Nature nurtures our wellbeing: primary emotions and attachment mediate our psychological adjustment via connectedness to nature.

INTRODUCTION: Research suggests that the psychological benefits of natural environments are not uniformly experienced, with individual differences in nature connectedness potentially shaped by temperament traits and attachment patterns moderating their impact on psychological wellbeing. Drawing on Affective Neuroscience theory, which conceptualizes basic human motivational tendencies as primary emotional systems (CARE, SEEKING, PLAY, FEAR, ANGER, PANIC), we examined whether these systems are linked to anxiety and depression symptoms through attachment patterns and nature connectedness.

METHODS: A non-clinical sample of 592 Portuguese adults, aged 18 or older, completed self-report measures of primary emotional systems, attachment, nature connectedness, and psychological symptoms. A multiple step mediation was tested through Structural Equation Modeling, employing bootstrapped confidence intervals to test for indirect effects.

RESULTS: Four association pathways emerged from the data, namely (1) a Biophilic Connection path, in which positive emotional systems were associated with lower anxiety and depression via greater connectedness to nature; (2) an Attachment to Nature path, whereby secure attachment tendencies supported wellbeing through enhanced nature connectedness; (3) an Anger-Nature Disconnection path, in which anger-related tendencies were linked to poorer outcomes through reduced connection to nature; and (4) a Fear-Nature Disconnection path, whereby fear-related emotions and attachment insecurity contributed to worse mental health via diminished nature connectedness.

DISCUSSION: Our findings highlight distinct emotional and relational trajectories through which connectedness to nature may influence psychological wellbeing, offering an integrative framework for understanding individual variability in nature's psychological benefits.