Nature and the Experience of Meaning in Life: The Role of Experiential Appreciation

A growing body of research suggests that nature experiences and feeling connected to nature are positively associated with the experience of meaning in life. However, meaning in life is multifaceted, and it is unclear which facets explain this relationship. We examined this question across five studies ( N = 1,864): three cross-sectional surveys, a quasi-experimental field study, and an experimental video immersion study. In Studies 1a–1c, trait nature connectedness was linked to higher meaning in life, with experiential appreciation emerging as the strongest correlate and most robust mediator. Study 2 showed that nature exposure (i.e., survey location) predicted greater meaning in life indirectly through experiential appreciation, even after controlling for other facets and positive affect. Study 3 experimentally examined indirect nature exposure (i.e., nature video), providing causal evidence for the role of all four meaning-related facets. Exploratory analyses further suggested that enhanced meaning perceptions predicted greater pro-environmental behavioral intentions.