Exploring the mediating role of mindfulness : nature relatedness as a pathway to personal growth and autonomy

Abstract

A growing body of research has identified strong links between nature relatedness and various psychological well-being outcomes. Despite these associations, the psychological mechanisms underlying these relationships remain largely unexplored. Nature relatedness encapsulates the cognitive and affective connection that individuals forge with natural environments, a connection that has shown consistent correlations with dispositional mindfulness and eudaimonic well-being. Mindfulness is described as non-judgmental attention and awareness to the present moment. This study investigates the mediating role of dispositional mindfulness in the relationship between nature relatedness and specific aspects of eudaimonic well-being, namely personal growth and autonomy. Data were collected through self-report surveys from 161 adult residents of Hong Kong. These surveys assessed nature relatedness, mindfulness, and eudaimonic well-being, including personal growth and autonomy. Results revealed that nature relatedness significantly and positively influenced both personal growth and autonomy. Mindfulness acted as a significant mediator, fully mediating the relationship between nature relatedness and personal growth and partially mediating the relationship between nature relatedness and autonomy. These results underscore how nature relatedness can enhance personal growth and autonomy by fostering mindfulness among the Hong Kong population. These insights are crucial for devising nature-based interventions tailored to enhance eudaimonic well-being, suggesting that incorporating mindfulness practices into nature engagement strategies could significantly benefit psychological health.