Scrolling away from nature? : A mixed method pilot study exploring screen time as a potential predictor of connection to nature

Sammanfattning

Young adults today spend more time in front of screens than ever before. As screen time use increases, time spent in nature may decrease, which may lead to a decline in connection to nature and overall well-being. According to research humans need to feel a sense of belonging in nature to actively care and engage in pro-environmental behaviours. This pilot study aimed to examine the relationship between screen time use and connectedness to nature in students at Malmö University in order to determine the potential of screen time use as a predictor of nature connectedness. By utilizing the Connectedness to Nature Index (CNI) and the World Health Organization survey protocol on Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) questionnaire, this study aims to explore if there is any indication of a significant correlation between the two variables. This study adopts a mixed-method design in the form of a quantitative survey consisting of 16 items examining connection to nature, five questions examining screen time, as well as one qualitative open ended question to examine the respondents perception of what connection to nature is to them. Quantitative analysis was conducted using Pearson correlation as well as ANOVA regression analysis. The survey results indicated that the respondents had a mild connection to nature and a high daily screen time use. However, the results indicate no statistical linear relationship between the two variables. The qualitative analysis was conducted using a simplified thematic analysis. It revealed several themes corresponding with the content of CNI whilst other themes extended beyond items in CNI. The triangulation revealed that the thematic analysis could not provide an explanation for the absence of a significant statistical relationship but indicated that part of the population feels strongly connected to nature even though a low CNI score was revealed. The findings raise the discussion whether CNI is truly capable of capturing the complexities of nature connectedness among adults and that confounding factors are to be considered. When applying theories on the importance of direct experiences with nature further research is urged to look into the activities spent in nature that may encourage this relationship. The relationship is also urged to be treated with a mixed-methods methodology, equally applying quantitative and qualitative approaches, to better capture the cognitive and affective components of screen time use and the potential effect on human-nature relationships.