Petermann, Mai (2024) Environmental Sensitivity and Student Mental Health: Investigating the Moderating Role of Connectedness to Nature. Bachelor thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
The mental health of students attending Dutch universities and colleges is a matter of serious concern. Therefore, it is crucial to understand and identify possible predictive factors for the development of student’s mental health problems. This study is the first to investigate the role of environmental sensitivity as a risk factor for mental health issues in Dutch university and college students and explores whether behavioral connectedness to nature moderates this relationship. Using a sample of 249 students aged 16-30, data were collected via an online cross-sectional survey and analyzed through regression analysis. The results indicate a significant negative association between environmental sensitivity and student mental health, supporting the hypothesis that higher environmental sensitivity predicts poorer mental health outcomes. While the interaction between environmental sensitivity and behavioral connectedness to nature was not significant, it did approach significance, suggesting a potential mitigating effect. Future research should focus on increasing statistical power, for example by collecting a bigger sample, using a more precise measurement of spending time in nature, or making use of an experimental design with a nature exposure condition. Our findings underscore the importance of addressing environmental sensitivity in mental health interventions for students and suggest further exploration into nature-based strategies as a potential means to improve the well-being of students at Dutch universities and colleges.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Van Dellen, S.A. and Borger, N.A. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | None [Bachelor Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 02 Jul 2024 07:59 |
| Last Modified: | 02 Jul 2024 07:59 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3598 |
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