“Being in That Environment Can Be Very Therapeutic”: Spiritual Experiences in Nature

Snell, Tristan; Simmonds, Janette Graetz

doi:10.1089/eco.2012.0078

Cited by 42 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Nevertheless, the results suggest that positive mood increased, negative mood decreased, and that general subjective well-being, a sense of meaning and mindfulness increased after 30 days of the intervention. Such findings are supportive of previous studies examining the influence of nature on mood and life satisfaction (e.g., MacKerron & Mourato, 2013;McMahan and Estes, 2015;Nisbet, 2014), and provide a quantitative accompaniment to reports from previous studies that spending time in nature can increase one's sense of meaning (e.g., Snell & Simmonds, 2012). Supporting the findings of the present study, mindfulness has been found to be reactive in earlier studies; levels of mindfulness, as measured by the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (used in the present study), increased after a mindfulness retreat (Walach et al, 2006).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…Spending time in a wild environment, such as a forest, can induce feelings of awe and fascination (Vining, 2003;Keltner & Haidt, 2003). A reduction in pressure from the everyday distractions of society, as well as the fascination and awe that can arise within a wild environment, can lead to peak or 'transcendent' experiences, which are characterised by a sense of union with the universe, absorption in the significance of the moment and a sense of timelessness (McDonald, Wearing & Ponting, 2009;Williams & Harvey, 2001); it is also possible that being less focused on oneself increases the likelihood of adopting pro-environmental attitudes (Frantz, Mayer, Norton & Rock, 2005;Snell & Simmonds, 2012).…”

Section: Well-being Nature Contact and Nature Connectednessmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hamann¹,

Ivtzan²

2016

SIIW

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Considering the lack of nature-based positive psychology interventions (PPIs), the present study examined the effects of Rewild Your Life (RYL), an online intervention programme that challenges users to spend 30 minutes a day in nature for 30 days. Participants who completed RYL (n=35) showed significant increases in mood, well-being, mindfulness and meaning compared to the control group (n=27). The effect was stronger when participants spent at least 30 minutes in nature, and meaning and mindfulness were affected only in "wilderness" but not urban "greenspace" (e.g., parks). Findings emphasise the importance of access to natural spaces, especially considering that people are spending increasing amounts of time indoors and disconnecting from nature, and the importance of increasing access to greenspace is discussed.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Well-being Nature Contact and Nature Connectednessmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hamann¹,

Ivtzan²

2016

SIIW

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“…Ecopsychological studies that explore the effects of direct experience on participant awareness focus mostly on environmental identity (ecologic self), affective connections and the sense of well-being that is often fostered (Hinds and Sparks 2009). Although there is a dearth of ecopsychology research about increasing awareness of the physical and biological aspects of the non-human world, many studies document both changes in 295 affective and spiritual responses and the development of a sense of place (the effect on the psyche) (Roszak 1995;Davis 1998;Harper, Carpenter et al 2011;Hinds 2011;Snell and Simmonds 2012). These aspects of direct experience are discussed in the "sense of connection" section of the discussion.…”

Section: Through Direct Experiencementioning

confidence: 99%

Underwater Photo-Elicitation: A New Experiential Marine Education Technique

Andrews

Stocker

Oechel

2018

Aust. J. environ. educ.

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Psychologists generally agree that the rapid introduction and widespread use of new technologies is leading to ever-greater physical and psychological disconnection between humans and the non-human world. This disconnect is proving harmful to both individuals and the rest of the natural Earth community (Gaia). Developing educational techniques that reverse this destructive trend is of the upmost importance. Underwater photoelicitation is a new experiential environmental education technique designed for this purpose.This thesis describes and assesses underwater photoelicitation for its effectiveness as an educational tool within the context of community and school programs. Two separate groups, one comprising adults and one, high school students, were given underwater cameras and sent on snorkeling journeys during which they were instructed to photograph their experiences. Participants were then interviewed using individual and group photoelicitation methodologies. This technique was created to combine a relatively new technology, inexpensive digital underwater cameras, and direct experience in the non-human world with the goal of reconnecting humans to the rest of nature. This project marks the first time that underwater photoelicitation appears in environmental education research.The theoretical framework was nested within ecopsychology, deep ecology, and conservation psychology. The use of mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) resulted in a more robust data analysis and led to a better understanding of underlying learning processes. The research was predominantly qualitative, and major themes were developed from questionnaires and interviews. Pre-and postquantitative surveys provided insight into attitude change and intention to act with pro-environmental behavior. 4Although underwater photoelicitation was effective at increasing awareness, eliciting emotional reactions, and fostering a sense of connection to the ocean, it was not necessarily effective at promoting positive attitudes and behaviors. Interestingly, while some attitudes about and behaviors toward the ocean did become more positive, others appeared to become more negative. This complex relationship between an outdoor experiential education program and environmental attitudes and behavior comports with previous environmental education research.In conclusion, underwater photoelicitation is an effective technique for increasing awareness of and developing an emotional connection to the ocean.Nevertheless, if the goal is to achieve significant attitude change and proenvironmental behavior, the technique must be supplemented not only with factual information regarding ecology/human impacts but also with strategies for empowering individuals to act.5

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“…The influence of spiritual tradition can also be seen in Snell and Simmonds' (2012) qualitative study of spiritual experiences in nature. Those from a religious spiritual tradition clearly articulated a metaphysical framework in which their experiences were viewed as purposeful and intelligible while those who held a nonreligious spiritual perspective struggled to come up with, or resisted interpretations of their spiritual experiences that would give any more substantial meaning to these experiences other than them being pleasant or extraordinary psychological states.…”

Section: Spiritual Traditionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…570) Peace is an internal characteristic of spiritual well-being closely related to hope (Hawks, 1994). In their study of the spiritual experience of nature, Snell and Simmonds (2012) discovered that some participants viewed their nature experiences as a vivid memory that could be drawn upon later to bring forth a sense of contentment and peacefulness. In addition, Snell and Simmonds reported that several participants spoke of increased environmental consciousness and behavior subsequent to their significant nature experiences that were due to a wish to protect the natural settings that provided them with these experiences.…”

Section: Spiritual Well-beingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nature-Based Recreation, Spirituality and Persons with Disabilities

Heintzman

2014

Journal of Disability & Religion

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This article synthesizes empirical studies that explain the relationship between nature-based recreation and spirituality for persons with disabilities. In order to describe this relationship, a theoretical model, which includes the components of antecedent conditions, setting, and recreation, is developed. Antecedent conditions include history and current circumstances, motivation, sociodemographic characteristics, and spiritual tradition. Setting components include being in nature, being away to a different environment, and place processes. Recreation components include activity, free time, solitude, and group experiences. The article further explains how these conditions and components may lead to outcomes of spiritual experiences, spiritual well-being, and leisure-spiritual coping. Leisure-spiritual coping, which is particularly relevant for persons who are experiencing stress, refers to spiritual coping that takes place within the context of a person's leisure. This model illustrates the complexity of the nature-based recreation and spirituality relationship. Recommendations for future research and implications for practitioners who work with people who have disabilities are outlined.In a 1996 chapter on "Hard-to Define Values and Persons With Disabilities," McAvoy and Lais noted that few studies have explored spiritual values that persons with disabilities associate with nature. Almost two decades later, while there is not an abundance of empirical research on this topic, a number of studies have been published. This review article synthesizes recent research on nature-based recreation, spirituality and persons with disabilities

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“Being in That Environment Can Be Very Therapeutic”: Spiritual Experiences in Nature

Cited by 42 publications

References 43 publications

Untitled

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Underwater Photo-Elicitation: A New Experiential Marine Education Technique

Nature-Based Recreation, Spirituality and Persons with Disabilities

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