Mechanisms underlying childhood exposure to blue spaces and adult subjective well-being : An 18-country analysis
Journal article
Vitale, Valeria, Martin, Leanne, White, Mathew P., Elliott, Lewis R., Wyles, Kayleigh J., Browning, Matthew H. E. M., Pahl, Sabine, Stehl, Patricia, Bell, Simon, Bratman, Gregory N., Gascon, Mireia, Grellier, James, Lima, Maria L., Lõhmus, Mare, Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark, Ojala, Ann, Taylor, Jane, van den Bosch, Matilda, Weinstein, Netta and Fleming, Lora E.. (2022). Mechanisms underlying childhood exposure to blue spaces and adult subjective well-being : An 18-country analysis. Journal of Environmental Psychology. 84, p. Article 101876. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2022.101876
Authors | Vitale, Valeria, Martin, Leanne, White, Mathew P., Elliott, Lewis R., Wyles, Kayleigh J., Browning, Matthew H. E. M., Pahl, Sabine, Stehl, Patricia, Bell, Simon, Bratman, Gregory N., Gascon, Mireia, Grellier, James, Lima, Maria L., Lõhmus, Mare, Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark, Ojala, Ann, Taylor, Jane, van den Bosch, Matilda, Weinstein, Netta and Fleming, Lora E. |
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Abstract | Contact with natural environments is associated with good health and well-being. Although childhood nature experiences may be important in the development of an individual's relationship with nature and subsequent well-being, previous studies have tended to focus on ‘nature’ in general, and the mechanisms by which childhood experiences influence well-being in adulthood remain insufficiently studied. Drawing on cross-sectional survey data from an 18-country sample (N = 15,743) the current work extended previous research by examining: a) blue spaces (coasts, rivers, lakes, etc.) in particular; b) associations between adults' recalled childhood exposure to blue spaces, frequency of recent visits to green and blues spaces, and adult subjective well-being; c) the role of childhood exposure to blue spaces on intrinsic motivations to spend time in nature; and d) the consistency of these relationships across different countries. Tests of a model where childhood exposure to blue spaces was linked to adult subjective well-being serially through intrinsic motivation and then recent blue and green space visits exhibited a good fit, a pattern largely consistent across all 18 countries. However, an alternative model where recent visits predicted intrinsic motivation also demonstrated good fit, indicating that these processes may be iterative. Building familiarity with and confidence in and around blue spaces in childhood may stimulate a joy of, and greater propensity to spend recreational time in, nature in adulthood, with positive consequences for adult subjective well-being. |
Keywords | WHO-5; intrinsic motivation; subjective well-being; blue/green space; cross-cultural analysis; childhood |
Year | 2022 |
Journal | Journal of Environmental Psychology |
Journal citation | 84, p. Article 101876 |
Publisher | Elsevier Ltd |
ISSN | 0272-4944 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2022.101876 |
Scopus EID | 2-s2.0-85141294786 |
Page range | 1-22 |
Funder | European Union |
Publisher's version | License All rights reserved File Access Level Controlled |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 28 Sep 2022 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 19 Sep 2022 |
Deposited | 27 Jul 2023 |
Grant ID | 666773 |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8z660/mechanisms-underlying-childhood-exposure-to-blue-spaces-and-adult-subjective-well-being-an-18-country-analysis
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