaches and tools dependent on research objectives.
- Highlights the need for psychometrically established measures.
Active Greening or Rewilding the city: How does the intention behind small pockets of urban green affect use?
Rachel S. Danford et al - Urban Forestry & Urban Greening
This paper explores actual use of informal green spaces by using behavioral measures of which user groups visits which type of informal green spaces and what activities users engage with at different site types.
Women's Experiences of Nature as a Pathway to Recovery From Sexual Assault
CL Moore, KJ Van Vliet - Journal of Humanistic Psychology
The purpose of this qualitative study was to develop an in-depth understanding of how nature helps women heal from sexual assault. A narrative analysis of semi-structured interview data provided by four female sexual assault survivors generated four main themes. These themes point to how nature served as a source of emotion regulation and spiritual connection, as well as how it facilitated greater acceptance and reduced dissociation. Themes also indicated reduced negative thinking and rumination, and increased attention to the here and now. Findings are contextualized within the existing literature on sexual assault, and implications for counselling and psychotherapeutic practice with survivors are provided.
A narrative and systematic review of the behavioural, cognitive and emotional effects of passive nature exposure on young people: Evidence for prescribing change
MF Norwood et al - Landscape and Urban Planning
- Nature is prescribed by health experts but as an intervention it is under researched.
- There are limited longitudinal or pre-post studies of nature and youth.
- Passive nature exposure may promote positive changes in attention in youth.
- Nature as part of school design may benefit young people’s cognitive development.
- Real world outcomes are under researched and must become a focus.
Are protected areas (PAs) effective in conserving human connection with nature and enhancing pro-environmental behaviours (PEBs)?
V Cazalis, AC Prévot - Biological Conservation
This study modelled the link between three types of PEBs in Metropolitan France and the proximity to large PAs. It found that each of the studied PEBs decreased with distance of where people lived to PAs. Our results suggest that, beyond their effect through exposure to natural landscapes, PAs affect PEBs by the institutional context they create. Additionally, PEBs were higher inside PAs than in close surroundings, suggesting that, besides restrictions brought by PAs on inhabitants, a fraction of the population responds positively to their implementation.
The influence of spending time outside on experience of nature and environmental attitudes
Colléony, White & Shwartz - Landscape and Urban Planning
- Enhancing experiences of nature (EoN) is vital to achieve conservation agenda.
- Pet dogs encourage people to go outdoors more often.
- EoN and its outcomes for conservation significantly vary across countries.
- Owning dogs influence EoN and relatedness to nature but not environmental attitudes.
- Enhancing both quantity and quality of EoN is crucial to achieve conservation goals.
Livestock biodiversity as interface between people, landscapes and nature
Hall – British Ecological Society
This paper argues for a proper appreciation of the cultural significance of livestock breed biodiversity in traditional systems and landscapes; these breeds can act as a link between people and nature. If the farming component of the landscape can accommodate local traditional breeds, a greater range of ecosystem services will be provided than if only the most commercially attractive breeds are used
Waking Up to the Environmental Crises
PR Gibson - Ecopsychology
This essay names and discusses 11 of the underlying problems to environmental cirses (and correlative opportunities through understanding them): faith/belief in the system, Baconian science, the tendency for highly aware persons to be perceived as radicals, the habit of treading lightly at times in order to communicate with others, the severity of the problem, our fragmented perception of the cycles of nature, that we are often lied to, the difficulty and/or inability to deeply perceive nature, identification with consuming and cultural artifacts, confrontation with capitalism's “forced choice,” and the processes of numbing and colonization.
Public Spheres for Deliberation on Nature? Democratic Qualities of Visitor Centres in Sweden
E Caselunghe, H Bergeå, E von Essen - Journal of Public Deliberation
In this paper we explore in which ways and to what extent Swedish visitor centres in protected sites work as forums for public deliberation on environmental issues, such as nature conservation and natural resource management. By hosting deliberations on nature in nature the deliberation process is connected to its materiality. The conclusions are that such deliberations have an underdeveloped capacity to serve as a communicative forum for public deliberation on the environment and that the new national guidelines for naturum may contribute to renewed roles of the guide and the visitor in interpretive sessions, in which the citizen will be in focus.
Development of the natural environment scoring tool (NEST)
Christopher Gidlow et al - Urban Forestry & Urban Greening
Natural environments are associated with a range of health benefits, but their use is likely to be influenced by the presence of features, facilities and amenities and the condition/maintenance, or the natural environment quality. Most ‘quality’ assessment tools have focused on green spaces and their support for physical activity. This limits their utility for assessment of other natural environment typologies and uses. We aimed to develop a tool for feasible, in situ assessment of diverse natural environments that might support a variety of uses, and to explore associations between natural environment quality and objectively measured amount of natural environment and neighbourhood-level socio-economic status.
Nurturing Nature and the Environment with Young Children: Children, Elders, Earth
Janice Kroeger, Casey Y. Myers, Katy Morgan – Book
This book, at the intersection of early childhood and reconceptualizing practice, looks at how practitioners, theorists, and teachers are supporting young children to care about the environment differently. The book provides an innovative exploration of the links between children, elders, and nature. With contributions from established scholars, practitioners, and newcomers this book reframes educating for social justice within an ecological landscape; one in which young children and their elders are mobilized to understand, reconceptualize and even undo negative environmental impact, whilst grappling with the ways in which the earthly forces are acting upon them.
RESOURCES
ESRC Blog on Putting people at the heart of efforts to tackle climate change,
University of Exeter Beyond Greenspace Blog
List of recent papers
List of recent reports
Playtime Matters
Outdoor Classroom Day report
A report comparing playtime worldwide and highlighting the evidence case for making playtime a key part of the school day.
Blog on the IPBES Report on Nature Loss: How Nature Connectedness Can Help – Miles Richardson
FUNDING CALLS / DATES
Understanding the potential of place to impact health and health inequalities
Application dates: 03 April 2019 to 12 November 2019
Within the National Institute for Health Research, the Public Health Research Programme are accepting stage 1 applications to their commissioned work stream for this topic
Council for Learning Outside the Classroom Annual Conference
Blackpool – November 7th
Advance tickets available until 31st July
The only national conference to draw together the diverse range of people leading in the practice and provision of the full breadth of learning beyond the classroom across the UK.
NATURE IN THE NEWS
Guardian article - Into thin air: Carol Ann Duffy presents poems about our vanishing insect world
“Everything that lives is connected and poetry’s duty and joy is in making those connections visible in language”.
Sport England are funding the Open Data Institute with £1.5m of Natinoal Lottery fundingto help the sector innovate, open their data and develop their digital offering. A ComRes survey has found that people find it twice as easy to order takeaway food online than to book a sport or fitness class. That's why sport England
In a recent interview on BBC Radio 4’s Costing the Earth, Sir Bob Watson, lead scientist of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, said we need to ask, How do we become more in tune with nature? What makes us happy? How do we relate to nature? How do we enjoy nature? The science of nature connectedness can help answer these questions.
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