Devi Mariya Sulfa, Hadi Suwono, Sofia Ery Rahayu
The Human–Nature Connection (HNC) has gained increasing relevance as a psychological construct linked to environmental behavior, particularly within rapidly urbanizing societies such as Indonesia. Despite growing research interest, variations in measurement models, cultural adaptation, and behavioral relevance remain insufficiently synthesized. This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 42 eligible empirical studies published between 2010 and November 2025 to evaluate the psychometric performance, structural validity, and behavioral associations of HNC measurement instruments, with a particular emphasis on their adaptation in Indonesia. Searches were performed across Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, PsycINFO, and regional repositories using PRISMA-based screening criteria. Reliability statistics demonstrated strong measurement stability across instruments, with Cronbach's Alpha ranging from 0.84 to 0.90 and Composite Reliability from 0.86 to 0.92. Exploratory Factor Analysis revealed a four-factor structure, explaining 57.6 % of the variance, with the affective and cognitive dimensions contributing the highest loadings. Meta-analytic modeling yielded a pooled correlation of r = 0.42 between HNC and pro-environmental behavior, with subgroup results indicating the most potent effects among children and young adults (r = 0.45–0.48) and among individuals with at least 120 min of weekly nature exposure. The findings suggest that HNC serves as both a measurable psychological construct and a meaningful behavioral predictor in educational and sustainability contexts. Overall, this review underscores the importance of culturally grounded measurement and highlights opportunities to integrate HNC into environmental education, policy design, and longitudinal intervention research, thereby strengthening ecological engagement across Indonesian society. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.
Department of Biology, State University of Malang, Indonesia; Center of Research and Innovation in STEM Education, State University of Malang, Indonesia
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