1. The Relationship between Nature Relatedness, Trait Emotional Intelligence and Well-Being
Priscilla R. Gerofsky
Supervisors: Philip A. Vernon, Ph.D. & Erica A. Giammarco, M.Sc.
Department of Psychology, Western University
Abstract
Method
Results
Prior research has shown that nature relatedness (NR) and trait emotional intelligence (trait EI) are associated with various happiness/well-being measures. However, no prior research has examined the relationship between NR and trait EI. The present study was undertaken to determine which well-being measures are associated with NR and trait EI and to determine if there is any association between NR and trait EI. Participants were 315 adults from 54 countries who completed online questionnaires, which included the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue-SF), the Nature Relatedness Scale (NR Scale), and five well-being questionnaires. Based on the biophilia hypothesis, which states that humans have an innate need to connect with other life forms, it was hypothesized that well-being would be associated with NR and trait EI, and that NR and trait EI would be positively associated with each other. Correlational analyses showed that all well-being measures were significantly associated with NR and trait EI, and that NR and trait EI were significantly associated with each other. Factor analysis showed an underlying factor shared by the subscales of the TEIQue-SF and the NR Scale. This underlying factor was labelled general connectedness. Results support the view, based on the biophilia hypothesis, that NR and trait EI may be associated with well-being and with each other because both traits fulfill our innate need to connect with other life forms.
Materials
Correlational Analysis
TEIQue-SF
NR Scale
Petrides, 2009
Measures four dimensions of
trait EI and global trait EI
30 items, 7-point scale
Nisbet et al., 2009
Measures three aspects of NR and overall NR
21 items, 5-point scale
NR had small to moderate correlations with all well-being measures (Table1)
Trait EI had moderate to strong correlations with all well-being measures (Table 1)
NR and trait EI were positively correlated with each other, r (313) = .41, p < .01
315 adults from 54 countries
88 female, 226 male, 1 unspecified
18 to 62 years (M = 32.10; SD = 9.00)
Participants
Factor Analysis
Hedonic Well-Being Measures
Eudaimonic Well-Being Measures
Positive & Negative Affect Schedule
Watson et al., 1988
20 items, 5-point scale
10 items measure positive affect
10 items measure negative affect
Satisfaction with Life Scale
Diener et al., 1985
Five items, 6-point scale
Subjective Happiness Scale
Lyubomirsky & Lepper, 1999
Four items, 7-point scale
Vitality Scale
Ryan & Frederick, 1997
Six items, 7-point scale
Psychological Well-Being Inventory
Ryff,1989
Measures six facets/dimensions:
> Positive relations with others
> Environmental mastery
> Personal growth
> Self-acceptance
> Purpose in life
> Autonomy
Nine items per facet, 6-point scale
Principal axis analysis was conducted using the subscales of the NR scale and the TEIQue-SF to determine if these variables have a common underlying factor
Two factors were yielded:
> first factor explained 44% of the variance
> second factor explained 10% of the variance
Prior to rotation:
> all variables had positive loadings on the first factor, ranging from .33 to .83 (Table 2)
After oblimin rotation:
> subscales of the NR Scale loaded onto one rotated factor (Table 2)
> subscales of the TEIQue-SF loaded onto the second rotated factor (Table 2)
Procedure
Participants recruited online via Crowdflower
Questionnaires completed online via Fluidsurveys
Seven self-report questionnaires using Likert scales
Questionnaires completed in under 30 minutes
Introduction
The importance of happiness has led to an increase in search of factors that affect happiness. Two factors that have been found to be associated with happiness/well-being are NR and trait EI. It is suggested that these associations may be explained by the biophilia hypothesis, and that NR and trait EI may be associated because both traits involve our innate need to connect with other life forms.
Table 1
Discussion
Correlations between NR, Trait EI and Well-Being
All Hypotheses Supported
Well-Being Measures NR
Trait EI
Hedonic Well-Being
Positive Affect
.39*
.54*
Negative Affect
-.24*
-.55*
Satisfaction with Life
.25*
.48*
Subjective Happiness
.36*
.62*
Eudaimonic Well-Being
Vitality
.42*
.58*
Positive Relations with Others
.40*
.73*
Environmental Mastery
.38*
.79*
Personal Growth
.44*
.67*
Self-Acceptance
.71*
Purpose in Life
.70*
Autonomy
.31*
.57*
Happiness/Well-Being Defined
Results support the view, based on the biophilia hypothesis, that NR and trait EI may be associated with well-being and with each other because both traits fulfill our innate need to connect with other life forms
Hedonic/Subjective Well-Being: concerned with emotions, feelings, pleasure
Eudaimonic/Psychological Well-Being: concerned with self-fulfillment, self-actualization
NR and Well-Being
Biophilia Hypothesis (Wilson, 1984)
First hypothesis supported: results suggest that those who are more connected with nature tend to experience greater hedonic and eudaimonic well-being
Results support the biophilia hypothesis and help resolve the inconsistencies in previous studies using these same well-being measures (Nisbet et al., 2011; Zelenski & Nisbet, 2014)
Humans have an innate need to connect with other life forms
Suggests that connecting with nature contributes to our well-being
Extending this to include our innate need to connect with people (Gunderson, 2014), suggests that NR and trait EI contribute to our well-being because both traits involve connecting with other life forms (Figure 1)
Trait EI and Well-Being
Connecting with Nature
(NR)
Connecting with Other Life Forms
(Underlying General Connectedness Factor)
Hedonic & Eudaimonic
Well-Being
Second hypothesis supported: consistent with previous studies, those who are higher in trait EI tend to experience greater hedonic and eudaimonic well-being (Andrei et al., 2014)
Connecting with People
(Trait EI)
NR and Trait EI
Third hypothesis supported: NR and trait EI were positively correlated, suggesting that these two traits have something in common
Factor analysis not only confirmed that NR and trait EI are distinct constructs, but also showed that NR and trait EI have a common underlying factor
This underlying factor could be called general connectedness as suggested by the biophilia hypothesis, if it is extended to include our innate need to connect with other people
Figure 1. Path diagram showing the relationship between variables based on the biophilia hypothesis.
* p < .01
Nature Relatedness (NR; Nisbet et al., 2009)
Table 2
NR: Connecting with nature through one’s feelings, thoughts and experiences
Previous Correlational Findings: NR associated with well-being measures, but inconsistencies because some well-being measures not always associated with NR (Nisbet et al., 2011; Zelenski & Nisbet, 2014)
First Research Question: Which well-being measures are associated with NR?
Factor Matrix Using Principal Axis Factoring Before and After Oblimin Rotation
Before Rotation
After Rotation
Variables
Factor 1
Factor 2
TEIQue-SF Subscales
Well-Being
.81
-.09
.76
.10
Self-Control
.68
-.14
.69
.01
Emotionality
.77
-.16
.79
-.00
Sociability
-.22
.82
-.07
Auxiliary Questions
.83
.84
NR Subscales
NR-Self
.50
.56
-.03
NR-Perspective
.33
.24
.08
.36
NR-Experience
.44
.52
.04
.70
Limitations and Future Research
Trait Emotional Intelligence (trait EI; Furnham & Petrides, 2003)
Correlations do not demonstrate causality: future experimental studies are required to determine if NR and trait EI are causally related to well-being, and to determine if NR and trait EI can be changed in order to improve well-being
A quasi-experimental study suggested that NR can be changed and three experimental studies suggested that trait EI can be changed through training (Nelis et al., 2011; Nelis et al., 2009; Nisbet et al., 2011)
Because this is the first study to examine the relationship between NR and trait EI, future studies are required to confirm this relationship
Trait EI: Disposition to understand and regulate our emotions and others’ emotions
Previous Correlational Findings: Trait EI consistently associated with well-being (Andrei et al., 2014)
If the benefits of both trait EI and NR can be explained by the biophilia hypothesis, perhaps there is an association between these traits because of an underlying general connectedness factor (Figure 1)
Second Research Question: Is there an association between NR and trait EI?
Hypotheses
Based on the biophilia hypothesis:
1. NR will be significantly associated with all well-being measures
2. Trait EI will be significantly associated with all well-being measures
3. NR and trait EI will be positively associated with each other