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Date Permissions Signed

5-29-2020

Date of Award

Spring 2020

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Department or Program Affiliation

Experimental Psychology

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Scollon, Christie Napa

Second Advisor

Lehman, Barbara J.

Third Advisor

Warren, Michael B.

Abstract

The present set of studies used a brief mindfulness induction with an active control group to examine how mindfulness affects connectedness to nature and desire to engage in pro-environmental behaviors. Additionally, phone use was included as another variable to test how technology may change the effect of mindfulness practice. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions in a 2(mindfulness vs. control) x 2(phone use vs no phone use) design. Results indicated that participants in the mindfulness condition experienced higher levels of mindfulness than those in the control condition. Correlational analyses showed an association between state mindfulness and being more connected to nature and desire to engage in pro-environmental behaviors. However, the mindfulness practice did not lead to a direct increase in connection to nature or pro-environmental behaviors. The participants who used a phone also reported higher levels of connection to nature and pro-environmental behaviors, opposite of the original hypothesis. These results suggest that individuals may need extended mindfulness practice in order to see any change in behavior.

Type

Text

Keywords

Connectedness to nature, Mindfulness, Pro-environmental behavior, Phone use

Publisher

Western Washington University

OCLC Number

1156241029

Subject – LCSH

Environmentalism--Psychological aspects; Mindfulness (Psychology); Environmental psychology

Format

application/pdf

Genre/Form

masters theses

Language

English

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.

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