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
STARS Citation
Jones, Renee C., "The Phenomenology Of Place: Rediscovering The Sacred" (2024). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 202.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hut2024/202
Rights Statement
