Pro-environmental behavior is a key to environmental sustainability. It is important to know which variables influence the development of pro-environmental behavior and how important direct interaction with nature is for future environmental engagement. The aim of the research was to examine the correlation between childhood interaction with nature and pro-environmental behavior as an adult and the mediators influencing this correlation. The respondents (N = 370) were selected by the snowball method and completed an on-line questionnaire. Bivariate correlation and parallel mediation analysis were done. Previous research studies focused mainly on one type of influence, and this research brought a comparison of three mediators. The results confirmed that interaction with nature in childhood affects future pro-environmental behavior. The main mediator seems to be the affective mediator. The cognitive mediator and interaction with nature in adulthood had only a small mediation effect. Children’s emotional bonding with nature is the important element for the development of pro-environmental behavior. This appears to be a more effective way of ensuring stronger pro-environmental behavior in the future than building environmental knowledge or relying on sufficient interaction with nature in adulthood.

中文翻译：

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童年时期与自然互动对未来环保行为的影响

亲环境行为是环境可持续性的关键。重要的是要知道哪些变量会影响亲环境行为的发展，以及与自然的直接互动对于未来的环境参与有多重要。该研究的目的是检查童年与自然的互动和成年后的亲环境行为之间的相关性，以及影响这种相关性的中介因素。受访者（N = 370）是通过滚雪球法选出的，并完成了在线问卷调查。进行了双变量相关和平行中介分析。以往的研究主要集中在一种影响类型，而本研究则对三种中介因素进行了比较。结果证实，童年时期与自然的互动会影响未来的亲环境行为。主要调解人似乎是情感调解人。成年期的认知中介和与自然的互动只有很小的中介作用。儿童与自然的情感纽带是发展亲环境行为的重要因素。与建立环境知识或在成年后依赖与自然的充分互动相比，这似乎是一种更有效的方式来确保未来更强烈的亲环境行为。