By Petra Bezeljak Cerv, Alexander Georg Büssing, and Andrea Möller
In our research, we wanted to understand how young people’s connection to nature relates to the time they spend in green areas (which we call “green time”) and the time they spend in front of screens (like on phones, computers, or TVs). We were especially interested in this because caring for the environment often starts with feeling connected to nature.
We worked with 253 7th and 8th grade students living in urban areas. Over ten months, we asked them three times to complete a short survey. In the survey, we asked how connected they felt to nature, how much time they spent outside in green spaces, and how much time they spent using screens.
We found that spending more time in nature helped students feel more connected to it. Interestingly, the amount of screen time didn’t seem to affect their connection to nature. But, students who spent more time in nature tended to spend less time on screens.
These findings suggest that the problem isn’t necessarily that young people are spending too much time on screens, but that they’re not spending enough time outside in green areas. As a result, they may feel less connected to the natural world. This matters because people who feel more connected to nature are more likely to take care of the environment. If we want to help build a more sustainable future, schools and educators should ensure that young people have more opportunities to spend time outdoors. Simple activities in nature could help them develop a lasting connection that encourages them to care for the planet.
Relational Thinking 