Being outdoorsy indoors: Nature connectedness through 360-degree images and video

Abstract

Nature connectedness could be an important motivator for addressing environmental issues via pro-environmental behaviour. While people can connect with nature by spending time outdoors in natural settings, such places are not always accessible. Mediated portrayals of nature offer a promising alternative for connecting with nature. Media that evoke high levels of vividness and spatial presence may be particularly effective. This study uses an online experiment with a 3 (setting: coral reef vs. forest vs. urban) × 3 (media format: 360-degree image vs. 360-degree video vs. traditional video) between-subject design to examine the effects of media type and setting on vividness, presence, nature connectedness and public and private pro-environmental behaviour intentions. Vividness, presence and nature connectedness mediated the relationship between 360-degree images and intentions to engage in public behaviours. Additionally, scenery type was a more substantial contributor to nature connectedness than media format.