Climate risk for the self and community: The role of Nature Relatedness, Personal Control and Mindfulness

The present pilot and correlational study illustrates the role of mindfulness, nature relatedness and personal control in predicting climate change perceived risk. It was hypothesized that the two components of risk perception for climate change (CCR), one targeting self and local community (CCRS) and one targeting global community (CCRG), would be differently correlated to all the variables; mindfulness and perceived personal control would significantly predict climate risk above all for self and local community and relatedness with nature (NR) would predict climate change risk and mediate the relationship between mindfulness and risk. U.S. College students (N = 87) were provided with the Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire Short Form (FFMQ-SF), Nature Relatedness Scale (NRS) and measures for Climate Risk and Personal control, adapted by previous author’s studies. The results confirmed partially the first and the second hypothesis, and totally the third one. CCRG showed no significant correlation with any facet of mindfulness and only showed a positive correlation with NR-S (Self) and NR-P (Perspective), while CCRS was negatively correlated with three facets of mindfulness (Nonjudging, Describing and Acting with awareness), positively correlated with one facet (Observing) and all the dimensions of NR. Personal control was positively correlated only with Mindfulness. In the regression model, CCRS was predicted by Mindfulness and NR while CCRG was predicted by the only NR. Nature Relatedness also mediated the relationship between Mindfulness and CCRS. Theoretical implications of these results, limitations of the study, such as the little sample size, and future research paths are discussed.

Keywords: Climate Change Risk, Mindfulness, Nature Relatedness, Personal Control, Self-Risk Perception; Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire Short Form (FFMQ-SF)

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Francesca Scafuto, Climate risk for the self and community: The role of Nature Relatedness, Personal Control and Mindfulness in "RIVISTA DI STUDI SULLA SOSTENIBILITA'" 2/2019, pp 89-108, DOI: 10.3280/RISS2019-002008