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1- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Isf.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
2- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran.
2- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran.
Abstract: (180 Views)
Background: Anthropogenic plastic pollution poses a severe global threat; however, this study aimed to investigate the synergistic role of nature connectedness and mindfulness in shaping awareness of single-use plastic pollution among university students.
Methods: This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study assessed nature connectedness and mindfulness in 140 students in Isfahan, Iran. A Generalized Additive Model (GAM) was employed to examine nonlinear relationships. Both constructs were measured on a 5-point Likert scale and standardized to a 0-1 scale.
Results: Nature connectedness and mindfulness interacted nonlinearly (edf > 1.00) to predict risk perception, explaining 73.5% of the variance (R2 = 0.735). Mindfulness significantly moderated the effect of nature connectedness, with nonlinear patterns showing a complex relationship. The effect of nature connectedness (mean 3.1 ± 1.4) was amplified by mindfulness (mean 3.3 ± 1.2), achieving 100% statistical power.
Conclusion: These findings underscore the synergistic role of nature connectedness and mindfulness in enhancing pollution sensitivity. Although context-specific to Isfahan, the results offer novel insights for environmental psychology. Practically, universities in Isfahan can implement nature-based interventions and mindfulness training to elevate risk perception, targeting students’ moderate nature connectedness and high mindfulness to reduce plastic use, directly shaping campus sustainability policies and curbing single-use plastic waste in Iran’s urban context.
Methods: This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study assessed nature connectedness and mindfulness in 140 students in Isfahan, Iran. A Generalized Additive Model (GAM) was employed to examine nonlinear relationships. Both constructs were measured on a 5-point Likert scale and standardized to a 0-1 scale.
Results: Nature connectedness and mindfulness interacted nonlinearly (edf > 1.00) to predict risk perception, explaining 73.5% of the variance (R2 = 0.735). Mindfulness significantly moderated the effect of nature connectedness, with nonlinear patterns showing a complex relationship. The effect of nature connectedness (mean 3.1 ± 1.4) was amplified by mindfulness (mean 3.3 ± 1.2), achieving 100% statistical power.
Conclusion: These findings underscore the synergistic role of nature connectedness and mindfulness in enhancing pollution sensitivity. Although context-specific to Isfahan, the results offer novel insights for environmental psychology. Practically, universities in Isfahan can implement nature-based interventions and mindfulness training to elevate risk perception, targeting students’ moderate nature connectedness and high mindfulness to reduce plastic use, directly shaping campus sustainability policies and curbing single-use plastic waste in Iran’s urban context.
Type of Study: Original Article |
Subject:
Environmental Health, Sciences, and Engineering
Received: 2025/12/20 | Accepted: 2026/02/17
Received: 2025/12/20 | Accepted: 2026/02/17
Supplementary File [PDF 39 KB] (23 Download)
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