JOURNAL OF BALTIC SCIENCE EDUCATION, sa.24, ss.122-132, 2025 (SSCI)
The mounting prevalence of environmental issues has resulted in an intensified emphasis on one’s relatedness with their surrounding environment and their emotional reactions to this connection in the context of ecological anxiety. This cross-sectional, correlational study attempts to explore the relation between eco-anxiety and nature relatedness among associate degree students. The data were collected using a demographic information form, the Hogg Eco-anxiety Scale, and the Nature Relatedness Scale. The findings uncovered that participants’ nature relatedness exhibited significant differences by gender, non-governmental organizational membership, program of study, sources of environmental information, time spent in natural settings, and involvement in environmental activities during childhood; nevertheless, this was not the case by their place of childhood. Participants’ eco-anxiety levels showed a significant difference by only their program of study. Further analysis indicated a significant correlation between students’ nature relatedness and eco-anxiety. Overall, the integration of nature-related practices (e.g., engagement in addressing environmental issues) into the higher education curricula may facilitate students’ nature relatedness and mitigate their excessive eco-anxiety.