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‘Ecological embeddedness’ and Its Public Health Implications: Findings From an Exploratory Study

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Abstract

Western culture over the last two centuries has become significantly ecologically ‘dis-embedded’, with nature increasingly reduced to resources for human use. The consequence is global environmental degradation, including accelerating climate change. Much recent research supports associations between nature contact and human health and well-being, and between feelings of nature-connectedness and pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours. The oft-cited Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion (WHO, Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, 1986) emphasises human–environment inextricability; however public health discourse and response has not fully engaged with this recognition. This qualitative study explored the attitudes, motivations, and experiences—including formative influences—of six individuals whose behaviour was congruent with recognition of human–nature interconnectedness; such individuals may be understood as ecologically embedded. Key aspects of participants’ experience, identified through grounded theory thematic analysis, were (i) connecting with nature (especially in childhood); (ii) seeing the threat and taking it personally; (iii) the nature of reality; (iv) dedicated beyond the ego-oriented self; and (v) sustaining the eco-centric self. The findings highlight the necessity for cross-sectoral advocacy at all levels of government policy development focused on recognition of human–environment connectedness, especially bridging health, planning and education policies affecting children. Only thus will both population health and ecological health on which population health depends be possible.

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Notes

  1. Although Charron points out that ‘policy environments do not always favour uptake of research results’, suggesting instead other ‘forms of systematization’ such as word-of-mouth or private sector leadership (2012, p. 262), it can be argued that the current crisis requires urgent mitigation approaches at macro, micro and all levels in between.

  2. Whilst time constraints did not allow a more open-ended process towards theoretical saturation, the final interviewee spoke at length with little questioning by the interviewer to all the major themes developing in the analysis to date, suggesting that some natural rounding of themes if not full ‘saturation’ had occurred.

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The authors sincerely thank the article reviewers for their thoughtful and helpful comments.

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Correspondence to Marina Lewis.

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Lewis, M., Townsend, M. ‘Ecological embeddedness’ and Its Public Health Implications: Findings From an Exploratory Study. EcoHealth 12, 244–252 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-014-0987-y

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