Beyond the screen: The psychological significance of ecophilia in childhood
The environmental crisis, fuelled by rapid urbanization, technology, and changing lifestyles, threatens humanity. Children's disconnection from nature negatively impacts their physical, mental, and environmental well-being, increasing their risk of psychological distress, including elevated str...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | MethodsX |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016125001098 |
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| author | Asha S Vineeth Radhakrishnan |
| author_facet | Asha S Vineeth Radhakrishnan |
| author_sort | Asha S |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The environmental crisis, fuelled by rapid urbanization, technology, and changing lifestyles, threatens humanity. Children's disconnection from nature negatively impacts their physical, mental, and environmental well-being, increasing their risk of psychological distress, including elevated stress levels, impaired emotional stability and cognitive function, diminished social interactions, and increased susceptibility to anxiety, depression, lower self-esteem, and reduced overall life satisfaction. Consequently, environmental risks have impact on the health and development of the children from early childhood to adolescence and then to adult life. The research article aims at diminished nature connection in children and the emergence of psychological distress. This interdisciplinary research, blending ecology and psychology, uses ecocritical lenses—biophilia (love for nature and living things), topophilia (love for particular place or environment), and ecophilia (love for nature itself) —to explore how diminished nature connection impacts children's well-being. The findings emphasize the importance of reconnecting children with nature and fostering ecospirituality for their well-being and a sustainable future. This research concludes that fostering ecophilia enhances children's cognitive function, environmental awareness, and stewardship, while also promoting ecospirituality. • Human-nature interactions are key learnings for children. • This research aims to integrate ecology and psychology fostering interdisciplinary approach. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a18c7c2d4ea848adba1900bc0489e03a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2215-0161 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | MethodsX |
| spelling | doaj-art-a18c7c2d4ea848adba1900bc0489e03a2025-08-20T03:32:03ZengElsevierMethodsX2215-01612025-06-011410326310.1016/j.mex.2025.103263Beyond the screen: The psychological significance of ecophilia in childhoodAsha S0Vineeth Radhakrishnan1School of Social Sciences and Languages, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vandalur – Kelambakkam Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600127, IndiaCorresponding author.; School of Social Sciences and Languages, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vandalur – Kelambakkam Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600127, IndiaThe environmental crisis, fuelled by rapid urbanization, technology, and changing lifestyles, threatens humanity. Children's disconnection from nature negatively impacts their physical, mental, and environmental well-being, increasing their risk of psychological distress, including elevated stress levels, impaired emotional stability and cognitive function, diminished social interactions, and increased susceptibility to anxiety, depression, lower self-esteem, and reduced overall life satisfaction. Consequently, environmental risks have impact on the health and development of the children from early childhood to adolescence and then to adult life. The research article aims at diminished nature connection in children and the emergence of psychological distress. This interdisciplinary research, blending ecology and psychology, uses ecocritical lenses—biophilia (love for nature and living things), topophilia (love for particular place or environment), and ecophilia (love for nature itself) —to explore how diminished nature connection impacts children's well-being. The findings emphasize the importance of reconnecting children with nature and fostering ecospirituality for their well-being and a sustainable future. This research concludes that fostering ecophilia enhances children's cognitive function, environmental awareness, and stewardship, while also promoting ecospirituality. • Human-nature interactions are key learnings for children. • This research aims to integrate ecology and psychology fostering interdisciplinary approach.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016125001098EcologyPsychologyHuman–nature interactionsMental well-beingChildren |
| spellingShingle | Asha S Vineeth Radhakrishnan Beyond the screen: The psychological significance of ecophilia in childhood MethodsX Ecology Psychology Human–nature interactions Mental well-being Children |
| title | Beyond the screen: The psychological significance of ecophilia in childhood |
| title_full | Beyond the screen: The psychological significance of ecophilia in childhood |
| title_fullStr | Beyond the screen: The psychological significance of ecophilia in childhood |
| title_full_unstemmed | Beyond the screen: The psychological significance of ecophilia in childhood |
| title_short | Beyond the screen: The psychological significance of ecophilia in childhood |
| title_sort | beyond the screen the psychological significance of ecophilia in childhood |
| topic | Ecology Psychology Human–nature interactions Mental well-being Children |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016125001098 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ashas beyondthescreenthepsychologicalsignificanceofecophiliainchildhood AT vineethradhakrishnan beyondthescreenthepsychologicalsignificanceofecophiliainchildhood |