Nature connection, wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviour across an urban gradient: Understanding the regional sweet spot.

ABSTRACT: While there is growing understanding of the impact of urbanisation on nature access and nature connection, little is known about this pattern across the rural-urban gradient. Through a nationally-representative survey, we explore relationships of nature connection, wellbeing, and pro-environment behaviour across remote, regional, and urban Australia. We also examine two open-ended questions about an individual's everyday interaction and meaningful experiences with nature. The results show non-linear relationships with stronger levels of nature connection in remote and outer regional areas of Australia, while personal well-being and pro-environmental behaviour scores were higher in outer regional Australia. Open-ended questions revealed that increasing urbanisation led to more limited inter

SUBMITTER: Lin BB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12779833 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature