Abstract
This study explored the role of individual differences in relation to overall EcoWellness (Reese and Myers in Journal of Counseling & Development, 90, 400-406, 2012) in a sample of online participants situated in the United States. Data were collected through self-report measures of mindfulness, personality traits, EcoWellness, and perceived naturalness of environmental settings. Aspects of mindfulness, greater perceived naturalness, extraversion, agreeableness, and openness predicted overall EcoWellness. Thus, individuals who scored higher on these traits were more likely to be regarded as EcoWell. These findings give insight to who might benefit from counseling interventions targeting EcoWellness and help to further build a conceptual understanding of the concept of EcoWellness in the international counseling literature.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ashton, M. C., Paunonen, S. V., Helmes, E., & Jackson, D. N. (1998). Kin altruism, reciprocal altruism, and the big five personality factors. Evolution and Human Behavior, 19(4), 243–255. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1090-5138(98)00009-9.
Ashton, M. C., & Lee, K. (2009). The HEXACO–60: A short measure of the major dimensions of personality. Journal of Personality Assessment, 91, 340-345.
Aspy, D. J., & Proeve, M. (2017). Mindfulness and loving-kindness meditation: Effects on connectedness to humanity and to the natural world. Psychological Reports, 120, 102–117. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033294116685867.
Baer, R. A., Smith, G. T., Hopkins, J., Krietemeyer, J., & Toney, L. (2006). Using self-report assessment methods to explore facets of mindfulness. Assessment, 13, 27–45. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191105283504.
Baer, R. A., Smith, G. T., Lykins, E. L. B., Button, D., Krietemeyer, J., Sauer, S., et al. (2008). Construct validity of the five facet mindfulness questionnaire in meditating and nonmeditating samples. Assessment, 15, 329–342. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191107313003.
Barbaro, N., & Pickett, S. M. (2016). Mindfully green: Examining the effect of connectedness to nature on the relationship between mindfulness and engagement in pro-environmental behavior. Personality and Individual Differences, 93, 137–142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2015.05.026.
Brick, C., & Lewis, G. J. (2016). Unearthing the “green” personality: Core traits predict environmentally friendly behavior. Environment and Behavior, 48(5), 635–658. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916514554695.
Brown, K. W., & Ryan, R. M. (2003). The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(4), 822–848. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.84.4.822.
Buhrmester, M., Kwang, T., & Gosling, S. D. (2011). Amazon's mechanical Turk: A new source of inexpensive, yet high-quality, data? Perspectives on Psychological Science, 6, 3–5.
Chandler, J., & Shapiro, D. (2016). Conducting clinical research using crowdsourced convenience samples. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 12, 53–81.
Choe, E. Y., Jorgensen, A., & Sheffield, D. (2020). Simulated natural environments bolster the effectiveness of a mindfulness programme: A comparison with a relaxation-based intervention. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 67, 101382.
DeYoung, C. G., Peterson, J. B., & Higgins, D. M. (2005). Sources of openness/intellect: Cognitive and neuropsychological correlates of the fifth factor of personality. Journal of Personality, 73(4), 825–858. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2005.00330.x.
Di Fabio, A., & Kenny, M. E. (2018). Connectedness to nature, personality traits and empathy from a sustainability perspective. Current Psychology, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-018-0031-4.
Frantz, C., Mayer, F. S., Norton, C., & Rock, M. (2005). There is no “I” in nature: The influence of self-awareness on connectedness to nature. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 25(4), 427–436. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2005.10.002.
Frumkin, H., Bratman, G. N., Breslow, S. J., Cochran, B., Kahn Jr, P. H., Lawler, J. J., & Wood, S. A. (2017). Nature contact and human health: A research agenda. Environmental Health Perspectives, 125(7), 075001. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP1663.
Greenleaf, A. T., Bryant, R. M., & Pollock, J. B. (2014). Nature-based counseling: Integrating the healing benefits of nature into practice. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 36(2), 162–174. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-013-9198-4.
Gunnarsson, B., Knez, I., Hedblom, M., & Sang, Å. O. (2017). Effects of biodiversity and environment-related attitude on perception of urban green space. Urban Ecosystem, 20, 37–49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-016-0581-x.
Herzog, H. (2015, January 27). How “Natural” Is A Cloned Cow… Or A Cloned Dog? [Web log post]. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/animals-and-us/201501/how-natural-is-cloned-cowor-cloned-dog
Hirsh, J. B. (2010). Personality and environmental concern. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30(2), 245–248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2010.01.004.
Hirsh, J. B., & Dolderman, D. (2007). Personality predictors of consumerism and environmentalism: A preliminary study. Personality and Individual Differences, 43(6), 1583–1593. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2007.04.015.
Holden, C. J. (2017, November). What is natural?: How domestication, captivity, and genetic modification change the perceived naturalness of animals. Paper session presented at Society of Southeastern Social Psychologists Fortieth Annual Meeting, Atlantic Beach, FL.
Howell, A. J., Dopko, R. L., Passmore, H. A., & Buro, K. (2011). Nature connectedness: Associations with well-being and mindfulness. Personality and Individual Differences, 51(2), 166–171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2011.03.037.
John, O., & Srivastava, S. (1999). The big five trait taxonomy: History, measurement, and theoretical perspectives. In L. Pervin & O. John (Eds.), Handbook of personality: Theory and research (pp. 102–138). New York: Guilford Press.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). Full catastrophe living: Using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain and illness. New York: Delacorte.
Kahn Jr., P. H., Friedman, B., Gill, B., Hagman, J., Severson, R. L., Freier, N. G., Feldman, E. N., Carrère, S., & Stolyar, A. (2008). A plasma display window?—The shifting baseline problem in a technologically mediated natural world. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 28(2), 192–199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2007.10.008.
Kamitsis, I., & Simmonds, J. G. (2017). Using resources of nature in the counselling room: Qualitative research into ecotherapy practice. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 39(3), 229–248. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-017-9294-y.
Knez, I., Ode Sang, Å., Gunnarsson, B., & Hedblom, M. (2018). Wellbeing in urban greenery: The role of naturalness and place identity. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 491. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00491.
Lee, K., & Ashton, M. C. (2004). Psychometric properties of the HEXACO personality inventory. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 39, 329–358. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327906mbr3902_8.
Lee, K., Ashton, M. C., Choi, J., & Zachariassen, K. (2015). Connectedness to nature and to humanity: Their association and personality correlates. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 1003. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01003.
Mayer, F. S., & Frantz, C. M. (2004). The connectedness to nature scale: A measure of individuals’ feeling in community with nature. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 24, 503–515. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2004.10.001.
Myers, J. E., & Sweeney, T. J. (2008). Wellness counseling: The evidence base for practice. Journal of Counseling & Development, 86, 482–493. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6678.2008.tb00536.x.
Nisbet, E. K., Zelenski, J. M., & Murphy, S. A. (2009). The nature relatedness scale: Linking individuals’ connection with nature to environmental concern and behavior. Environment and Behavior, 41(5), 715–740. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916508318748.
Nisbet, E. K., Zelenski, J. M., & Grandpierre, Z. (2019). Mindfulness in nature enhances connectedness and mood. Ecopsychology. https://doi.org/10.1089/eco2018.0061.
Ode Sang, Å., Fry, G., Tveit, M. S., Messager, P., & Miller, D. (2009). Indicators of perceived naturalness as drivers of landscape preference. Journal of Environmental Management, 90, 375–383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2007.10.013.
Ode Sang, Å. O., Knez, I., Gunnarsson, B., & Hedblom, M. (2016). The effects of naturalness, gender, and age on how urban green space is perceived and used. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 18, 268–276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2016.06.008.
Olver, J. M., & Mooradian, T. A. (2003). Personality traits and personal values: A conceptual and empirical integration. Personality and Individual Differences, 35, 109–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(02)00145-9.
Pulos, S., Elison, J., & Lennon, R. (2004). The hierarchical structure of the interpersonal reactivity index. Social Behavior and Personality, 32, 355–360.
Raskin, R., & Hall, C. S. (1981). The narcissistic personality inventory: Alternative form reliability and further evidence of construct validity. Journal of Personality Assessment, 45, 159–162.
Reese, R. F. (2016). EcoWellness & guiding principles for the ethical integration of nature into counseling. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 38(4), 345–357. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-016-9276-5.
Reese, R. F., & Gosling, M. (2020). The group EcoWellness model of Change: A conceptual framework for facilitating groups in nature. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work. https://doi.org/10.1080/01933922.2020.1799465.
Reese, R. F., & Lewis, T. F. (2019). Greening counseling: Examining multivariate relationships between EcoWellness and holistic wellness. Journal of Humanistic Counseling, 58, 53–67. https://doi.org/10.1002/johc.12089.
Reese, R. F., & Myers, J. E. (2012). EcoWellness: The missing factor in holistic wellness models. Journal of Counseling & Development, 90, 400–406.
Reese, R. F., Myers, J. E., Lewis, T. F., & Willse, J. T. (2015). Construction and initial validation of the Reese EcoWellness inventory. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 37, 124–142.
Reese, R. F., Lewis, T. F., & Kothari, B. (in press). Nature connection changes throughout the lifespan: Generation and sex-based differences in EcoWellness. Adultspan Journal.
Schutte, N. S., & Malouff, J. M. (2018). Mindfulness and connectedness to nature: A meta-analytic investigation. Personality and Individual Differences, 127, 10–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2018.01.034.
Stewart, M., & Haaga, D. A. (2018). State mindfulness as a mediator of the effects of exposure to nature on affect and psychological well-being. Ecopsychology, 10, 53–60. https://doi.org/10.1089/Eco.2017.0033.
Swank, J. M., Shin, S. M., Cabrita, C., Cheung, C., & Rivers, B. (2015). Initial investigation of nature-based, child-centered play therapy: A single-case design. Journal of Counseling & Development, 93(4), 440–450. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcad.12042.
Wolsko, C., & Lindberg, K. (2013). Experiencing connection with nature: The matrix of psychological well-being, mindfulness, and outdoor recreation. Ecopsychology, 5, 80–91. https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2013.0008.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no other conflicts of interest.
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Ryan Reese is the founder and owner of EcoWellness Counseling and Consulting LLC, a company that integrates the natural environment into counseling and therapy.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Holden, C.J., Reese, R.F. & Seitz, C.M. Naturalness, Personality, and Mindfulness Predict EcoWellness: Implications for Counseling Practice. Int J Adv Counselling 42, 439–454 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-020-09414-w
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-020-09414-w