What is it about?

This study uses national survey data collected after a severe Australian bushfire season to examine the relationships between nature connectedness, climate worry, individual and collective climate action, and psychological distress. We show that nature connectedness is linked to more worry about climate change that, in turn, is linked to more climate action and higher psychological distress. Taking individual climate may reduce distress, while taking collective action may increase distress.

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Why is it important?

Overall, our results support programs targeting nature connectedness to increase climate change engagement. However, they also highlight a need for to consider the potential mental health risks of connecting with nature in contexts of environmental change. We recommend that interventions targeting nature connectedness incorporate ways to help people manage their emotional responses to climate change.

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This page is a summary of: Nature connectedness in the climate change context: Implications for climate action and mental health., Translational Issues in Psychological Science, May 2022, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/tps0000329.
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