Longing for nature: Becoming more connected to nature through nostalgia

Repairing the human–nature relationship is one of the century's defining tasks. In this paper, we were interested in whether nature‐based nostalgia was a significant and unique predictor of higher nature connectedness as a key operationalisation of the human–nature relationship. This work builds upon extant research showing that nostalgia is an emotion many readily understand and one that is causally associated with both increased social connectedness and higher feelings of growth and meaning in life (core components of eudaimonia).

We conducted three online studies in independent samples. In Study 1 ( n  = 201), US university students completed baseline measures of affect and nature connectedness, reflected on a previous nature experience of their choosing and then re‐completed these same measures after the reflection. In Study 2 ( n  = 266), US adults completed baseline nature connectedness, reflected on either nostalgia or a control reflection and completed these measures again. In Study 3 ( n  = 338), UK adults completed baseline measures of eudaimonia (meaning, personal growth and authenticity) and hedonia (pleasure, happiness and fun) before reflecting on a nostalgic nature experience of their choosing. They then completed these measures again.

In Study 1, results revealed that the reflections were associated with increased nature connectedness and that this was uniquely explained by the effect of the reflection on nostalgia when controlling for positive and negative affectivity. In Study 2, nostalgic reflection resulted in increased nature connectedness (relative to the control). In Study 3, nostalgic reflection was associated with increased nature connectedness, in part, due to both increased eudaimonia and increased hedonia.

Overall, results indicated that nostalgic reflections about nature are associated with, and may causally lead to, higher nature connectedness, making it a worthwhile target for nature connectedness and well‐being interventions.