Childhood Experiences of Nature and Mental Wellbeing in Early Adulthood: Examining the mediating role of sense of nature relatedness.

Exposure to natural environments is associated with improved mental wellbeing and a possible protective factor against mental ill-health in later life. The mechanisms by which this occurs remains unclear. Here we examine the association between childhood nature experiences and young adults self-reported mental wellbeing, and the extent to which this is mediated by their sense of nature connectedness. Using structural equation modelling, results of a survey of 667 undergraduate students showed that childhood nature experiences was significantly associated with sense of nature connectedness and mental wellbeing in early adulthood. However, contrary to our hypothesis higher levels of nature connectedness in early adulthood did not explain the association between childhood nature experiences and mental wellbeing in early adulthood. Findings from a multiple indicator multiple causes (MIMIC) analysis indicate two specific childhood nature experiences were significantly associated with mental wellbeing in early adulthood. Theoretical and policy implications of the findings are discussed.