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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Experiences of nature'

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Published: 10 December 2022
Last updated: 28 January 2023

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1

Huard, Dallas Christopher. "City and nature: sensory experiences." Thesis, Montana State University, 2007. http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2007/huard/HuardD0507.pdf.

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Images come to mind when I take the time to think about what architecture means to me. These images, from my childhood, from exposure to my surroundings, from my experiences and training, even though this part of my life is still limited show me how simple arechitecture can be. I am always surprised that since I began studying the many aspects of architecture it has become so much more important to me. There are moments that I am able to recall the way the wind surged through a space or the way clouds would come alive and dance in a store window. It is these aspects of architecture that have began to shape and influence my life on an emotional and sensory level. I appreciate the simplicity of architecture when I think about summer visits to my grandparents farm. I am reminded of the sound of straw and leaves breaking under my feet, the creaking of a rusty hinge on the pasture gate, and the chill of the cold breeze from windows that were years beyond repair. These experiences are much more important to me than the visual images that come to mind because it takes more personal emotion for me to recall them; this makes for a much more powerful memory, one that last much longer than when I rely on the image alone. I remember a time when life was so much simpler and architecture was something to experience, not simply view. It is these simple experiences that hold the most personal meaning for me in my life. As I reflect upon my childhood, I realize that I rarely desire simplicity in my life as I once did years ago. Even when I go for a walk there is a certain amount of excitement or emotion that I need to experience to fully enjoy life. The simplicity of the Saskatchewan prairies has ceased to be forever changing to me, which leads me to the design of an urban space. This space needs to have the ability to be an ever changing sensory experience that can create an environment influenced by both nature and city life. Saskatoon is home to dozens of spaces available to the public that are modeled after the Saskatchewan Prairies. Each space that resembles the vast open prairies is a naturalistic way of designing a park and only demands that a visitor observes the space they inhabit; design that is focused on respecting nature. A variety of purpose and activities is what our culture has come to desire in our lives so we no longer desire the naturalistic park as we once did. Instead we are looking for a place that has the ability to interact with our senses on many levels. As cities get more desnse, public space becomes increasingly important because of its ability to give relief to the increasing pace of urban life. The ability for open space to impact many different parts of the urban landscape, that it supports, stimulates emotions that can affect any person. Encounters can summarize what an urban park should offer an individual through the interaction between old and new, architecture and our senses, the immense and the intimate, and the city and nature. This thesis will explore, through encounters, how the modern city must respond to the natural environment in order to enhance our sensory experiences through the design of an urban park.
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2

Elphinstone, Jonathan. "Urban Children's Experiences in Nature." Thesis, Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet, Norsk senter for barneforskning, 2012. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:no:ntnu:diva-17544.

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3

Coetzee, Claire. "Nature and Networks: experiences of nature-based integration in Sweden." Thesis, Malmö universitet, Fakulteten för kultur och samhälle (KS), 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:mau:diva-22226.

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Nature-based integration projects present nature and green spaces as an arena for interaction and integration between immigrants and native-born Swedes, and amongst immigrants of different backgrounds. To explore this, the study looks at experiences of NBI projects from the perspective of immigrants who have moved to Sweden and started the process of settling into the new society. The concepts of social networks, as well as structural, cultural, interactive and identificational integration were applied to view the interviewees experiences of nature-based integration activities in Sweden. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight immigrants', about their participation in NBI projects in Sweden, and how they describe their experiences and perceptions of nature and social interactions. The findings were that time spent in nature was experienced as beneficial for the individual by contributing to their psychological well-being and providing opportunities for socialisation,. Nature in Sweden was depicted as vast, accessible and inclusive when compared with their countries of origin. Interactions and new diversified social networks provided information exchange and novel knowledge. This was seen as one of the entry points to society, and another way in which to understand Swedish cultural traditions, as nature was generally perceived as important in Swedish society. The final results showed that participation in nature-based integration activities was able to contribute to their structural, cultural and interactive integration, but could not be linked to their identificational integration in Sweden.
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4

Marlow, Kailani Poloika. "A phenomenological investigation of the lived experience of wellness through significant experiences of nature, in natural world contexts." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2019. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/127158/1/Kailani%20Poloika_Marlow_Thesis.pdf.

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Human-nature connection is essential to wellness and especially important in the built environment context. This research investigates the lived experience of significant nature experiences in remote natural landscapes to unveil essential elements that can be integrated into biophilic urban design philosophy. In-depth interviews and phenomenological analysis explored the lived experiences of people in programs conducted in remote natural landscapes. Three emergent themes characterized significant nature experiences: attuning to interconnectedness with nature, moving through changing human perspectives, and experiencing restoration through attuning with nature. The findings are relevant to urban planning because to some degree human health is dependent on sensory input that features elements of the natural world.
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5

Caston, Daniel W. "Transformative Experiences with Nature| A Phenomenological Exploration." Thesis, Prescott College, 2014. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3623541.

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This dissertation presents findings from an exploratory, phenomenological study that examined the dynamics of transformative experiences with nature through three lenses: the state of being of a person in a state of deep play, the human affinity for nature, and the human capacity to experience transformation. Stories were collected from fifteen people via semi-structured interviews. Findings indicate that transformative experiences are comprised of five qualities that emerge as the moment unfolds. They are novelty, engagement, immersion, openness, and attunement. Our affinity for nature and our capacity for deep play foster the feelings and thoughts associated with each of these qualities. Other findings indicate that an experience does not occur in isolation but rather occurs in concert with other aspects of a person's life. Antecedents such as education, beliefs, and previous experiences influence how a person perceives of and interacts with an experience. The substantiation process influences how a person makes meaning of and integrates an event into her/his life. Significant moments with nature may influence a person's life in significant ways prompting changes in interests, careers, worldviews, and her/his relationship with nature. Findings demonstrate that the transformative experiences of the study participants shifted their engagement with nature toward a more nature oriented lifestyle. The findings of this study inform adventure education, outdoor and environmental education, transformational learning, and adult education. These finding also inform land development and management fields such as forestry, natural resource management, and urban planning and development.

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6

Miller, Jonathan Scott. "MYSTICAL EXPERIENCES, NEUROSCIENCE, AND THE NATURE OF REALITY." Bowling Green State University / OhioLINK, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1174405835.

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7

Ebbers, Tim. "Endangered Experiences in Nature : Designing for Future Nostalgia." Thesis, Konstfack, Experience Design, 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:konstfack:diva-4739.

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When outdoor recreational activities are restricted, where can we find solitude, exploration and self-reliance? Endangered Experiences in Nature is a project that creates disruptive scenarios to question the relationship we have now with landscapes. A forecast in which stargazing is replaced by watching cyborg fireflies in the sky, food is genetically engineered and getting lost can only happen with the aid of special devices. The thesis uses the tools of experience design and future studies to explore the meanings and values of nature. I analyze the experiential perspective of access to nature and outdoor recreation by focusing on experiences that will likely become inaccessible in the near future. This thesis is not about preservation but stands aspiring for recreating values humans got until now from the close relationship with natural settings. In doing so, I aspire to generate new experiences. My work therefore focuses not on what nature is but what it means to perceive something as being natural, wild, unexplored, in an age where every part of nature has been explored and exploited. My original contribution focuses on using nostalgia as an active method to create new relationships with our environment. Certain things will need to be “artificial” in order to achieve “real” experiences.   The project will focus on three scenarios placed in the near future (2040). Each case study extrapolates on a particular endangered experience in wilderness (solitude, exploration and self-reliance) and is set in 3 distinct landscapes located in The Netherlands, Sweden and Romania. By doing so, I touch upon different cultural and natural influences on my design process. All scenarios encompass artificial (engineered) surrogates that question the inaccessibility to experiences in natural landscapes. With the goal to create counter-experiences in the future and therefore formulate a new way to deal with our relationship with nature conceptually and physically.
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8

Jefferies, Kate W. "An Exploration of the Nature of Wonderful Experiences." Kent State University Honors College / OhioLINK, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1304466331.

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9

Mathers, Becky N. "The Power of a Profound Experience with Nature." Antioch University / OhioLINK, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1587576890837463.

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10

Gandhi, Punita. "Understanding the nature of spiritual experiences a qualitative study /." [Bloomington, Ind.] : Indiana University, 2009. http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3378349.

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Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, Dept. of Counseling and Educational Psychology of the School of Education, 2009.
Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Jul 6, 2010). Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-10, Section: A, page: 3765. Advisers: Jeffrey Daniels; Phil Carspecken.
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11

Szumlas, Bryan. "The nature of advice shared in formal mentoring experiences." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 2000. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape3/PQDD_0017/NQ54821.pdf.

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12

Steele, Mark Thomas. "The nature and ecology of Personally Significant Learning Experiences." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 2001. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk3/ftp04/MQ56370.pdf.

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13

Clymer, Leisa J. "Constructing alternate realities : understanding the nature of intuitive experiences /." The Ohio State University, 1997. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1487948158625648.

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14

Fletcher, Rebecca, and fletcherette@hotmail com. "The child in nature." RMIT University. Education, 2006. http://adt.lib.rmit.edu.au/adt/public/adt-VIT20070418.102156.

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There is little research on the young child's experience of the natural environment. Due to the increase in urbanisation, indoor recreation and indoor schooling many young children have become isolated from the natural environment. A love for nature and a sense of wonder in nature is being lost in the hurried childhood. This loss of access to nature impacts on the child's health and wellbeing, sense of connection and environmental literacy. This research study explores how Melbourne preschool children experience and use nature through the environments provided to them in the preschool program. The main environment is naturally the preschool play yard; however, as excursions also form part of the curriculum, the child's visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Ian Potter Foundation Children's Garden forms part of this experience. Six case studies of Melburnian preschool children have been developed as a means to capture and communicate the interactions of individual children. Each of the six case studies present a child or pair of children 'in the moment,' as a snap shot of ecological learning and play behaviour and are presented as six stories, which allow the child's individual character and unique experience of nature to be expressed. Issues and behaviours evident in the children's interactions are then discussed through a framework of the seven ways of interacting in nature, which emerges from the demonstrations of these children. This information was collected using research techniques in observation; structured observations using time sampling and behaviour mapping; participating in conversations with children and collecting anecdotal observations and children's artwork. The case studies provide insight into childhood interactions with the natural environment and the levels of engagement experienced by children, with nature. The six stories, alongside topical literature, form the basis for deep discussion on the observed ways of interacting with nature.
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15

Whitworth, Bernadette Ann. "Exploring Age Cohort Differences in Childhood Nature Experiences and Adult Feelings of Connection to Nature." The Ohio State University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1367359205.

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16

Porto, Adonia F. Porto. "CONSTRUCTING NATURE WITH CHILDREN: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDYOF PRESCHOOLERS' EXPERIENCES WITH(IN) A NATURAL ENVIRONMENT." Kent State University / OhioLINK, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1500474439832631.

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17

Marshall, Paul. "Mystical encounters with the natural world : experiences and explanations /." Oxford : Oxford university press, 2005. http://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb400653342.

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18

Doucette, Bruce Lawrence. "The conceptions and experiences of nature in children, an exploration." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1997. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk3/ftp05/mq24460.pdf.

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19

Morphew, Jason Wade. "Effect of authentic research experiences on nature of science beliefs." Thesis, Wichita State University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10057/6120.

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20

Burke, Hillary Saasha. "The impact of familial experiences in nature| A qualitative study." Thesis, California Institute of Integral Studies, 2015. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3712140.

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This study examines the lived experience of families who engage in nature. While an emerging research base is developing concerning the impact of natural settings on well-being, this study seeks to add to nascent clinical literature by using phenomenological methods, with the goal of revealing and explicating the constituents of the essence of an experience in nature. In all, 13 participants were recruited, 7 of whom were female and 6 of whom were male, across 5 different families. While each individual participant’s experience was unique, 13 key constituent themes emerged from the study. These themes included (a) positive impact on one’s state on being, (b) elicitation of a special and unique feeling, (c) expectancy and frequency of outings, (d) heightened feelings of familial connection and closeness, (e) vivid memories of nature experiences, (f) caution toward dangerous aspects of nature, (g) recommendations to build capacity of outings, (h) increased physical activity, (i) lack of distractions innate to the experience, (j) intention and planning, (k) a respect for and desire to protect nature, (l) enhanced communication in nature, and (m) a desire to share aspects of nature with others.

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Spencer, Patricia Ann. "Connecting to Nature through a participatory consciousness developed in aesthetic experiences." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1998. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp01/MQ37637.pdf.

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22

Oh, Hyun Sung. "An examination of the nature and phenomenological experiences of commitment profiles." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2016. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/95584/4/Hyun-Sung_Oh_Thesis.pdf.

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Organisational commitment and its three components, affective, continuance and normative, represent a key dimension in the relationship between employees and their organisations. The three components of commitment combine to create commitment profiles which are potentially associated with distinct employee mindsets and differing levels of employee behaviours such as organisational citizenship and intention to stay. Despite an expanding body of research, the existence of differences in the mindsets associated with commitment profiles has only ever been inferred. Two mixed method studies investigated the proposition that commitment profiles generate qualitative different mindsets which impact employees’ behaviour. The findings of these studies empirically demonstrate that there are differences in employee mindsets and behaviours associated with different commitment profiles, and that the interaction of commitment components is more complex than current theoretical propositions suggest.
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Rosenbaum, Michael. "The Vasaloppet as transformative nature sport event : Does the experience of participating in nature sport events influences sustainable practices?" Thesis, Högskolan Dalarna, Turismvetenskap, 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:du-28377.

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The research for the master thesis was about the influence the participation in sport events taking place in nature has on sustainable behaviour of the individual. Although there is an understanding of what sustainability means in literature, each person defines its means for her or himself and acts differently. As there is not much research that looks at sustainability as something that can be experienced, this paper is an attempt to find out. Therefore, the aim of this thesis is to identify how a participant of sport events, taking place in nature, is influenced by the experiences during the different stages of the event, including preparation, racing, and the time afterwards. As a theoretical concept for a change through experience transformation was chosen. As case for such an event the Vasaloppet 2018 was chosen. As there is a large variety of races during the events, the participation in the context of research includes individuals that join the full 90-kilometres distances during daytime. As a result, the sample is derived from the Vasaloppet (main run), and open spår (open trail). The concepts derived from literature encompass sustainability in relation with organisations, using the triple bottom line. In this context, the sustainability of events is conceptualized in conjunction with the ideas of people, planet and profit. After exploring concepts that are important on an organisational level, the three levels of sustainability by Cavagnaro and Curiel (2012) was used to get a better understanding of the role of the individual. Further concepts are serious leisure and consumption, as the participant of an event, for this research, is also someone who consumes products and services in relation to performing serious leisure. Also, the motivations to participate are examined. Additional, the meaning of experiences and possible experiences of events were elaborated. Finally, the concept of transformation for this paper were discovered. To reach the aim of the research a qualitative research approach, based on social constructivism was taken. The research was conducted by having interviews with six participants of the 2018 Vasaloppet. The obtained data was analysed by means of an inductive thematic analysis, creating themes from what was said by the interviewees. The key findings discussed are their understanding of individual and organisational sustainability, as well as transport, in the context of the Vasaloppet experience. Further a chapter about experiences that made the interviewees thinking about issues that might cause transformation is added. A chapter about actual found transformational experiences is added in closing. Eventually a reflection on the research process is given, before concluding the thesis.
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Klein, Vanessa Ann. "The Nature of Nature: Space, Place, and Identity on the Appalachian Trail." Kent State University / OhioLINK, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1437837829.

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25

Davis, Nora. "The role of transcendent nature and awe experiences on positive environmental engagement." Thesis, University of California, Irvine, 2016. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10168551.

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Despite a rich popular narrative that awe-inspiring nature experiences promote environmental behavior, empirical work on this subject is lacking. Recent research has determined that individuals often experience the emotion awe in nature, and that this emotion can lead to reliable shifts in cognition, interpersonal perception, and social behavior. In addition, although research has found that nature exposure can shift environmental behavior, the emotional pathways underlying this association, such as awe, are not yet clear. The current investigation explores through two studies the relationship between transcendent nature and awe experiences with environmental behavior. In study 1 (N = 405), a pre-post online survey assessed (1) the effect of describing a past nature-based transcendent experience in a value-based model of environmental behavior; and (2) what qualities of this experience, such as awe, were most prominent descriptively and as predictors in the model. Regression analyses revealed that describing a nature-based transcendent experience significantly improved the model, and increased participant’s openness to change values pre-post. Moreover, a sense of awe was the most prominent experience quality and was positively related to environmental behavior.

Study 2 employed an experimental design to more concretely explore the role of the transcendent emotion awe in nature on environmental behavior and engagement. A 2x3 factorial design (N = 277) explored whether two factors - (1) reading a climate change message or no message, and (2) viewing videos of awe-inspiring nature, an awe-inspiring built environment, or calming nature - influenced participant’s emotional state and environmental behavior intentions, including an in-situ measure of whether they signed a climate change petition presented outside of the building after leaving the lab session. Participants reported feeling less relaxed and interested after reading a climate message in the built (awe) condition compared to the nature conditions. Also, participants in the awe-nature condition reported feeling more relaxed when they were given the climate message to read. Although no significant interactions for environmental behavior intention emerged, for the in-situ measure, participants who viewed nature rather than awe videos were over three times more likely to sign the climate petition.

Overall, the results of study 1 suggest the theoretical value and interventional benefits of integrating transcendent nature experiences and the emotion awe into value-based models of environmental behavior. The results of study 2 begin to suggest that pro-environmental behavior may depend more on the setting participants are exposed to (nature versus built) rather than on the emotions induced by those settings, such as awe. Implications on education and nature protection policy and practices are discussed.

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Keane, Elizabeth C. "Amazing grace the nature and significance of reported after-death communication experiences /." View thesis, 2005. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/36018.

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Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Sydney, 2005.
A thesis presented to the University of Western Sydney, College of Arts, Education and Social Sciences, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Includes bibliographies.
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Scherini, Rebecca. "Embodied immersive experiences: A path to facilitating connection to non-human nature." Thesis, Curtin University, 2022. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/88580.

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By using ‘sensory autoethnography’ this thesis demonstrates how planners can overturn binary ways of thinking in which humans’ concerns are placed above those of non-humans, promoting new ways of planning in the Anthropocene. Planners can foster more connected relationships to non-human nature by developing a sense of self as a body-subject, engaging in and facilitating ‘embodied immersive experiences’ in ‘natural spaces’, reimagining planning practice and feeding this back into education and training, and becoming embodied practitioners.
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Behrendt, Marc E. "It is an Experience, Not a Lesson: The Nature of High School Students' Experiences at a Biological Field Station." Ohio University / OhioLINK, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1388769652.

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29

Ottosson, Johan. "The importance of nature in coping : creating increased understanding of the importance of pure experiences of nature to human health /." Alnarp : Dept. of Work Science, Business Economics and Environmental Psychology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2007. http://epsilon.slu.se/2007115.pdf.

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30

Rousseau, David. "Minds, souls and nature : a systems-philosophical analysis of the mind-body relationship in the light of near-death experiences." Thesis, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, 2011. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.683371.

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31

King, Bonnie. "The Shared Experiences of Counselors Who Practice in Natural Environments." ScholarWorks@UNO, 2015. http://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/2031.

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The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to gain a deep understanding of the shared experiences of therapists who provide counseling in non-traditional, natural environment settings. Eight participants shared their experiences about counseling in nature. The primary research question for this study was: What are the shared experiences of counselors who provide nature-based counseling? A review of the literature of nature-based counseling provided benefits to spending time in nature, descriptions of various types of nature-based counseling, and ethical and legal issues that affect nature-based counselors. Semi-structured interviews comprised of open-ended questions were used to collect data by phone and through the use of video conferencing software. Audio taped interviews were transcribed and analyzed for key words, descriptive terms, and themes. Additional materials provided by counselors were analyzed for themes and overarching themes. A cross-case analysis yielded seven super-ordinate themes. The research question and sub-questions were addressed by the super-ordinate themes. The super-ordinate themes are: 1) Major Tenets, 2) Training and Ethical Concerns, 3) Benefits, 4) Motivations for Using Nature, 5) Beliefs About Human Connection With Nature, 6) Counselor’s Role, and 7) Spirituality. I employed validation procedures throughout my research to ensure accuracy during the data interpretation, which included clarification of my biases, member checking, peer debriefing and peer review, and the use of “thick, rich description.” Implications for counselors and counselor educators are presented, with recommendations for further research. Personal reflections of the researcher were provided.
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Czegledi, Orsolya. "Cultural differences in nature park management and visitor experiences in a French-Hungarian comparison." Thesis, Dijon, 2016. http://www.theses.fr/2016DIJOL013/document.

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Les recherches multiculturelles en management prévalent sur les organisations à but lucratif, tandis que les études interculturelles sur les zones naturelles protégées constituent encore un domaine relativement peu exploité. Cette thèse propose des modèles interculturels adaptés (issus du modèle existant de Hofstede, complétés des concepts appartenant aux domaines du marketing et du management) pour l’analyse de la gestion de parcs et des expériences des visiteurs vécues au sein des parcs naturels européens (protégés). Parmi les différentes méthodes utilisées, les plus pertinentes s’avèrent être la conduite d’entretiens semi-directifs avec des dirigeants de parcs et l’enquête effectuée auprès des visiteurs, tandis que l’analyse de documents et les observations complètent nos résultats. À partir de nos analyses sur la gestion des parcs, les parties prenantes, les activités outdoor et les expériences des visiteurs, nous concluons que les différences culturelles influencent à la fois la gestion du parc et les expériences des visiteurs, mais d’une façon distincte. Bien que les différences culturelles soient constatées entre les visiteurs français et hongrois, leurs modes de consommation montrent des signes de facteurs internationaux/globaux, tandis que le choix des activités physiques et des caractéristiques démographiques s’avèrent également façonner les expériences des visiteurs. Les opérations et les directions de la gestion des parcs ont également confirmé être influencées par les différences culturelles dans une plus large mesure, bien qu’elles soient aussi déterminées par les caractéristiques géographiques des sites naturels. Cependant, les considérations managériales sont aussi liées au comportement du visiteur, au contexte législatif et aux caractéristiques géographiques du site
Cross-cultural investigations in management prevail over those on for-profit organizations, while intercultural studies on protected natural areas is a relatively untapped field of research. This thesis proposes cross-cultural models (adapted from the existing model of Hofstede, along with marketing and management concepts) for the analysis of the park management and visitor experiences at (protected) European natural parks. Among the various methods used, the most relevant were the semi-directed interviews with actors of the park management and the visitor survey, while document analysis and observations also completed our findings. Using our analysis of the park management, stakeholders, physical activities, and visitor experiences, we concluded, that cultural differences influence both the park management and visitor experiences, though, in different ways. While cultural differences were found between the French and Hungarian visitors, their recreational consumption patterns show signs of international/global considerations, whereas the choice of physical activities and demographic characteristics also proved to shape visitor experiences. In turn, operations and directions of park management were confirmed to be affected by cultural differences to a larger extent, while these were also influenced by the geographical characteristics of the natural sites. However, managerial considerations were found to be interrelated with the visitors’ behavior, the legislative background and the geographical features of the area
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Eld, M. "The nature and experiences of the dyslexia population in higher education : a case study." Thesis, Oxford Brookes University, 2008. http://radar.brookes.ac.uk/radar/items/9b3aa4ce-1982-02df-11da-cfd5f8cd4017/1.

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This research investigated factors influencing the approach of dyslexic higher education students to support in one UK higher education institution. While considering the nature of the population of dyslexic students as a whole, it also looked for potential sub-groups with a view to differentiating support needs and usage. The research considered data for past dyslexic students of the institution, over nearly a decade, in the context of national data (HESA and UCAS) to establish the nature of the population being investigated. A range of measures were completed by current students of the institution, addressing: aspects of experiences of dyslexia; personality; learning mode preferences; and support use, including DSA Needs Assessment recommendations. These findings, in conjunction with WAIS intelligence test indices scores (where available from dyslexia assessments), were statistically analysed where appropriate. The research concluded with interviews of selected participants. The main findings included a trend of late identification of women. Evidence of the impact of dyslexia recognition and support during compulsory schooling was seen in subsequent support use and outcomes. How students attributed outcomes at school was important for self-concept and motivation, although this was not always related to recognition of dyslexia or support. The Perceptual Organisation Index of the WAIS-III test was central to grouping participant cases. Patterns were seen in use of higher education support, relating to age of identification as dyslexic, age when starting the course and gender. The implications include the way Learning Mode preference awareness has a role in developing self-awareness and meta-cognitive skill. Study environment requirements are an area of student needs that would benefit from further investigation. Feedback on Needs Assessment recommendations highlights the need for more training opportunities and better ways to introduce students to assistive technology before recommendations were made. Better understanding of support use patterns has implications for support resource management.
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Harrison, Kirsten Viola. "Understanding the Nature of Spiritual Encounters in Near-Death Experiences and Dissociative Identity Disorder." Thesis, Pacifica Graduate Institute, 2018. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10822119.

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The following dissertation involves intensively entering into dialogue with those suffering from dissociative identity disorder (DID) regarding their perceived encounters with the Divine during severe psychological trauma. The nature of the overlap with those who have had spiritual awakenings during near-death experiences (NDEs) and during peritraumatic dissociation is investigated and studied phenomenologically, through an imaginal research paradigm. The insights gleaned from both populations should inform and guide treatment for dissociative disorders and help NDErs cope with and integrate aftereffects while further exploring how the soul apparently survives psychological and physical trauma. In addition, many survivors speak of perceived otherworldly protection from guardian spirits during their traumata. Are NDErs, mystics, and DID individuals accessing an archetypal Self-care system which guides, protects, comforts, and informs, and whose presence is more readily acknowledged during altered states of consciousness?

It is challenging to understand the spiritual implications of survival from torture and how the apparently “disintegrated” mind of DID may actually be more fully integrated and connected to the transcendent. In the attempt to make meaning and find solace during times of intense psychological agony, it is heartening to know that the mind appears to tap into a restorative energetic field, as substantiated by quantum physics, mysticism, near-death research, and work with dissociative conditions. Through a thorough exploration of the subject with those who have felt abandoned, betrayed, and then comforted and nurtured by the Divine, there may appear a set of phenomena, ideas, and insights that could prove transformative in the daily struggles of the severely traumatized individual. The role of an exceedingly helpful yet elusive Ally, Essence, witness, or spiritual helper as human-Divine bridge appears to be a construct validated by many who have elicited safety and comfort from this apparently compassionate universal energy. This Essence may be the key to understanding the nature of the life-saving defenses of the Spirit. This transpersonal agent of transformation and guidance appears to be available to us all if we can learn to open ourselves to its presence. Thus, those who have traversed the edges of “sanity” may well become our best spiritual teachers.

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Castelblanco, Samantha A. "The Effects of Virtual Nature Exposure on State Social Motivation." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2021. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3860.

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Social health is an important predictor of overall health. Yet, it is an often neglected area of research. Strikingly, social connectedness is associated with a 50% reduction in risk of early death. While a plethora of research evidence supports the beneficial impact of nature exposure on physical and mental health, literature regarding the beneficial impact of nature exposure on social health is scant. In fact, no research to date has investigated the causal influence of nature exposure on social motivation, a construct comprised here of three measures (State Motivation to Foster Social Connections, State Positive Affect, and State Anxiety). The purpose of this study was twofold: 1) to examine the effects of virtual nature exposure on state social motivation, and 2) to investigate adverse childhood experiences as a moderator of those effects. In this online study, adult participants (N = 444) aged 18 to 58 were randomly assigned to one of the three experimental video conditions (wilderness nature exposure, urban non-nature exposure, indoor non-nature exposure). After watching a 15-minute video, participants completed measures related to state social motivation. Results revealed a significant main effect of nature exposure on state social motivation. However, the effects of nature exposure on state social motivation were not significantly moderated by adverse childhood experiences. Results suggest that nature exposure may have a positive impact on the development and maintenance of social connections and should be explored further as a social health intervention aimed at improving overall health.
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De, Crom Engela Petronella. "A narrative interpretation of contemporary nature experiences in Southern African environments / Engela Petronella De Crom." Thesis, North-West University, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10394/8526.

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There is an increasing awareness that human beings are disconnected from nature. Physical disconnectedness from nature may lead to psychological and spiritual malfunctioning. Those who are aware of this disconnectedness try to compensate by spending leisure time in nature. The urge to go 'back to nature' was the start of ecotourism. The increase in tourist traffic and the concomitant development brings about negative effects, subjecting tourists to disappointment. Development has destroyed the specific experience which the people came for in the first place. Should environmental degradation continue the enriching experiences people have in nature will no longer exist. The preferred outcome for eco tourists is to acquire a sense of spiritual sustenance that could enhance their optimal functioning after experimenting a natural environment. A disregard for sound principles of responsible ecotourism development could result in lost opportunities. The research problem is located in the fact that individuals are seldom aware of their disconnectedness from the natural environment. Secondly, there is a need for more pristine, natural environments where humans can restore their encounters with the nature. Ecotourism development should be sensitive to the tastes of tourists who have as their objectives memorable experiences in natural environments. During this exploratory study, interviews, questionnaires and field observations were used to collect qualitative and limited quantitative data. Findings confirm that human beings are part of nature. Technological progress has led to an indoor lifestyle that causes humans to become disconnected from nature. Disconnectedness also involves a spiritual dimension. To restore a sense of connectedness between human beings and nature, people need to spend time in nature. Ecotourism originated from and exists because of the desire of individuals to reconnect to nature. They fulfil this desire by experiencing unspoilt natural environments, both physically and spiritually. Although a pattern of phases in a nature experience can be distinguished, every individual attaches a personal meaning to the experience. People have satisfying nature experiences in any natural environment. The intensity or fulfilment of such experiences depends on personal perceptions as well as external disturbances, such as litter and inappropriate behaviour. People attach meaning to experiences by structuring them into stories. The more we talk about the nature experience, the more knowledge is added to it. Consequently the experience becomes powerful, adding quality to people's lives and relationships. In this regard, aspects of rituals, metaphors and symbols, as well as spiritual experiences, play a significant role in the meaning people find in natural environments.
Thesis (Ph.D. (History))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2005
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Hawes, Emily Jeanne. "Geographies of indebtedness : the spatial nature and lived experiences of household debt in Metro Vancouver." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/56283.

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Since the 1990s, Canadian household debt levels have grown at an increasingly rapid rate, hitting records levels in late 2014. Mainstream representations paint the looming household debt crisis as a product of rampant overconsumption, underpinned by a societal lack of ‘financial literacy’. To what extent does the empirical evidence reflect such discourses? Few critical studies examine household debt in Canada, and still fewer consider the sub-national scale. According to existing scholarship, processes of financialization, securitization and neoliberalization influence household debt internationally and nationally. This thesis investigates the geography of high household debt levels at the local scale for Metro Vancouver. It examines the causes and consequences of heavy indebtedness in the everyday lived experiences of individual debtors, and the services and supports that they need to face these challenges. At the sub-CMA level, the spatial distribution of debt stress (debt-to-income and debt-to-wealth ratios) is assessed at the FSA level via a quantitative mapping analysis for Metro Vancouver – Canada’s most indebted city. Despite the generalized high debt stress across the CMA, a distinctly uneven spatial distribution of the costs, stresses (indebtedness) and benefits (gains in wealth) of rising mortgage and consumer debt levels emerges, with disproportionate stress in Vancouver’s outer suburbs. Through in-depth qualitative interviews with highly indebted Vancouverites, this thesis unpacks the everyday effects that increasing debt-loads have on residents of high-debt neighbourhoods. It draws on media discourse and debtor testimonies to consider the societal and survival pressures to engage in ever higher levels of borrowing experienced by financialized citizen subjects – funding consumption in a time of high income and wealth inequalities. Common causes of debt stress include unexpected life events such as divorce and job loss, easy accessibility of and marketing pressures to consume credit, and insufficient household resources as inflation surpasses wage growth. Financial literacy initiatives are called into question while, alongside issues of housing affordability, the study finds a critical need for lending regulations, non-predatory alternatives to small and short-term Payday loans, and reduced barriers to accessible and affordable mental health counseling for debtors.
Arts, Faculty of
Geography, Department of
Graduate
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Grit, Alexander. "The opening up of hospitality spaces to difference : exploring the nature of home exchange experiences." Thesis, University of Strathclyde, 2010. http://oleg.lib.strath.ac.uk:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=18931.

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Kato, Hideo. "The nature of peer support through Japanese children's perspectives on the experiences of being peer supporters." Thesis, University of Surrey, 2016. http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/811703/.

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This thesis explores the nature of peer support activities in Japan through the experiences of young Japanese peer supporters in a secondary school. Peer support is an approach that builds on the helpfulness and altruism characteristic of friendship by extending it beyond friendship to the wider peer group. Although moral and citizenship education has been carried out for over one hundred years in Japanese schools, the concept of peer support programmes in the educational system is relatively new in Japan. Peer support approaches have been developing in Western countries for over 20 years but it is only in the past 10 years that there has been a growing interest in these methods in Japan. In this research, qualitative methods had been used to gather more in-depth information about a phenomenon. Participants, aged 13 to 14 years, were drawn from a secondary school in Osaka, Japan. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and data were analysed using Thematic Analysis, aiming to explore their lived experiences of being peer supporters. Four main themes emerged from the peer supporters’ lived experiences; 1) Disconnection between training and practice, 2) Perceived generation gap, 3) Self-improvement, and 4) Cultural mismatch. These specific themes greatly assisted to explore the unrevealed children’s views, some critical issues of peer support practices in Japan and some confirmed the findings of quantitative studies (prior studies). A number of the findings were novel and also these results will provide opportunity to explore further children’s understandings of peer support programmes in school. In conclusion, some practical recommendations (e.g. “reform of the peer support training session” and “new classification for Japanese style peer support”) for the peer support activities are suggested in terms of the findings. Key words: peer support, bullying, counselling skills, social skills, Japanese style peer support.
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Ito, Noriko. "Exploring the Nature of Language Anxiety: Experiences of NonNative EnglishSpeaking College Students in the United States." ScholarWorks@UNO, 2008. http://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/821.

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The thought of learning another language makes some people cringe, while others display neutral to positive reactions. To understand the complex experiences of students learning a new language, this study investigated the affective psychological development encompassing language anxiety (LA) among nonnative Englishspeaking college students in the United States (US). The purpose of this study was to identify LA, while keeping in mind that some of the LA experiences may be moderate to none, and to explore the nature of this phenomenon. Ten university students from nine different countries were interviewed concerning their experiences learning and functioning in English in the US. While only a few studies have reviewed the nature of LA encompassing the possible existence of facilitating LA, this study investigated both the positive and negative effects of anxiety on second language learning. The answer to the research question, "How do college students in the US whose native languages are not English experience LA" was pursued by using qualitative analyses. The results indicated a new construct of LA, identity frustration, and its relationships to the other LA constructs already specified in the literature. The study also suggested the timing when students cease to translate between the two languages to be the point where they experience a lower level of LA. In addition, four other themes emerged. They are culturerelated LA; the recursive nature of LA; relationships among selfexpectation, selfconfidence, and LA; and facilitating LA, termed euphoric language tension.
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Korkodeilou, Evgenia. ""We are invisible" : exploring the nature and impact of stalking through stalking victims' voices and experiences." Thesis, Swansea University, 2014. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.678637.

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Windvogel, Clinton. "Exploring the experiences of beneficiaries involved in the expanded public works program within a nature conservation." University of the Western Cape, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/6833.

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Magister Psychologiae - MPsych
The economic state of South Africa prior to 1994 is linked directly to the political dispensation that was operating under apartheid. Since the advent of the new democratic dispensation, the South African government has developed policies which have focused on poverty alleviation. However, given all the gains (political equality) that have been made, South Africa still remains one of the highest in the world in terms of income inequality. Income inequality is an indicator of how material resources are distributed across society. Within the context of South Africa’s income inequality is largely due to the history of colonialism and. To address this income inequality, the government initiated job creation initiatives in 1995 which was implemented by institutions such as government departments and parastatals such as the nature conservation agency under research. A qualitative methodological framework was used for this study to explore the subjective experiences of the beneficiaries involved in the Expanded Public Works Program within the nature conservation agency. For the purpose of this study purposive sampling was utilised since only specific participants from four specific reserves were selected to participate in this study. The sample for this research study comprised of 24 participants. These participants were selected from each of the 4 selected reserves. Semi-structured interviews were utilised to gain a thorough understanding of the participants’ subjective experiences. Upon completion of these interviews the information was transcribed and analysed using the interpretive phenomenological approach. Before commencement of the study, the necessary ethics approval was obtained from the Humanities and Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee at the University of the Western Cape. Participants’ rights such as anonymity, confidentiality, voluntary participation, and confidentiality were guaranteed throughout the research process.
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Gilbert, Amanda Marie. "The Nature of Elementary Science Teachers' Experiences with Synchronous Online, Asynchronous Online and Face-to-Face Coaching." University of Toledo / OhioLINK, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1460997318.

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Surgenor, Hazel. "A phenomenological investigation into the experiences of practicing counselling psychology and psychotherapy out doors." Thesis, Regent's University, 2013. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.646073.

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This study explores the significance for practitioners of taking their therapeutic work outside of the traditional therapy room, typically into nature spaces, parks or gardens. Attention is paid to the notion of the therapeutic frame and relevant ecopsychology theory. While there is substantial literature around ecotherapy and the benefits of nature to wellbeing, there is relatively little concerning working as a psychotherapist outdoors. The purpose of this research therefore was to address the question of what it is like to take a therapeutic practice out of doors and the potential challenges. Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with practitioners with experience of working out of doors with clients. Following van Manen’s (1990) hermeneutic phenomenology research methodology, five themes were found: boundaries and new frontiers, fitting in, what ‘they’ think, and who is it for (parts I and II). The research aim, to grasp the meaning of this unconventional practice from the practitioners’ perspective, was mirrored in the analysis which revealed that meaning for the participants is complex and concerns for the client as well as personal concerns were seen as fundamental to the experience. Relationships to and the presence of nature in the work were also recognised as significant and identified a tension around the unquantifiable experience of the ‘soulfulness’ of nature in the work versus the measurable elements of nature that have therapeutic benefit. The scarcity of practitioners working outdoors was attributed to a lack of indoor therapists’ understanding of the processes involved which was seen to impact upon participants’ experiences in their work outdoors. The emergent themes in this research emphasise for counselling psychology an on-going need to review therapeutic dogma, encompass the wider world in the context of therapeutic practice and expand current notions of mental health and psychopathology to engender greater pluralism in theory and practice.
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Parsons, Ashley. "Young Children and Nature: Outdoor Play and Development, Experiences Fostering Environmental Consciousness, And the Implications on Playground Design." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/32281.

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Play is a pivotal part of a child’s life. Outdoor play fosters opportunities for creativity, imagination, social connections, and learned behaviors. There are two types of outdoor playscapes: natural and constructed. Natural playscapes offer sensory stimulation and physical diversity which is critical for childhood experiences outdoors. Through careful design, constructed playscapes can be greened to simulate natural playscapes. Greening is the integration of natural elements and processes in a playscape. Children’s direct social and individual experiences in nature in early to middle childhood during the “developmental window of opportunity” between the ages of three and twelve years help shape their environmental identity and guide their environmental actions. Outdoor play in greened playscapes has a positive effect on children’s social development, motor skill development, attention, and activity level. It also can provide children with experiences in naturalistic landscapes which could impact their morals, values and actions. School yards have the ability to assist in teaching children and act as a safe-haven where parental concerns for safety and risk do not inhibit play. Understanding the relationships between play, experiences in nature, environmental identity, the health, learning, attention, and development benefits of outdoor play, and the evolution of playscape design, a series of guidelines can be created to provide better childhood playscapes.
Master of Landscape Architecture
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Bysshe, Janette Elizabeth. "Basic instinct? : an exploration into the nature of breastfeeding experiences of women attending three different breastfeeding education programmes." Thesis, University of Southampton, 1996. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.242552.

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Millard, Nathaniel Miles. "Cultural Entropy: A Grounded Theory Study of Early Childhood Experiences in Nature in the Arroyo Grande Creek Watershed." DigitalCommons@USU, 2015. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/4313.

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Through a grounded theory methodology data collection around early childhood experiences with nature leading towards positive civic engagement with the community, the theory of cultural entropy emerged along with a policy recommendation for reconnecting the community to the local watershed. Through qualitative interviews with lifelong residents and analysis of essays from local high school students comparing early experiences with nature, the theory of cultural entropy emerged to explain how perceptions and interactions with the local landscape changed across generations. With the help of key information interviews, archival research, and exploration of the local watershed, cultural entropy was used to theorize how the work culture should do towards protecting and passing along ecological, cultural, and historical knowledge that might help increase civic engagement. Lifelong residents participating in the research were found to have high levels of civic engagement through participation with the local historical society and/or recommendations from people because of their involvement with the community. More than any other theme, the importance of the Arroyo Grande Creek emerged as a significantly early experience in nature amongst all lifelong residents. In contrast, this experience was completely gone from the early experiences by the high school students participating in this study. Creation of the dam, channelization of the creek, and invasive species introduction have almost eliminated access to the creek, and invasive species introduction have almost eliminated access to the creek. Very little evidence was found along the entire stretch of creek from dam to ocean of kids playing in the creek. This is theorized to be a product of larger cultures from outside this local ecosystem diffusing into the local culture, creating disconnect from local ecosystem knowledge. A policy recommendation is to create an interpretive greenbelt system along an already existing dirt farm road controlled by local agricultural land, promoting community engagement with the local watershed. Because so much of the key ecological, historical, and cultural knowledge of the area centers around the watershed, it is hypothesized that a greenbelt system has potential for reversing cultural entropy, increasing ecological, historical, and cultural knowledge of the area, and promoting civic engagement.
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Torres, Ana Cristina. "Initiatives citoyennes de conservation de la nature en milieu urbain : rôle des jardins partagés." Thesis, Université Paris-Saclay (ComUE), 2017. http://www.theses.fr/2017SACLS557/document.

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Les cadres théoriques de la conservation de la nature n’ont pas un caractère figé, mais ont évolué au cours du temps en privilégiant telles ou telles valeurs, notamment intrinsèques ou instrumentales. Or, les limites de ces cadres d’analyse pour susciter des engagements pour la nature ont été montrées. En m’appuyant sur la notion de valeurs relationnelles ainsi que sur celle des transformations des expériences de nature, j’ai conduit un travail qui veut apporter une réflexion complémentaire aux manières de concevoir la conservation de la nature. Pour cela, à travers l’étude transdisciplinaire des initiatives citoyennes de jardins partagés, cette thèse cherche à comprendre les motivations des citoyens ordinaires à s’engager pour la nature. Ce travail a notamment permis de montrer que des expériences de nature se font aussi en ville, par exemple pour combler un vide personnel par des pratiques de jardinage et des mises en relations sociales et écologiques dans ces espaces. Ces expériences sont aussi vécues par les riverains des jardins, qui pour la plupart reconnaissent et valorisent les bienfaits de ces jardins pour eux, pour les jardiniers, pour le quartier et pour la ville. Au niveau de la biodiversité, j’ai montré que les jardins sont des endroits propices pour l’installation d’une flore spontanée, dont la richesse dépend de l’action des jardiniers et des décisions des propriétaires du terrain (notamment de laisser l’espace disponible sur un temps long). Enfin, j’ai montré comment les relations socio-écologiques créées et encouragées dans un jardin deviennent des moteurs pour l’action politique. Par tous ces angles d’approche, ce travail de thèse montre donc le rôle crucial des valeurs relationnelles dans la motivation à conserver la nature. Relations à reconnaitre et valoriser dans toutes leurs diversités
Theoretical frameworks for nature conservation have evolved through time, with priority successively given to different values, instrumental or intrinsic. However, these frameworks have limits in motivating engagement towards nature. Building on the respective notions of relational values and transformation of nature experiences, my thesis work aims to fuel the reflection on new ways of considering nature conservation. I have used community gardens, a particular form of citizen initiative, as a study case to understand the motivations of ordinary citizens to engage towards nature. On the social side, I showed that experiences of nature can be gained in these gardens despite the urban environment, to fulfil personal needs through gardening and through the development of social and ecological relationships. These experiences of nature influence the neighbouring citizens of the gardens, who acknowledge their benefits for themselves, the gardeners, the neighbourhood, and the city in general.On the ecological side, I showed that community gardens host a rich community of spontaneous plants, which species richness depends upon gardeners’ management and garden age, which in turn depends on stakeholder decisions as to the durability of community gardens.Last, I showed how socio-ecological relationships created and promoted in a community garden can become drivers for political actions, through the particular case of one garden.Through this combination of social and ecological approaches, this thesis highlights the crucial role played by relational values in nature conservation motivation. These relations have to be acknowledged and promoted in all their diversity
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Cigliana, Kassie. "The dynamic nature of individual experiences in study abroad : motivational perspectives, language contact and the development of social relationships." Thesis, University of Southampton, 2016. https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/402643/.

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Drawing on a number of theoretical frameworks in second language acquisition, the current study investigates a group of American learners of Spanish (N=73) as they spend a semester in Spain, studying in either Barcelona or Granada. Individual differences such as pre-program L2 proficiency, attitudes and motivational perspectives are examined in order to determine if they have any relationship with the students’ development of social relationships while abroad, with a particular focus on the students’ interactions, or lack thereof, with Spanish speakers. The study also employs a longitudinal approach in order to trace any changes in these affective variables. Data from observations and informal interviews are utilised to support the analysis and uncover any emergent themes which can be seen to impact on the residence abroad. The findings indicate that the students’ experiences are extremely varied, especially when comparing those who study in Barcelona with those who study in Granada. Attitude and motivational orientations also change dramatically throughout the SA program, with most tending to decline over the period of time abroad. The results suggest that such changes are largely dictated by the individual experiences of the learners, with social interaction playing a key role in linguistic development. The results demonstrate that both cultural and linguistic motives prove key in explaining learner behaviours abroad, thus providing support for analysis of second language acquisition abroad from a Dynamic Systems Theory perspective.
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Bell-Williams, Rebecca. "Spiritual wellbeing and the human-nature relationship : an exploration of the spiritual wellbeing experiences of home and community gardeners." Thesis, De Montfort University, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2086/14147.

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In recent years, wellbeing has emerged as a way to describe the holistic health of a population. This thesis explores the premise that spiritual wellbeing, an often neglected and poorly understood dimension of the wellbeing spectrum, may offer a complementary and cohesive element to physical, mental and social wellbeing. Nature-based activities hold promise for developing spiritual wellbeing, but prior research has focussed primarily on wilderness settings. Such spaces are increasingly rare and for individuals living in urbanised areas it is of equal importance to identify the spiritual wellbeing benefits from nearby and everyday nature spaces. As accessible nature spaces, gardens and gardening activity provide an often undervalued opportunity through which individuals can engage with local nature. Gardeners may therefore be able to offer a unique insight into the role that interaction with nature may play in spiritual wellbeing. This study therefore focuses on how spiritual wellbeing may be enhanced and developed through interaction with nature in the context of urban gardens. The study consists of two phases: Phase One focussed on community gardeners and was used to scope the topic and methodologies; Phase Two used semi-structured interviews with 25 gardeners to explore how spiritual wellbeing related to their gardening experiences. Thematic analysis of the data revealed that in the context of gardening, spiritual wellbeing is supported and developed through four key themes of: Contribution, Connection, Awareness, and Being Self, as expressed through a meaningful relationship with An-Other. Previous spiritual wellbeing studies have highlighted the concept of a relationship with the ‘Other’ and wellbeing models often cite human-human relationships as important in developing wellbeing. Findings from the study suggest that interaction with nature, through the partnership activity of gardening, provides a human-nature relationship that may offer equivalent benefits in developing spiritual wellbeing. The findings may offer a novel approach to help address contemporary wellbeing issues, whilst also adding a new significance to the urban garden.
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