Short Scale of Connection with Nature (Nr-6) – Validation Study

Abstract

The study aimed to standardize the short version of the Nature Relatedness Scale, NR-6 (Nisbet & Zelenski 2013). Studies on the connection between humans and nature in our region are rare. The first step in a scientific approach to such a significant phenomenon is the standardization of a scale that has proven to be one of the best measurement instruments for examining this construct. The validation process involved conducting two distinct studies. In the first study, the sample consisted of 272 respondents from Bosnia and Herzegovina aged between 18 and 63 (M=33.18; SD=13.38). 60.66% of respondents were female. The NR-6 scale was translated from English to Serbian and back to English using a two-way procedure. The representativeness (KMO=.890) and reliability (α=.877) are good. Discriminativeness of the items is satisfactory, as indicated by the low value of kurtosis (Ku=-.071) and the corrected item-total coefficients above the threshold value of .30. Nature relatedness is a significant predictor of environmentally responsible behavior (β=.542, p<.01), which indicates that criterion validity is good. The analysis of the relationship between the score obtained by the respondents on the NR-6 scale and the answer to a question to assess how connected they are with nature (J-T=4.193; p<.01) indicates a connection between the results of these two variables. This result confirmed the criterion validity of the scale. Exploratory factor analysis confirmed the one-dimensionality and good factor validity of the scale. The second study involved a sample of 145 students from various faculties in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 69% of the participants being female. The age of the respondents ranged from 18 to 40 (M=20.36; SD=2.36). Confirmatory factor analysis (χ2/df=.836; CFI=.000; RMSEA=.000) confirmed the one-dimensionality and good factor validity of the scale. There are correlations between dimensions of psychological resilience and individuals’ connection with nature. Psychological resilience served as a measure of the mental well-being of the participants. There is no correlation between the connection with nature and anxiety. The conclusion is that the NR-6 scale demonstrates robust psychometric properties, as well as that it is suitable for use for research and practical purposes in Bosnia and Herzegovina.