University of Twente Student Theses
Promoting Social Connectedness by Combining Spacious Nature and Autobiographical Storytelling in University Students
Lütke-Bohmert, H. (2023) Promoting Social Connectedness by Combining Spacious Nature and Autobiographical Storytelling in University Students.
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| Abstract: | The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a rise in mental health problems globally. Specifically, in university students, a comparison between pre-and post-pandemic measurements highlights a connection between pandemics and a decrease in feeling socially connected. Exposure to spacious nature and engaging in autobiographical storytelling have been shown to facilitate social connectedness. Implementing nature-based interventions can be challenging in areas where the population suffers from the consequences of ongoing urbanisation, but virtual nature exposure offers a promising alternative. This paper investigates if there is a different effect in the relationship between exposure to spaciousness versus non-spaciousness nature in combination with autobiographical versus neutral storytelling and social connectedness in university students. A 2 (Nature: Spaciousness and Non-spaciousness) x 2 (Storytelling: Autobiographical and Neutral) between-subjects design with a repeated measure of social connectedness was chosen. 135 participants between 18-30 years were assigned to fill out an online survey before watching either a spacious or non-spacious virtual nature video and engaging in an autobiographical or neutral storytelling task afterwards. As covariates, personality traits neuroticism and openness to experience were controlled for. Thereby, no significant effect of spacious nature and autobiographical storytelling on social connectedness was shown. Moreover, no significant covariation of neuroticism and openness to experience on the relationship between nature, storytelling and social connectedness was found. Overall social connectedness was not found to be low in the sample. Based on these findings it is suggested that future research is conducted with a bigger sample size or the use of virtual reality technology to increase social connectedness in university students. Furthermore, a change in study design such as a longitudinal study could lead to contrasting outcomes. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology BSc (56604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/95252 |
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