Connectedness to nature represents the relationship of the self with the natural environment and has been operationalized using different scales. One of the most systematically studied in the Anglo-Saxon context is the Connectedness to Nature Scale (CNS). In an attempt to study the psychometric properties of this instrument in a French-speaking context, three studies (Study 1 n = 204, Study 2 n = 153, and Study 3 n = 322) were carried out in France to provide evidence of the internal consistency of the CNS, as well as its convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity. Moreover, as anticipated, positive correlations between the CNS and the environmental identity and environmental concerns scales were observed. Based on factorial analyses of maximum likelihood and reliability, an improvement in the psychometric properties was identified by eliminating three items. Through confirmatory factor analysis, the factorial structure and the psychometric properties of the CNS French version were confirmed, as well as their significate regression prediction on eudaimonic wellbeing.

Eco-anxiety, which refers to the anxiety experienced in response to worsening environmental conditions, is a growing global phenomenon. Climate change anxiety, due to the escalating impact of ongoing climate change, stands out as the most commonly recognized form of eco-anxiety. Nevertheless, numerous uncertainties persist regarding the relationship of this eco-anxiety response to pro-environmental behaviors, as well as its connection with trait anxiety and the perception of the environmental crisis. In this study, we conducted an analysis with a sample size of 431 participants to elucidate the respective implications of these factors, delving into the different facets of the eco-anxiety response: worry and anxiety-related impairments. We measured eco-worry using a brief 5-item scale and assessed climate anxiety-related impairments using the Climate Change Anxiety Scale (CCAS). Our findings reveal that eco-worry acts as a mediator between the perception of the environmental crisis and the manifestation of climate anxiety-related impairments. Furthermore, eco-worry plays a constructive role in relation to the commitment to pro-environmental behaviors, with no additional contribution from the climate anxiety reaction involving impairments. In summary, our findings underscore the existence of distinct constructs within the anxiety response to climate change and environmental issues, each with different contributing factors.

Inhabitants of coastal areas are constantly confronted with minor or major events such as storms, erosion or flooding. This article investigates the predictors of coping willingness among citizens exposed to coastal flooding. Coping can be defined as a set of cognitive and behavioral efforts to master, reduce or tolerate a given risk and these strategies are generally regrouped into two different categories: active coping strategies oriented toward the risk to reduce or master it, and passive coping strategies focused on the reduction of internal tensions such as anxiety or fear. In this paper, we focus especially on how place identity, perceived self-efficacy, anxiety-state and coastal flooding risk perception shape both active and passive coping willingness. Data were obtained from different areas at risk of coastal flooding located in France. The sample is composed of 315 adult participants (mean age = 47; SD = 15). Two competing models were tested using path modeling. We expected a direct relation between risk perception and the willingness to cope actively and that a higher perceived self-efficacy would increase active coping willingness. Concerning passive coping strategies, we expected that a higher anxiety-state increases passive coping willingness, and that place identity would act as a mediator and increases the relation between anxiety-state and passive coping willingness. Results suggest that place identity increased when the living place is threatened and that the use of passive coping strategies also increased. Also, we demonstrated a direct relation between risk perception and active coping willingness but it appeared that self-efficacy has no effect on this relation. Model fit indices suggest the good fit of our model and Bayesian model comparison reveals a very strong evidence of the best fit of this model compared to its saturated and independent equivalents.

The study of factors that predict pro-environmental behavior is interesting, given the need to develop sustainable actions in urban and rural contexts. The available scientific evidence shows knowledge gaps and opportunities about the role that environmental identity, connectedness with nature, and well-being play in pro-environmental behavior. To provide evidence in this regard, this research aimed to describe and identify possible significant differences between these variables to establish whether they predict pro-environmental behavior, considering the rural-urban provenance. The methodology was cross-sectional, with descriptive and correlational analysis. The sample was 1705 people (M age = 31.36 years, 57.4% female) belonging to two departments in southern Colombia (66.7% from the rural sector), and questionnaires were applied to collect the information. The results show that people of rural origin showed higher levels of environmental identity with significant differences (p-value > 0.01) compared to the urban sample. The indicators of psychological health, connectedness with nature, and identity better explain the levels of pro-environmental behavior of the urban population (R = 0.81, p-value < 0.01) compared to the rural population (R = 0.64, p-value < 0.01). This study concludes that the variables predict pro-environmental behavior, providing better explanatory evidence in urban than rural inhabitants. The limitations and new study prospects in the area are discussed.

This study examines the relationship between connectedness to nature, spirituality, wellbeing and sustainable behaviour in two different cultural contexts: the cities of Nantes, France, and Hermosillo, Mexico. Using structural equation modelling (SEM), the results show that, in both places, connectedness to nature fosters spirituality and personal wellbeing, but that spirituality does not explain wellbeing. In the Mexican case studied, we observed that sustainable behaviour is explained by connectedness to nature and spirituality, and that this behaviour, in turn, favours personal wellbeing. The perspectives and limitations of the study are discussed.