Connectedness To Nature Scale

Are you at one with Mother Nature? Take this test to find out if you're truly connected to nature.

By Scott Travers, Ph.D. | August 07, 2024

Being connected to nature involves a deep sense of belonging and relationship with the natural world. This connection can manifest through an appreciation for the beauty of the environment, a sense of responsibility for its well-being and an understanding of the interdependence between humans and nature. People who feel connected to nature often experience a sense of peace and fulfillment when engaging with natural settings—whether through hiking in the mountains, strolling through a park or simply observing wildlife.

Research has long shown that a strong connection to nature is linked to better mental health, including reduced stress and increased happiness. And those who feel more connected to nature are generally more likely to engage in pro-environmental behaviors—such as recycling and conservation efforts, which are essential for the sustainability of our planet. Most importantly, knowing your connectedness to nature can help you identify areas of your life where you might benefit from more interaction with the natural world, which can boost your overall well-being in various ways.

The Connectedness to Nature Scale is a valuable tool for measuring an individual's emotional and cognitive connection to the natural environment; it has helped individuals and practitioners alike to gauge the strength of their relationship with nature. By using the scale, you can gain insights into your environmental attitudes and behaviors, and make more informed decisions about how to integrate nature into your daily life.

You can take this test here. Follow all of the steps to receive your results.

Step 1: On a scale from strongly disagree to strongly agree, please answer each of these questions in terms of the way you generally feel. There are no right or wrong answers.

1. I often feel a sense of oneness with the natural world around me.

2. I think of the natural world as a community to which I belong.

3. I recognize and appreciate the intelligence of other living organisms.

4. I often feel connected to nature.

5. When I think of my life, I imagine myself to be part of a larger cyclical process of living.

6. I often feel a kinship with animals and plants.

7. I feel as though I belong to the Earth as equally as it belongs to me.

8. I have a deep understanding of how my actions affect the natural world.

9. I often feel part of the web of life.

10. I feel that all inhabitants of Earth, human and nonhuman, share a common 'life force'.

11. Like a tree can be part of a forest, I feel embedded within the broader natural world.

12. When I think of my place on Earth, I don't consider myself to be a top member of a hierarchy that exists in nature.

13. I often feel like I am only a small part of the natural world around me, and that I am no more important than the grass on the ground or the birds in the trees.

14. My personal welfare is dependent on the welfare of the natural world.

Step 2: Enter your age, gender, region, and first name so we can provide you with a detailed report that compares your test scores to people similar to you.

What is your age?

What is your gender?

What region of the world do you live in?

What is your first name?

Step 3: Check to make sure you've provided answers to all of the statements/questions above. Once you've done that, click the button below to send your responses to Awake Therapy's Lead Biological Research Scientist, Scott Travers, Ph.D. He will provide you with an overview of how you scored relative to others (all answers are anonymized and confidential to protect users' privacy). He can also answer any follow-up questions you may have.

References: Mayer, F. S. & Frantz, C. M. (2004). The connectedness to nature scale: A measure of individuals’ feeling in community with nature. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 24(4). 503-515. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2004.10.001