Date of Award
2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)
Department
Graduate Department of Clinical Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. Kenneth Logan, PsyD
Second Advisor
Dr. Amber Nelson PsyD
Third Advisor
Dr. Elliot Lawless, PsyD
Abstract
Acceptance and commitment therapy has defined and successfully discovered methods of increasing psychological flexibility. Various methods of increasing psychological flexibility could be used as interventions. Contact with nature, in various forms, has been shown to increase and be related to many physical and mental health benefits. These benefits include things like mindfulness and other aspects of psychological flexibility. The question arises whether or not contact with nature is related to increases in overall psychological flexibility. The current study involved administering a questionnaire comprised of multiple existing measures, to primarily a college sample of 349 students. The answers were statistically analyzed to look for relationships and predictive power of connectedness to nature and time spent in nature on psychological flexibility and experiential avoidance. Statistically significant relationships were observed between connectedness to nature and psychological flexibility. Additionally, time spent in nature was positively associated with psychological flexibility and negatively associated with experiential avoidance.
Recommended Citation
Sanders, Jake K., "Nature’s Relationship to Psychological Flexibility" (2024). Doctor of Psychology (PsyD). 542.
https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/psyd/542