Engagement with natural beauty moderates the positive relation between connectedness with nature and psychological well-being

Prior research has demonstrated that people who are more connected with nature report more subjective well-being. However, guided by the sensitization model of well-being, we expected that the positive relation between connectedness with nature and psychological well-being would only be significant for those who tend to engage in nature's beauty (i.e., experience positive emotional responses when witnessing nature's beauty). In Study 1, we found the positive relation between connectedness with nature and life satisfaction was only significant for individuals higher, and not those lower, on engagement with natural beauty. Study 2 conceptually replicated this finding using self-esteem as an outcome. Moreover, the results were not affected by age, gender, Big Five personality traits (Study 1) or social desirability (Study 2). Thus, the current research extends past literature and demonstrates that connectedness with nature only predicts well-being when individuals are also emotionally attuned to nature's beauty. •Perception of natural beauty positively predicted subjective well-being.•Connectedness to nature and well-being was moderated by perception of natural beauty.•Well-being was higher for people that connect to nature and perceive natural beauty.•Ruled out Big Five personality and social desirability as alternative explanations.