HomeAbstract of 9th-worldteWhat Role of Connectedness to Nature and Education Play in Shaping Environmental Identity? Present and Future Kindergarten Teachers’ Assessments

What Role of Connectedness to Nature and Education Play in Shaping Environmental Identity? Present and Future Kindergarten Teachers’ Assessments

  • Nov 18, 2025
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Abstract Book of the 9th World Conference on Research in Teaching and Education

Year: 2025

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What Role of Connectedness to Nature and Education Play in Shaping Environmental Identity? Present and Future Kindergarten Teachers’ Assessments

Dunja Anđić, Melanija Mohorić

ABSTRACT:

Connectedness to nature (CNS) and environmental identity (EI) are often associated with pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors. The importance of studying these variables, especially in future students and kindergarten teachers, lies in the fact that they can – through their own attitudes and behaviors, but especially through practice – encourage young children to develop love for nature, empathy, pro-environmental values and behaviors, and their own environmental identity.
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics of future and present kindergarten teachers and their assessments of CNS and their level of EI. The study included a total of N = 221 participants; N = 75 were kindergarten teachers and N = 146 were students of early and preschool education study program. The questionnaire comprised two scales: 11 items of the EID scale (Clayton, 2021) and 10 items of the CNS (Mayer and Frantz, 2004). It was also examined whether they had any prior education (course attendance ) in environmental education (EE) and sustainable development (SD).
The multi- regression analysis confirmed that CNS is the strongest predictor of EI. The results also showed that previous education in EE/SD also contributes to its prediction.
This preliminary research provides a stimulus for further studies; emphasizes the importance of education as well as fostering kindergarten teachers’ connectedness to nature, as they are the main transmitters of emotional, cognitive and social stimuli for the development of children’s EI and thus contribute to practices aimed at their overall children’s well-being.

Keywords: Connectedness to Nature; Environmental Identity, Education, Kindergarten Teachers, Students.