Examining EcoWellness Across the Lifespan

There is a breadth of literature supporting nature’s impact on wellness and wellbeing.  Despite this fact, there is little, if any, mention of nature in existing models of wellness.  Reese and colleagues coined the term EcoWellness, which is the perceived sense of wellness one experiences through their connection with nature. Reese and Myers (2012) developed and examined the initial validity of a measure of EcoWellness (the Reese EcoWellness Inventory; REI).  The REI measures seven aspects of EcoWellness:

  • Physical Access
  • Sensory Access
  • Connection
  • Protection
  • Preservation
  • Spirituality
  • Community Connectedness

 

Existing research on adults has demonstrated that EcoWellness is related to an evidence-based wellness model (i.e., the Indivisible Self Model of Wellness; Myers & Sweeney, 2008). The 2CW group is currently working with Dr. Reese to explore EcoWellness across development and move toward examining EcoWellness among younger individuals. For more information on EcoWellness, please visit: http://ecowellnessbend.com/what-is-ecowellness/

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