Keywords

place attachment, loneliness and depression, nature bonding, Indigenous perspectives, environmental and social factors

Abstract

The rising prevalence of loneliness and depression, particularly among young adults, has prompted research into the social and environmental factors that influence mental well-being. This thesis examines the relationships between loneliness, symptoms of depression, and dimensions of place attachment—specifically, place identity, place dependence, social bonding, and nature bonding—among UCF students, with subgroup analyses by gender and ethnicity. Additionally, it seeks to incorporate Native American perspectives to explore culturally specific connections to place and community. Due to recruitment challenges, the final sample primarily consists of 201 University of Central Florida students with limited Native American representation.

Quantitative analysis revealed strong positive correlations between loneliness and symptoms of depression, with social bonding emerging as a significant protective factor against loneliness across the sample. Place dependence was associated with stronger social bonds, suggesting that attachment to a specific place fosters supportive social connections. Gender- and ethnicity-based analyses highlighted variations in place attachment dimensions, with females and certain ethnic groups (e.g., Asian and Hispanic participants) showing distinctive relationships between place, nature bonding, and mental health outcomes. Although limited by the small sample size of Native American participants, preliminary insights suggest that place and nature bonding may hold unique significance within Indigenous communities.

These findings underscore the potential of place-based and community-centered interventions to enhance mental health, offering practical applications for mental health professionals, urban planners, and policymakers. By fostering social bonds and connections to meaningful places, such interventions may reduce loneliness and symptoms of depression. The study’s limitations, including sample diversity and cross-sectional design, point to areas for future research, particularly involving longitudinal studies and more inclusive recruitment from underrepresented populations. This thesis contributes to a growing understanding of how places, communities, and nature support mental well-being, advocating for holistic, culturally sensitive approaches to mental health care that integrate social and environmental dimensions.

Thesis Completion Year

2024

Thesis Completion Semester

Fall

Thesis Chair

McConnell, Daniel

College

College of Sciences

Department

Psychology

Thesis Discipline

Psychology

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus Access

None

Available for download on Thursday, December 04, 2025

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Rights Statement

In Copyright