Research article    |    Open Access
Base for Electronic Educational Sciences 2026, Vol. 7(1) 20-35

Understanding Nature Connectedness: The Role of Mindfulness, Emotional Sensitivities, Outdoor Experience, and Problematic Mobile Phone Use

Menşure Alkış Küçükaydın

pp. 20 - 35

Publish Date: March 30, 2026  |   Single/Total View: 0/0   |   Single/Total Download: 0/0


Abstract

Although previous literature has examined adolescents' levels of nature connectedness, especially in the context of gender, age and culture, the factors associated with adolescents' nature connectedness have not been addressed much. The current study examines the variables that facilitate and leverage adolescents' nature connectedness and the hindrances to nature connectedness. A total of 1,316 high school students from the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey participated in the study. A priori analyses showed that adolescents had low levels of nature connectedness. Path analysis results indicated that mindfulness was leverage to nature connectedness. However, problematic mobile phone use was a variable that hindered nature connectedness directly and through the frequency of experiencing nature. The study also showed that disgust sensitivity in nature influenced outdoor recreation preferences related to nature connectedness. The results highlight the importance of mindfulness in adolescents' increasing nature connectedness and the dangers of problematic mobile phone use.

Keywords: adolescents, mindfulness, nature connectedness, problematic mobile phone use


How to Cite this Article?

APA 7th edition
Kucukaydin, M.A. (2026). Understanding Nature Connectedness: The Role of Mindfulness, Emotional Sensitivities, Outdoor Experience, and Problematic Mobile Phone Use. Base for Electronic Educational Sciences, 7(1), 20-35.

Harvard
Kucukaydin, M. (2026). Understanding Nature Connectedness: The Role of Mindfulness, Emotional Sensitivities, Outdoor Experience, and Problematic Mobile Phone Use. Base for Electronic Educational Sciences, 7(1), pp. 20-35.

Chicago 16th edition
Kucukaydin, Mensure Alkis (2026). "Understanding Nature Connectedness: The Role of Mindfulness, Emotional Sensitivities, Outdoor Experience, and Problematic Mobile Phone Use". Base for Electronic Educational Sciences 7 (1):20-35.

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