Date of Award

8-2024

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

School

Center for Science and Math Education

Committee Chair

Dr. Rachel Gisewhite

Committee Chair School

Center for Science and Math Education

Committee Member 2

Dr. Mac Alford

Committee Member 2 School

Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences

Committee Member 3

Dr. Kendrick Buford

Committee Member 3 School

Center for Science and Math Education

Committee Member 4

Dr. Maria Wallace

Committee Member 4 School

Center for Science and Math Education

Abstract

Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder published in 2008 inspired the world to explore the outdoors. He brought to light the decreasing time children are spending in nature and just enjoying all the benefits it has to offer. Many studies have also explored nature deprivation and the negative effects it has on children and youth. They also examine the positive influence nature has on children and youth’s health. More recent studies are examining the effects nature has on emerging adults and on adults. Emerging adults are those college aged adults in the 18 ­­– 22-year range. This unique population is one that faces many challenges that can affect their mental and physical health. The connection to nature in emerging adults also helps alleviate the symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, and improves physical health as well. This study really focused on the connectedness to nature in emerging adults. A community college environmental club was examined to see the influence it has on fostering this connectedness.

This was a mixed methods study utilizing a modified version of the Nature Relatedness Scale and the Connectedness to Nature Scale, as a pre-test/post-test, given before and after an environmental club kayaking trip on a local river. The qualitative study utilized three different methods of collecting data; autophotography, photo elicitation, and semi-structured interviews. The autophotography method utilized the students photographs that they took during the trip. Then those same photographs were used during the photo elicitation interviews with students, and last semi-structured interviews were conducted.

The sample size for this study was very small due to several factors, including the trip taking place after the end of the semester and conflicting with work and vacation schedules. With this small sample in mind, a Wilcoxon Signed Rank test was performed on the pre-test and post-test mean scores. The qualitative results, however, painted a picture of the students being very connected to nature

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