Impact of nature connectedness on loneliness among university students living away from home: The mediating roles of meaningfulness, peace of mind, and resilience

Loneliness is a growing mental health concern globally. Since the advent of smartphone and internet use, urban youth have been disproportionately affected by loneliness. Disconnecting from tech and connecting with nature could be a solution to reducing loneliness. This study explored the relationship between nature connectedness and loneliness in urban youth, examining the novel and potentially mediating variables of meaningfulness, peace of mind, and resilience. A sample of 257 Indian urban youth aged 19–26 were recruited through convenience sampling. Participants completed an online survey measuring nature connectedness, meaningfulness, peace of mind, resilience, and loneliness. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was employed and the results indicated that nature connectedness, meaningfulness, peace of mind, and resilience were negatively associated with loneliness. Mediation analyses revealed that the negative association between nature connectedness and loneliness was significantly mediated by meaningfulness and peace of mind but not by resilience. These findings suggest that enhancing nature connectedness can reduce loneliness by fostering individuals' sense of meaningfulness and peace of mind. This research underscores the importance of integrating green spaces in urban planning, and supporting nature connection programs like forest bathing, community gardening, or group hiking to reduce loneliness among urban youth.