This doctoral dissertation investigates the potential of green exercise—physical activity conducted in natural settings—to enhance nature connectedness (NC) and sense of community (SOC) among at-risk adolescents in Vocational Education and Training (VET) programs. The research attempts to address gaps in the literature, including the lack of qualitative methodologies, limited attention to specific populations, and the underexplored intersection between nature connectedness and sense of community. The dissertation begins with a comprehensive introduction (Chapter 1), which establishes the conceptual foundations for the study. It reviews key concepts addressed in this work, presents methodological considerations, highlights research gaps and presents the intervention in depth. The second chapter presents the first study that employs a grounded theory approach to explore how green exercise relates to connection with nature and community. Interviews with opinion leaders in environmental and sports psychology, practitioners and athletes, reveal key mechanisms linking green exercise to well-being, emphasizing the importance of experiential engagement in natural settings. These findings inform the subsequent intervention design. The second and third study (Chapter 3 and 4) focuses on a nature-based intervention, targeting first-year VET students, involving orienteering and conducted across four urban parks, co-designed in collaboration with a non-profit organization, orienteering coaches, the research team and the school staff. Findings are presented through two distinct studies. The first (Chapter 3) evaluates the intervention using a longitudinal mixed-methods approach, from the students' point of view. Quantitative analysis reveals significant but modest change in sense of community, while qualitative data highlight a shift in the perception of nature and the importance of peer interaction to feel connected. The second study (Chapter 4) adopts an ethnographic framework, from the point of view of teachers, tutors and the researchers, to examine the social dynamics and contextual factors influencing the intervention’s outcomes, emphasizing peer dynamics, and the reclamation of green spaces as community assets. The concluding chapter (Chapter 5) synthesizes the findings across the studies, highlighting their theoretical and practical implications. It underscores the transformative potential of green exercise with at-risk youth and the value of participatory, context-sensitive approaches in intervention design. Limitations, such as the specificity of the sample and short-term analysis, are addressed, and recommendations for future research are provided. In summary, this dissertation advances understanding in environmental and community psychology by elucidating the interplay between nature connectedness and sense of community in this specific target. It positions green exercise as a scalable tool for promoting positive psychological outcomes at individual and community level, also providing a model for future interdisciplinary interventions.
Questa tesi di dottorato indaga il potenziale dell’esercizio fisico in natura (green exercise)—cioè l’attività fisica svolta in ambienti naturali—nel promuovere la connessione con la natura (Nature Connectedness, NC) e il senso di comunità (Sense of Community, SOC) tra adolescenti a rischio iscritti a programmi di Istruzione e Formazione Professionale (IeFP). La ricerca si propone di colmare alcune lacune presenti in letteratura, tra cui lo scarso utilizzo di metodologie qualitative, l’attenzione limitata a popolazioni specifiche, e l’intersezione poco esplorata tra connessione con la natura e senso di comunità. La tesi si apre con un’introduzione approfondita (Capitolo 1), che definisce le basi concettuali dello studio. Vengono presentati i concetti chiave, le scelte metodologiche, le principali lacune nella letteratura e l’intervento progettato. Il secondo capitolo illustra il primo studio, che adotta un approccio di grounded theory per esplorare come l’esercizio in natura si relazioni alla connessione con la natura e alla comunità. Attraverso interviste a opinion leader nei campi della psicologia ambientale e dello sport, professionisti e atleti, emergono meccanismi chiave che collegano l’attività fisica in natura al benessere, evidenziando il ruolo centrale dell’esperienza diretta negli ambienti naturali. Questi risultati informano la progettazione dell’intervento successivo. Il secondo e terzo studio (Capitoli 3 e 4) si concentrano su un intervento basato sulla natura, rivolto a studenti del primo anno di IeFP, che include attività di orienteering svolte in quattro parchi urbani. L’intervento è stato co-progettato in collaborazione con un’organizzazione non profit, istruttori di orienteering, il team di ricerca e il personale scolastico. I risultati sono presentati attraverso due studi distinti. Il primo (Capitolo 3) valuta l’intervento con un approccio longitudinale a metodi misti, dal punto di vista degli studenti. L’analisi quantitativa mostra un cambiamento significativo ma contenuto nel senso di comunità, mentre i dati qualitativi evidenziano un cambiamento nella percezione della natura e l’importanza dell’interazione tra pari per favorire il senso di connessione. Il secondo studio (Capitolo 4) adotta una prospettiva etnografica, dal punto di vista di docenti, tutor e ricercatori, per analizzare le dinamiche sociali e i fattori contestuali che hanno influenzato gli esiti dell’intervento, mettendo in luce le dinamiche tra pari e il recupero degli spazi verdi come risorse comunitarie. Il capitolo conclusivo (Capitolo 5) sintetizza i risultati dei diversi studi, sottolineandone le implicazioni teoriche e pratiche. Viene messo in evidenza il potenziale trasformativo dell’attività fisica in natura per i giovani a rischio e l’importanza di approcci partecipativi e sensibili al contesto nella progettazione degli interventi. Sono inoltre discussi i limiti dello studio, come la specificità del campione e la durata limitata dell’analisi, e vengono proposte raccomandazioni per future ricerche. In sintesi, questa tesi contribuisce ad ampliare la comprensione nell’ambito della psicologia ambientale e comunitaria, facendo luce sull’interazione tra connessione con la natura e senso di comunità in un target specifico. L’esercizio in natura viene proposto come uno strumento scalabile per promuovere esiti psicologici positivi sia a livello individuale che comunitario, offrendo al contempo un modello per futuri interventi interdisciplinari.
Ferrari, Valentina, IT'S DIFFERENT WHEN YOU EXPERIENCE IT TOGHETER - HOW GREEN EXERCISE CAN TRANSFORM AT-RISK YOUTH'S NATURE CONNECTEDNESS AND SENSE OF COMMUNITY, Marzana, Daniela, D'Angelo, Chiara, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore MILANO:Ciclo XXXVII [https://hdl.handle.net/10807/316094]
IT'S DIFFERENT WHEN YOU EXPERIENCE IT TOGHETER - HOW GREEN EXERCISE CAN TRANSFORM AT-RISK YOUTH'S NATURE CONNECTEDNESS AND SENSE OF COMMUNITY
Ferrari, Valentina
2025
Abstract
This doctoral dissertation investigates the potential of green exercise—physical activity conducted in natural settings—to enhance nature connectedness (NC) and sense of community (SOC) among at-risk adolescents in Vocational Education and Training (VET) programs. The research attempts to address gaps in the literature, including the lack of qualitative methodologies, limited attention to specific populations, and the underexplored intersection between nature connectedness and sense of community. The dissertation begins with a comprehensive introduction (Chapter 1), which establishes the conceptual foundations for the study. It reviews key concepts addressed in this work, presents methodological considerations, highlights research gaps and presents the intervention in depth. The second chapter presents the first study that employs a grounded theory approach to explore how green exercise relates to connection with nature and community. Interviews with opinion leaders in environmental and sports psychology, practitioners and athletes, reveal key mechanisms linking green exercise to well-being, emphasizing the importance of experiential engagement in natural settings. These findings inform the subsequent intervention design. The second and third study (Chapter 3 and 4) focuses on a nature-based intervention, targeting first-year VET students, involving orienteering and conducted across four urban parks, co-designed in collaboration with a non-profit organization, orienteering coaches, the research team and the school staff. Findings are presented through two distinct studies. The first (Chapter 3) evaluates the intervention using a longitudinal mixed-methods approach, from the students' point of view. Quantitative analysis reveals significant but modest change in sense of community, while qualitative data highlight a shift in the perception of nature and the importance of peer interaction to feel connected. The second study (Chapter 4) adopts an ethnographic framework, from the point of view of teachers, tutors and the researchers, to examine the social dynamics and contextual factors influencing the intervention’s outcomes, emphasizing peer dynamics, and the reclamation of green spaces as community assets. The concluding chapter (Chapter 5) synthesizes the findings across the studies, highlighting their theoretical and practical implications. It underscores the transformative potential of green exercise with at-risk youth and the value of participatory, context-sensitive approaches in intervention design. Limitations, such as the specificity of the sample and short-term analysis, are addressed, and recommendations for future research are provided. In summary, this dissertation advances understanding in environmental and community psychology by elucidating the interplay between nature connectedness and sense of community in this specific target. It positions green exercise as a scalable tool for promoting positive psychological outcomes at individual and community level, also providing a model for future interdisciplinary interventions.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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