The Influence of Interaction With Nature in Childhood on Future Pro-Environmental Behavior

Abstract

Pro-environmental behavior is a key to environmental sustainability. It is important to know which variables influence the development of pro-environmental behavior and how important direct interaction with nature is for future environmental engagement. The aim of the research was to examine the correlation between childhood interaction with nature and pro-environmental behavior as an adult and the mediators influencing this correlation. The respondents (N = 370) were selected by the snowball method and completed an on-line questionnaire. Bivariate correlation and parallel mediation analysis were done. Previous research studies focused mainly on one type of influence, and this research brought a comparison of three mediators. The results confirmed that interaction with nature in childhood affects future pro-environmental behavior. The main mediator seems to be the affective mediator. The cognitive mediator and interaction with nature in adulthood had only a small mediation effect. Children’s emotional bonding with nature is the important element for the development of pro-environmental behavior. This appears to be a more effective way of ensuring stronger pro-environmental behavior in the future than building environmental knowledge or relying on sufficient interaction with nature in adulthood. Keywords: affective mediator, interaction with nature, mediation analysis, pro-environmental behavior.

Selected Aspects of Environmental Literacy Among Pupils with Regard to the Aims of Primary Education

“…Interaction with nature in childhood influences future pro-environmental behaviour. This fact has been confirmed by the results of several studies (Křepelková et al, 2020). However, we were interested in whether the gender of pupils of younger school age influences the level of selected aspects of pupils' environmental literacy.…”

“…This process, according to Mack et al (2013) should be applied non-violently and focused on the specific conditions of a person's environment. As stated by Křepelková et al (2020), pro-environmental behaviour is the key to the protection and sustainability of the environment. It is important to know which variables influence the level of pro-environmental behaviour and how important is the direct interaction of pupils with the nature for future environmental engagement with regard to sustainable development.…”

What informs human–nature connection? An exploration of factors in the context of urban park visitors and wildlife

“…Recognizing that a sector of park visitors has a contrasting sentiment toward certain species, possibly reinforced by false identification, is critical for park managers trying to balance the mutual benefits of urban green space for humans and wildlife (Basak et al., 2022). Because the value of environmental education in the promotion and maintenance of HNC has mixed results in the literature, programming that strives to increase the literacy and knowledge of wildlife species while making concessions for the emotional connection and/or concern people have toward nature and wildlife may be more effective at instilling long‐term value of the environment than a conventional approach void of this accommodation (Barragan‐Jason et al., 2022; Křepelková et al., 2020; Soulsbury & White, 2019).…”

“…However, the establishment and progression of this bond is neither linear, fixed nor generalizable, but susceptible to life experiences and individual characteristics (Giusti, 2019; Rosa et al., 2018; van Heezik et al., 2021; van Vliet et al., 2020). This lack of predictability presents challenges, as well as opportunities, for evaluating HNC and expanding the framework necessary to enhance HNC throughout an individual's lifetime (Cleary et al., 2020; Křepelková et al., 2020).…”

On Wolves and Bees: Factors Influencing the Nature Relatedness of the Pre-Service Teachers

“…Man's relationship to nature, its formation, structure, and the variables that affect it, are the fundamental research topics in science and environmental education. Love for nature and connection with it is perceived as one of the elementary predictors of interest in the issue of environmental protection and pro-environmental behavior (Krepelkova et al, 2020). In order for children to develop a positive attitude towards nature, it is necessary for their educators to have a similar personal quality.…”