The Development and Evaluation of Nature Matters: an Evidence-Informed Program for Increasing Nature-Focused Behaviours and Nature Connection in Undergraduate Students

Abstract

Mental health difficulties and stressors are prevalent amongst undergraduate students, whereas resources to support students’ mental health are limited. The well-documented benefits of exposure to, and connection with, nature include various aspects of mental, physical, and cognitive health, yet many people are unaware of these benefits and do not engage with nature as a health behaviour. This dissertation describes the development and evaluation of Nature Matters, an online evidence-informed wellness program that integrates the behavior change wheel framework with evidence-based learning strategies to raise undergraduate students’ awareness of the benefits of exposure to nature and encourage behavior change. In Study 1 (N = 108), I assessed the usability and acceptability of Nature Matters using a mixed-methods design. Both quantitative and qualitative results indicated that the program was well-received by undergraduate students, with positive ratings attained for all user-experience domains (1. Perspicuity or clarity/ ease of understanding, 2. Stimulation, 3. Usefulness, 4. Attractiveness, 5. Visual Aesthetics, 6. Trustworthiness of Content, and 7. Quality of Content). In Study 2, I examined if completing Nature Matters 1) enhanced connectedness to nature, 2) increased frequency of exposure to nature; and 3) increased frequency of noticing nature. As hypothesized, participants who completed the program (n = 45) reported greater connectedness to nature and a higher frequency of exposure to nature compared to control participants (n = 46), after accounting for baseline scores. Results for noticing nature were not significant. Exploratory regression analyses revealed that lower baseline levels of nature connectedness, noticing nature, and exposure to nature were all associated with a larger change in post-program outcome scores. Overall, the findings demonstrate the acceptability and effectiveness of Nature Matters for an undergraduate population, suggesting that this program has potential as an intervention for increasing exposure to and connection with nature. Building upon this evidence will advance the utilization of the human-nature connection for improving well-being and pave the way for the development of similar wellness programs.