{"id":{"repo_id":"uwo","oai_identifier":"oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/37188"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/uwo/oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/37188","repository":{"repo_id":"uwo","name":"Western University","base_url":"https://uwo.scholaris.ca/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Freedom to Be - An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the Experience of Connection with Nature in the Forest","abstract":"This qualitative phenomenological study explores the experience of connection with nature in the forest setting. Research on nature-based therapies and health promotion interventions suggests that connecting with nature is important to receive optimal health benefits from nature contact. The research evidence suggests that the concept of connection with nature is commonly characterized as a stable trait, typically assessed using quantitative psychometric scales. However, the experience of connection with nature varies from person to person and from place to place, and there is scant research that explores the intricacies of the lived experience of this phenomenon. Employing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), this study aimed to investigate the lived experiences of adults who value connecting with nature in the forest and what this experience means to the informant’s health and well-being. Two research questions guided this study. The primary research question was: What is the experience of connection with nature in the forest setting? The secondary research question was: What does the experience of connection with nature mean to health and well-being? Semi-structured interviews and the go-along method were used to generate rich, detailed descriptions of the phenomenon from ten (n=10) adults residing in Ontario, Canada. Data analysis from the informant’s accounts illuminated four superordinate themes: (a) grounded body awareness; (b) temporal awareness; (c) nurturing and nourishing relationships; (d) personal wellness promotion practice. Informants expressed that the experience was grounding, relaxing, and restorative, relieved bodily tension and stress, and enhanced vitality, mindfulness, and overall mood. The experience was also viewed as an opportunity for solitude, self-care, and reflection, which enhanced feelings of belonging and created meaning in informants’ lives. This study is one of the first to investigate the lived experience of connection with nature in the forest setting. Insights generated in this paper provide new contributions to our understanding of connection with nature as a subjective experience. Implications for ecotherapy, health promotion, and future research are provided.","abstract_html":"This qualitative phenomenological study explores the experience of connection with nature in the forest setting. Research on nature-based therapies and health promotion interventions suggests that connecting with nature is important to receive optimal health benefits from nature contact. The research evidence suggests that the concept of connection with nature is commonly characterized as a stable trait, typically assessed using quantitative psychometric scales. However, the experience of connection with nature varies from person to person and from place to place, and there is scant research that explores the intricacies of the lived experience of this phenomenon. Employing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), this study aimed to investigate the lived experiences of adults who value connecting with nature in the forest and what this experience means to the informant’s health and well-being. Two research questions guided this study. The primary research question was: What is the experience of connection with nature in the forest setting? The secondary research question was: What does the experience of connection with nature mean to health and well-being? Semi-structured interviews and the go-along method were used to generate rich, detailed descriptions of the phenomenon from ten (n=10) adults residing in Ontario, Canada. Data analysis from the informant’s accounts illuminated four superordinate themes: (a) grounded body awareness; (b) temporal awareness; (c) nurturing and nourishing relationships; (d) personal wellness promotion practice. Informants expressed that the experience was grounding, relaxing, and restorative, relieved bodily tension and stress, and enhanced vitality, mindfulness, and overall mood. The experience was also viewed as an opportunity for solitude, self-care, and reflection, which enhanced feelings of belonging and created meaning in informants’ lives. This study is one of the first to investigate the lived experience of connection with nature in the forest setting. Insights generated in this paper provide new contributions to our understanding of connection with nature as a subjective experience. Implications for ecotherapy, health promotion, and future research are provided.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Slade, Shawn M.T."],"institution":"The University of Western Ontario","degree_name":"Ph D","degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":"Health and Rehabilitation Sciences","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Mandich, Angela D."],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2023,"date_issued":"2023-06-26","date_published":"2023-06-26","updated_at":"2026-07-27T21:56:20Z","subjects":["connectedness with nature","nature connection","phenomenology","forest bathing","forest therapy","ecopsychology"],"languages":["en_ca"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/37188","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Mandich, Angela D."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Slade, Shawn M.T."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2025-07-10T21:31:18Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2023-06-26"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["The University of Western Ontario"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Health and Rehabilitation Sciences"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Ph D"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["connectedness with nature","nature connection","phenomenology","forest bathing","forest therapy","ecopsychology"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en_ca"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/37188"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["The thesis cover page in the PDF document includes references to Western University’s previous institutional repository platform, known as Scholarship@Western, and links to that platform (beginning with ir.lib.uwo.ca). In citing or referring to this thesis, use the DOI or handle from this page instead. Sample citation: Author name, \"Thesis title.\" (Year). Western University Open Repository. https://doi.org/10.71858/123456."]},{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This qualitative phenomenological study explores the experience of connection with nature in the forest setting. Research on nature-based therapies and health promotion interventions suggests that connecting with nature is important to receive optimal health benefits from nature contact. The research evidence suggests that the concept of connection with nature is commonly characterized as a stable trait, typically assessed using quantitative psychometric scales. However, the experience of connection with nature varies from person to person and from place to place, and there is scant research that explores the intricacies of the lived experience of this phenomenon. Employing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), this study aimed to investigate the lived experiences of adults who value connecting with nature in the forest and what this experience means to the informant’s health and well-being. Two research questions guided this study. The primary research question was: What is the experience of connection with nature in the forest setting? The secondary research question was: What does the experience of connection with nature mean to health and well-being? Semi-structured interviews and the go-along method were used to generate rich, detailed descriptions of the phenomenon from ten (n=10) adults residing in Ontario, Canada. Data analysis from the informant’s accounts illuminated four superordinate themes: (a) grounded body awareness; (b) temporal awareness; (c) nurturing and nourishing relationships; (d) personal wellness promotion practice. Informants expressed that the experience was grounding, relaxing, and restorative, relieved bodily tension and stress, and enhanced vitality, mindfulness, and overall mood. The experience was also viewed as an opportunity for solitude, self-care, and reflection, which enhanced feelings of belonging and created meaning in informants’ lives. This study is one of the first to investigate the lived experience of connection with nature in the forest setting. Insights generated in this paper provide new contributions to our understanding of connection with nature as a subjective experience. 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Western University Open Repository. https://doi.org/10.71858/123456."],"dc:description.abstract":["This qualitative phenomenological study explores the experience of connection with nature in the forest setting. Research on nature-based therapies and health promotion interventions suggests that connecting with nature is important to receive optimal health benefits from nature contact. The research evidence suggests that the concept of connection with nature is commonly characterized as a stable trait, typically assessed using quantitative psychometric scales. However, the experience of connection with nature varies from person to person and from place to place, and there is scant research that explores the intricacies of the lived experience of this phenomenon. Employing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), this study aimed to investigate the lived experiences of adults who value connecting with nature in the forest and what this experience means to the informant’s health and well-being. Two research questions guided this study. The primary research question was: What is the experience of connection with nature in the forest setting? The secondary research question was: What does the experience of connection with nature mean to health and well-being? Semi-structured interviews and the go-along method were used to generate rich, detailed descriptions of the phenomenon from ten (n=10) adults residing in Ontario, Canada. Data analysis from the informant’s accounts illuminated four superordinate themes: (a) grounded body awareness; (b) temporal awareness; (c) nurturing and nourishing relationships; (d) personal wellness promotion practice. Informants expressed that the experience was grounding, relaxing, and restorative, relieved bodily tension and stress, and enhanced vitality, mindfulness, and overall mood. The experience was also viewed as an opportunity for solitude, self-care, and reflection, which enhanced feelings of belonging and created meaning in informants’ lives. This study is one of the first to investigate the lived experience of connection with nature in the forest setting. Insights generated in this paper provide new contributions to our understanding of connection with nature as a subjective experience. 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