Connectedness to nature and sustainable intention

: measuring nature connectedness and the role of self in consumption behavior

Abstract

Sustainable consumption behavior is a critical aspect of addressing current
environmental challenges. This research study examines whether (1)
manipulating connectedness to nature increases sustainable buying intentions. (2) whether state connectedness to nature is positively associated with sustainable buying intentions. (3) If selftranscendence mediates the relationship between state connectedness to nature and sustainable buying intentions. And (4) whether personal response efficacy moderates the relationship between state connectedness to nature and sustainable buying intentions. The study employs a between-subject video manipulation design, where participants in the manipulation condition were exposed to videos aimed at inducing connectedness to nature vs. a control video. Subsequently, they completed a questionnaire assessing their emotions (awe, admiration, gratitude), sustainable buying intentions, state connectedness to nature, self-transcendence, and personal response efficacy. The results demonstrated marginally significant differences induced through the manipulation, but no significant effects of the manipulation on sustainable buying intentions, rejecting the first hypothesis. State connectedness to nature was positively associated with sustainable buying intentions, supporting the idea that feelings of connectedness to nature
influence sustainable choices. While self-transcendence demonstrated a positive correlation with state connectedness to nature, it did not mediate the relationship with buying intentions. The moderating role of personal response efficacy was also not significant. While acknowledging potential limitations in the sample and measurement tools, this research underscores the multifaceted nature of these constructs and the importance of considering them comprehensively.

Date of Award	17 Jan 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Cláudia Simão (Supervisor)