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    Do climate anxiety and pro-environmental behaviour affect one another? : a longitudinal investigation : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the qualification of Doctor of Clinical Psychology at Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2024) McLean, Tamara Alice
    Anthropogenic climate change poses a serious threat to psychological wellbeing. One particular negative emotional response gaining scholarly attention is climate anxiety: anxious feelings arising from climate change, even among people not yet personally impacted by this global environmental crisis. Research suggests that climate anxiety might be implicated in pro-environmental behaviour. Specifically, climate anxiety may motivate individuals to act in ways that, if widely adopted, could mitigate the damage caused by climate change. Furthermore, there is a common assumption that these sustainable behaviours will alleviate climate anxiety, creating a mutually beneficial cycle where pro-climate actions increase and distressing anxiety is eased. However, these ideas are not well supported by empirical and theoretical evidence. This study aimed to test the hypotheses that 1) climate anxiety causes pro-environmental behaviour to increase over time, and 2) pro-environmental behaviour causes climate anxiety to decrease over time. A sample of 700 Australian and New Zealand adults was recruited via the online research platform Prolific and surveyed monthly on five occasions. Data were analysed using a random intercept cross-lagged panel model, which controlled for stable, between-person differences while focusing on dynamic within-person changes over time. The study found no evidence of a causal relationship between climate anxiety and pro-environmental behaviour. Higher levels of climate anxiety at one wave were not significantly associated with higher levels of pro-environmental behaviour at the following wave, and higher levels of pro-environmental behaviour at one wave were not significantly associated with lower levels of climate anxiety at the next wave. Furthermore, levels of climate anxiety were very low across the sample, indicating that climate anxiety, experienced at a level that causes clinically significant emotional and cognitive impairment, is relatively rare. These findings suggest that climate anxiety is unlikely to have the helpful side effect of increasing an individual’s engagement in pro-environmental behaviour, but neither will it deter a person from taking action. Moreover, taking action is unlikely to reduce climate anxiety. Further scholarship is needed to investigate climate anxiety and its complex relationship with pro-environmental behaviour.
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    An exploration of the effects of the built environment on depression in the Wellington Region, New Zealand : a thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Public Health at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2019) Mwipiko, Rosemary
    Background: Depression is a major epidemic affecting millions of people globally. One of the most widely recognised contributors to this global epidemic is the decline in active transport and physical activity. To address this issue research has focused considerably on quantifying the walkability of neighbourhood areas in an attempt to measure the influence of the built environment on active transport and physical activity. A large proportion of this research has exclusively focused on adults, leaving a significant gap in knowledge in terms of the influence of the built environment on young people’s mental health. Young people are highly susceptible to the effects of their built environments as they can have restricted mobility due to those under 16 years being unable to drive. The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship between the built environment and depression amongst adolescents aged 12 to 18 years in the Wellington Region, New Zealand (NZ). Methods: A measure of the built environment was obtained by developing a walkability index, based on previously developed indices and measures. The measures used in this research were dwelling density, intersection density, mean normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), average traffic volume and land-use mix. Both Euclidean and network buffer methods were employed as measures of the neighbourhood area, using a weighted population centroid with a distance of 800m. Depression was measured using the Reynold Adolescent Scale, sourced from the Youth’12 National Youth Health Survey by The University of Auckland Adolescent Health Research Group. Zero-inflated negative binomial regression was used to investigate any possible associations. Sex, age, prioritised ethnicity and household deprivation were included in the analysis as confounders. Results: The results obtained from the index validation process indicate that the built environment is associated with an increased likelihood of active travel to work for the 800m Euclidean buffer after accounting for sex, age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic factors. While the network-based buffer showed no significant association for both the count and zero-inflated models. Findings from the regression analysis between walkability (Euclidean buffer) and adolescent depression suggest that as walkability increases depressive symptoms in adolescent decrease. These suggest that living in a walkable neighbourhood results in lower depressive symptoms. Conclusions: The results add to the body of evidence that improving walkability has a positive impact on young people’s mental health.
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    Spatial images and activity areas in an urban environment : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Geography at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1981) Hill, Peter
    Cognitive-behavioural concepts and their introduction into geography are considered. A proposed schema suggests, and Research Hypotheses propose that the spatial schemata and activity area of individuals are interrelated and that constraints act upon this complex. Data are obtained, by means of a questionnaire/interview, for a population of 50 and evaluation of operational hypotheses is made with respect to this population. Analysis of the data provides strong support for the interactive association of direct experience in and cognition of an urban environment. For the individual, physical distance appears to be a poor proxy for cognitive distance, though a 'group image' is suggested. Temporal constraints are seen to operate as are social constraints on the immediate neighbourhood scale. Socio-economic and personal constraints are not in evidence, which further supports the role of direct experience in the development of spatial schemata. The need to differentiate between the nature and function of the spatial schemata and image is clearly shown.
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    Exploring the effects of outdoor activities and connectedness with nature on cognitive styles and creativity : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2017) Leong, Lai Yin Carmen
    The natural environment’s potential to improve education, work, and lifestyles is receiving increasing attention by policy makers and practitioners. Psychological research has demonstrated that stress reduction, attention restoration, and increased creativity can result from exposure to nature. Such evidence notwithstanding, the precise psychological mechanisms explaining these effects remain unclear. This thesis provides a systematic examination of how contact with nature might affect humans. Four studies were conducted. Study 1 reports two meta-analyses (N = 10701, k = 100) involving: (i) 66 studies using preand post-test designs, and (ii) 32 experimental studies that include a control group. Although outdoor activities have been found overall to affect personal and social outcomes positively, there has been limited research into the effects on cognitive variables of exposure to outdoor environments. To address this gap in the literature, I aim to investigate whether contact with nature (in two dimensions–the psychological attachment to nature and the physical exposure to it) is associated with processes related to creativity (i.e., cognitive styles and divergent thinking creativity). Study 2 (N = 138) tests the relationship between connectedness with nature and cognitive styles and reports a significant positive association between connectedness with nature and both innovative and holistic thinking styles. Building on this finding, Study 3 (N = 185) not only replicates the results of Study 2 by controlling for wellbeing processes, but includes a new creativity test to examine the link between connectedness with nature and creative processes (connectedness with nature is found to be positively linked with divergent-thinking creativity). As these three studies employ cross-sectional data where causality cannot be inferred, the last study involves an experimental design. Study 4 (N = 93) manipulates active versus passive engagement with nature and examines the mediating impact of connectedness with nature on the link between outdoor activities and divergentthinking creativity. Some theoretical explanations as to how nature might affect our creativity are proposed. Potential limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed. The findings are intended to provide supporting evidence for the relationship between nature and creativity, and hopefully inform educational pedagogy and lifestyle choices likely to enhance creativity.
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    The resonance-dissonance framework of environmental perception : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2000) Dvorak, Dieter H
    Theorising and research in the field of environmental psychology has been dominated by two different schools of thought. The cognitive approach emphasises the primacy of cognitive processes on preference judgements between various types of environments and on the restorative effect of nature on humans. The competing psycho-evolutionary approach emphasises the primacy of affect. This theoretical fragmentation has contributed to environmental psychology's conceptual isolation in respect to its potential significance for other psychological sub-disciplines. This thesis proposes a new theoretical account, the "Resonance-Dissonance" (RD) framework of environmental perception, which provides a unifying framework for hitherto competing approaches in environmental psychology. It also seeks to contribute towards building and strengthening the tenuous or missing conceptual links between environmental psychology and other psychological sub-fields. A series of interlocking concepts, which bind together aspects of the relationship between perceivers and their immediate physical surroundings, is proposed to achieve this theoretical integration. Innate and culturally shaped needs and wants, in the form of mental structures providing reference patterns, are conceptualised as a fundamental aspect of the relationship between individual and environment. If the environment is appraised as having the agency to meet these needs, a state of resonance in the form of positive affect and cognitions ensues. Conversely, if the environment is appraised as not having this agency, a state of dissonance in the form of negative affect and cognitions emerges. These perceptually based cognitive-affective states are conceptualised to influence cognitions, emotions, behaviour, and physiology of the individual. Preference judgements and psycho-physiological restorative effects, as the main areas of theorising and research in environmental psychology, will be addressed. Possible theoretical implications, as well as practical applications, of the proposed RD framework on other psychological sub-fields are outlined and a tentative research programme is suggested.
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    How well do psychologists' research methods equip them to identify the impacts of climate change on behaviour? : a methodological investigation with particular reference to the effects of temperature on violent behaviour : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2015) Williams, Matthew Neil
    The Earth’s temperature is rising, and it is extremely likely that human activities are primarily to blame (IPCC, 2013b). A changing climate could have serious consequences for human behaviour and psychological functioning. Research concerned with the psychological impacts of climate change is challenging, however, given the paucity of data showing how human behaviour has responded to sustained climate changes in the past. In this thesis, I critique the suitability of psychologists’ mainstream methodological strategies for engaging in research concerned with the impacts of climate change. In doing so, I draw heavily on a specific “testbed” of psychological research relevant to climate change: Research concerned with the impact of temperature on the incidence of intra- and interpersonal violence. In identifying methodological problems I draw both on published literature as well as an empirical engagement in research in this area. The empirical component constitutes an analysis of the relationship between temperature and the incidence of assault, suicide, and self-harm resulting in hospitalisation in New Zealand. In this analysis I found that irregular dayto- day variation in temperature had a positive relationship with all three forms of violence. However, there was less evidence that more sustained (seasonal or geographical) differences in temperature led to increased violence, making it difficult to predict the effects of sustained increases in temperature in the future. In the methodological critique section of this thesis, I point out several methodological problems that may hamper psychologists’ capacity to produce effective and useful research concerned with the impacts of climate change. These problems include the use of measurement and analysis strategies that limit our ability to convey the sizes of effects; the use of theories and analyses that limit our ability to make predictions; and the inadequate reporting of uncertainty. Finally, I recommend that psychologists studying climate change impacts should consider using categorisations of behaviour rather than psychometric scales that lack clear units of measurement; use statistics that effectively communicate effect size; apply theories that facilitate prediction-making; carefully take into account the role of time when generating predictions; and account for multiple sources of uncertainty that affect the confidence of our conclusions.
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    Mirrors & windows : object attachment within the site of the domestic living room : a dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1994) Whincup, Tony
    This study addresses the inter-relationship of objects, self and society. Discussion is based upon original ethnographic information from the photographic documentation of eight living rooms and recorded interviews with their occupants. The main concerns centre on what objects were selected, why they were chosen and the consequences of these selections for the participants.
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    Experiencing natural environments, experiencing health : a health psychology perspective : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Health Psychology, Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2010) Malur, Malini
    This aim of this study was to explore the importance of natural surroundings to human health from a health psychology perspective. The increase in built environments have replaced green spaces in the urban areas and the effects of this has been explored by several disciplines ranging from environmental psychology, leisure studies, urban planning, public health to name a few. Findings from these studies have shown that natural environments do play a significant role in human health. However, it was deemed that exploring the influence of nature on human health from a health psychology viewpoint would provide a different dimension to this established link between nature and humans to press for preserving and providing more green spaces in the cities. Urban green areas offer several benefits such as space for exercise, leisure, psychological space for rejuvenating, healing and social connections that are all crucial for our wellbeing. This study explores the many ways natural settings contribute to health and well-being from a health psychology angle. A qualitative design was employed using a phenomenological approach to understand the everyday experience of being in nature/natural environments. Cornwall Park/One Tree Hill in Auckland was chosen as the site for this study. Nine women and men between the ages of 30 and 70 were chosen from this site to take part in the study. Methods of data collection were mainly in-depth interviews and photo-discussion. The data was analysed using a phenomenological approach based on the guidelines developed by Moustakas (1994) and van Manen (1990). The findings revealed that natural surroundings influenced people positively in many ways that contributed to their physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Natural environments satisfied a wide-range of needs, such as providing a place/space to exercise, to be alone and reflect, connect with nature, recreate, heal and socialise to name a few, in green, quiet, pollution-free, aesthetically pleasing settings. The essence of the phenomenon that is estimated to have been captured in the study is, “human experience in nature from the point of view of health psychology, or human experience of wellness, being in nature”.