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Measuring Disconnection from Nature: Validation of the Nature Disconnectedness Scale and Its Psychological and Environmental Correlates

Hasselberg, Benjamin LU (2025) PSYP01 20251
Department of Psychology
Abstract
In order to solve planetary health, the human-nature relationship has to be
understood in more detail. Therefore, the current study aimed to validate and
assess construct, convergent, divergent, and predictive validity of the Nature
Disconnectedness Scale. Using data from 312 participants in Sweden,
confirmatory factor analyses found support for a structure consisting of three
dimensions and eight subdimensions, aligning with a priori theoretical
expectations. The scale showed strong internal consistency and strong negative
correlations with nature relatedness, confirming its close relationship to the
construct. Meaningful associations with Big Five traits, anxiety, depression, life
satisfaction, and harmony in life were found.... (More)
In order to solve planetary health, the human-nature relationship has to be
understood in more detail. Therefore, the current study aimed to validate and
assess construct, convergent, divergent, and predictive validity of the Nature
Disconnectedness Scale. Using data from 312 participants in Sweden,
confirmatory factor analyses found support for a structure consisting of three
dimensions and eight subdimensions, aligning with a priori theoretical
expectations. The scale showed strong internal consistency and strong negative
correlations with nature relatedness, confirming its close relationship to the
construct. Meaningful associations with Big Five traits, anxiety, depression, life
satisfaction, and harmony in life were found. Nature disconnection was found to
predict lower levels of self-reported pro-environmental behaviors after
controlling for demographic variables. These findings offer a complementary
framework to existing connectedness research and suggest that the Nature
Disconnectedness Scale is a valuable tool for operationalizing the human-nature
relationship, particularly for identifying and addressing disconnection in
populations with weak or disrupted ties to the natural world. Future research
should confirm the structure of the scale in a different and larger sample. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Hasselberg, Benjamin LU
supervisor
organization
course
PSYP01 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
human-nature relationship, nature connection, nature disconnection, environmental psychology, pro-environmental behavior
language
English
id
9206725
date added to LUP
2025-06-30 10:13:50
date last changed
2025-06-30 10:13:50
@misc{9206725,
  abstract     = {{In order to solve planetary health, the human-nature relationship has to be
understood in more detail. Therefore, the current study aimed to validate and
assess construct, convergent, divergent, and predictive validity of the Nature
Disconnectedness Scale. Using data from 312 participants in Sweden,
confirmatory factor analyses found support for a structure consisting of three
dimensions and eight subdimensions, aligning with a priori theoretical
expectations. The scale showed strong internal consistency and strong negative
correlations with nature relatedness, confirming its close relationship to the
construct. Meaningful associations with Big Five traits, anxiety, depression, life
satisfaction, and harmony in life were found. Nature disconnection was found to
predict lower levels of self-reported pro-environmental behaviors after
controlling for demographic variables. These findings offer a complementary
framework to existing connectedness research and suggest that the Nature
Disconnectedness Scale is a valuable tool for operationalizing the human-nature
relationship, particularly for identifying and addressing disconnection in
populations with weak or disrupted ties to the natural world. Future research
should confirm the structure of the scale in a different and larger sample.}},
  author       = {{Hasselberg, Benjamin}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Measuring Disconnection from Nature: Validation of the Nature Disconnectedness Scale and Its Psychological and Environmental Correlates}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}