Nature connection and Adolescents’ Pro-environmental Behavior: An Analysis Based on Chain Mediation

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A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was administered to 379 adolescents aged 12–16 from three cities in Yunnan Province, China. The findings revealed that: (1) significant positive correlations were observed among adolescents' nature connection, empathy with nature, moral identity, and pro-environmental behaviors; (2) nature connection exerted a significant direct predictive effect on pro-environmental behaviors; and (3) moral identity and empathy with nature play a chain mediating effect between adolescents' nature connections and pro-environmental behaviors. These findings illuminate the psychological pathways through which a sense of connection to the natural world encourages responsible environmental behavior and offers practical guidance for educational initiatives to enhance adolescents' engagement with ecological issues. Pro-environmental Behavior Nature Connection Moral Identity Empathy with Nature Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 1 Introduction As humanity's material wealth grows, environmental challenges, such as pollution, resource depletion, and soil erosion, have emerged. These environmental issues have already significantly impacted human physiology, psychology, and behavior, thereby directly threatening the survival and development of human beings. The underlying cause of these environmental problems is the relationship between humans and nature. Consequently, addressing these issues requires more than just scientific, technological, economic, and legal interventions; it necessitates the establishment of a correct and healthy perspective on nature and promoting responsible environmental behavior. In response, numerous scholars have introduced the concept of "pro-environmental behavior" and conducted extensive research on the topic. Pro-environmental behavior encompasses actions that reduce environmental harm and enhance environmental quality (Stern, 2000 ), to protect the environment or prevent its degradation (Chang & Wu, 2015 ; Steg & Vlek, 2009 )。 In domestic and international research, pro-environmental behaviors are often equated with environmentally friendly behaviors, responsible environmental behaviors, and similar concepts. These behaviors are crucial for reducing the depletion of natural resources, decreasing pollutant emissions, and mitigating environmental degradation, thereby serving as an effective strategy for addressing environmental challenges and safeguarding the environment for sustainable development. Nonetheless, enhancing the ecological environment is not an endeavor that can be achieved instantaneously; it necessitates the efforts of successive generations. Adolescents, who are in a rapid physical and mental development phase, play a pivotal role in this process. Cultivating and shaping their pro-environmental behaviors can significantly impact environmental protection and be a continuous driving force for future efforts. Previous research has identified a strong connection with nature as a key factor in fostering positive pro-environmental attitudes. Studies indicate that individuals with a closer relationship with nature, or a higher degree of nature association, are more inclined to engage in activities that promote environmental well-being. 1.1 The Relationship Between Nature Connection and Pro-environmental Behavior Nature connection is defined as the profound emotional bond and identification between humans and the natural environment, indicating the extent to which individuals are experientially and emotionally integrated with nature (Mayer & Frantz, 2004 ). This construct serves as a significant predictor of pro-environmental behavior (Barragan-Jason et al., 2023 ; Geng et al., 2015 ; Mackay & Schmitt, 2019 ; Nisbet & Zelenski, 2013 ; Whitburn et al., 2020 ). Empirical evidence suggests that nature connection positively correlates with pro-environmental behaviors among adolescents, indicating that higher levels of nature connection are associated with an increased exhibition of such behaviors. Furthermore, a robust connection to nature not only fosters pro-environmental behaviors (Barbaro & Pickett, 2016 ; Geng et al., 2015 ; Junot et al., 2018 ; Richardson et al., 2019 ) but also contrasts with the tendencies of individuals who are less connected to nature, as they may be more prone to engage in environmentally detrimental behaviors (Barbaro & Pickett, 2016 ; Junot et al., 2018 ). This analysis indicates that an individual's connection to nature is integral to fostering pro-environmental behavior. Nature connection encapsulates an individual's emotional bond with the natural world. Adolescents who cultivate a profound emotional attachment to nature are not only less inclined to engage in environmentally destructive behaviors (Cheng & Monroe, 2012 ) but also exhibit a markedly higher frequency of participation in pro-environmental activities (Nisbet & Zelenski, 2013 ). This relationship may be understood on two levels: the affective level, where emotional experiences with nature inspire a sense of environmental responsibility (Tam, 2013 ), and the cognitive level, where regular exposure to nature heightens individuals' awareness of environmental changes (Chawla & Cushing, 2007 ). Nonetheless, the direct impact of nature’s connection to pro-environmental behavior remains debatable. Meta-analyses suggest that the strength of this relationship is moderated by cultural context; specifically, in collectivist cultures such as China and Japan, nature connection is a significantly stronger predictor of pro-environmental behavior compared to individualistic cultures like the United States (Tam et al., 2013 ). This phenomenon may be associated with the traditional Eastern cultural concept of the ‘unity of heaven and mankind,’ which underscores the harmonious symbiosis between humans and nature, reinforcing the foundational values of the nature connection. Furthermore, variations in measurement instruments may contribute to inconsistent findings. For instance, Mayer and Frantz's (2004) Nature Connection Scale (CNS) emphasizes affective dimensions (e.g., "Nature makes me feel calm"). In contrast, Schultz's (2004) Inclusion of Nature in Self Scale (INS) incorporates cognitive integration dimensions (e.g., "Humans and nature belong to the same system"). Consequently, Hypothesis 1 posits that nature connection positively predicts pro-environmental behavior. 1.2 The Relationship between nature connection, Moral Identity, and Pro-Environmental Behaviors Moral identity is conceptualized as an individual's self-concept that is constructed and internalized around moral characteristics (Aquino & Reed, 2002 ). According to the theoretical framework proposed by Aquino and Reed ( 2002 ), moral identity comprises two dimensions: internalization and symbolization. Internalization pertains to aligning environmental values with one's self-concept, exemplified by statements such as "environmental protection is my core belief." On the other hand, symbolization involves the expression of these values through behavior, as illustrated by declarations like "I want to be a voice for the environment" (Aquino & Reed, 2002 ). Empirical evidence suggests that moral identity positively predicts pro-social behavior, indicating that individuals with a strong moral identity are more likely to engage in pro-social actions (Cheng & Monroe, 2012 ). Moral identity theory, as proposed by Soga et al., posits that an individual's moral identity comprises a schema of their moral self, which motivates moral behaviors and enhances altruistic and pro-social actions (Soga & Gaston, 2018 ). An elevated moral identity generally characterizes individuals exhibiting high levels of responsibility and are less inclined to rationalize unethical behavior. Concurrently, when individuals perceive their ecological selves as integral to a broader moral identity that transcends personal boundaries, this expanded moral identity enables those with pronounced environmental selves to possess a heightened moral identity (Zelenski et al., 2015 ). The connection with nature may inspire adolescents to regard environmental protection as an unwavering moral duty by reinforcing the ethical perception of a 'symbiosis between humans and nature.' This process is further elucidated by Self-Consistency Theory (SCT), which suggests that individuals with a strong moral identity strive to maintain congruence between their actions and self-concept to mitigate cognitive dissonance. When adolescents integrate environmental protection into their self-identity, engaging in behaviors that contravene ecological principles, such as resource wastage, induces significant psychological discomfort. This discomfort subsequently motivates a behavior modification (Murtagh et al., 2014 ). An experimental study demonstrated that adolescents who engaged in moral self-reflection activities, such as composing an environmental pledge, exhibited a significantly higher frequency of pro-environmental behavior (PEB) compared to a control group (Bolderdijk et al., 2013 ). Nevertheless, the mediating effect of moral identity is subject to certain boundary conditions. Specifically, the predictive efficacy of moral identity diminishes considerably when environmental behavior necessitates personal sacrifices, such as paying a premium for eco-friendly products (Bockarjova & Steg, 2014 ). This indicates that the influence of moral identity is moderated by the costs associated with the behavior; in situations where costs are high, individuals may be more inclined to depend on external incentives, such as financial compensation, rather than intrinsic values to guide their actions. Furthermore, this implies that individuals with a strong sense of natural connectedness are often characterized by elevated levels of morality, which subsequently motivates them to engage more actively in environmentally responsible behaviors. Consequently, Hypothesis 2 is posited, suggesting that moral identity serves as a mediating variable between natural connectedness and adolescents' pro-environmental behaviors. 1.3 The Relationship Between Nature Connection, Empathy with Nature, and Pro-Environmental Behavior Empathy with nature refers to an individual's capacity to emotionally perceive and comprehend the natural environment's essence, particularly when under duress (Tam, 2013 ; Tam et al., 2013 ). Analogous to human empathy, this form of empathy enables individuals to experience emotions such as sadness or anger in response to environmental degradation, such as deforestation, thereby fostering motivation for conservation efforts. Neuroscientific research provides physiological corroboration for this phenomenon: individuals with high levels of empathy with nature exhibit significantly greater activation in the anterior insula, associated with emotional empathy, and the dorsal anterior cingulate gyrus, associated with cognitive regulation, when exposed to images depicting ecological harm, compared to those with lower levels of empathy (Wang & Pan, 2019 ). The nature connection may enhance individuals' empathic sensitivity by creating a psychological sense of belonging to the natural environment.. For instance, Tam's (2013) longitudinal study demonstrated that adolescents with higher levels of nature connection exhibited a more rapid increase in their empathy with nature scores one year later. This growth partially mediated their elevated pro-environmental behavior (PEB) (Tam, 2013 ). This process strengthens the bond between humans and nature by establishing a robust human-nature connection, which transforms perceptions and emotions regarding the natural world. Consequently, individuals with a strong connection to nature are more likely to exhibit greater empathy with nature. According to the Affect-Behavior Linkage Hypothesis, empathy with nature influences PEBs through two mechanisms: firstly, by directly stimulating conservation motives (e.g., "I must cease behaviors that harm nature"), and secondly, indirectly through feelings of guilt or responsibility (Larson et al., 2019 ). For example, an experimental study revealed that adolescents who watched a documentary on endangered species exhibited significantly higher levels of empathy with nature and engaged more frequently in school waste sorting in the subsequent week (Collado et al., 2019 ). empathy with nature is integral to one's connection with the natural environment and is a significant motivational factor in promoting pro-environmental behaviors (Zeier et al., 2025 ). This perspective offers a distinctive lens to examine the mechanisms driving such behaviors (Chen et al., 2024 ). Individuals with a stronger bond to nature are likelier to engage in outdoor activities, experience enhanced well-being, and develop a profound affection for the natural world. These positive influences collectively foster pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors (Hoffman, 1977 ) (Zeier et al., 2025 ). The impact of nature connection on empathy may be attributed to improved emotion regulation and heightened attentional capacity following exposure to natural settings (Decety & Jackson, 2004 ). Research indicates that nature connection positively predicts empathy with nature (Tam et al., 2013 ). Individuals exhibiting high levels of empathy with nature demonstrate increased attentiveness to environmental challenges, enhanced ability to consider issues from nature's perspective, and stronger desire to forge a close connection with the natural world. They are also more perceptive of various environmental problems in their lives and are more inclined to adopt pro-environmental intentions and behaviors that foster harmony between humans and nature (Liu, 2023 ). Additional studies, which account for demographic variables, have identified a positive correlation between empathy with nature and pro-environmental behaviors (Li et al., 2024 ). Individuals with elevated empathy with nature levels are more likely to participate in pro-environmental activities (Berenguer, 2007 ; Luchs & Mooradian, 2012 ; Richardson & Sheffield, 2015 ), further confirming the positive relationship between empathy with nature and pro-environmental behaviors (Richardson & Sheffield, 2015 ). Some studies have found that individuals exhibiting a heightened empathy towards the natural environment tend to possess more favorable environmental attitudes, demonstrate a greater propensity for engaging in pro-environmental behaviors, and be willing to participate in significant practical environmental activities (Berenguer, 2010 ). Empathy for nature not only fosters an intrinsic motivation to safeguard the environment but also translates into tangible actions aimed at environmental protection (Berenguer, 2007 ; Jing et al., 2022 ; Sevillano et al., 2007 ). Consequently, this study posits Hypothesis 3, suggesting that empathy with nature may mediate the relationship between adolescents' connection to nature and their engagement in pro-environmental behaviors. 1.4 The Relationship Between Nature Connection, Moral Identity, Empathy with Nature, and Pro-Environmental Behavior According to the Cognitive-Affective Synergy Model (CASM), the connection with nature facilitates the internalization of values by reinforcing moral identity, exemplified by the belief that "environmental protection is my responsibility." Subsequently, it stimulates emotional motivation through empathy with nature, which is encapsulated in the sentiment "Nature's pain is my pain," which propels behavioral practices (Edwards et al., 2015 ). This sequence is particularly evident in adolescents, whose moral development is transitioning from focusing on 'otherness' to 'self-discipline' (Sherman, 1986 ). For instance, Zhang et al. (2023) demonstrated in a study involving Chinese junior high school students that nature connection influences pro-environmental behavior through a sequential pathway of 'moral identity → empathy with nature' (Sheng et al., 2023 ). Several studies have indicated that exposure to nature during early adolescence indirectly enhances empathy with nature and the frequency of pro-environmental behavior (PEB) in adulthood by fostering moral identity (Chawla, 2020 ). For instance, a longitudinal study demonstrated that adolescents who participated in an eco-camp exhibited greater consistency in environmental behavior five years later. This effect was mediated through a sequential pathway involving moral identity and empathy with nature (Anderson et al., 2022 ). Furthermore, a correlation has been established between empathy and moral identity, with moral identity influencing individuals through the partial mediation of empathy on pro-social behavioral tendencies (Detert et al., 2008 ). Although prior research has examined various factors affecting pro-environmental behavior from diverse perspectives, no study has explicitly investigated the chain mediating role of moral identity and empathy with nature between nature bonding and pro-environmental behavior. Consequently, Hypothesis 4 is formulated, positing that moral identity and empathy with nature may function as sequential mediators in the relationship between nature connection and pro-environmental behavior. See Fig. 1 Research hypothesis model. 2 Methods 2.1 Participants and procedures Initially, to ensure the acquisition of an adequate sample, a priori power analyses were conducted using G*Power 3.1 before the commencement of the study. A multiple linear regression analysis was selected, with a predicted sample size of no less than 67 participants. This estimation was based on setting the effect size at a medium level (effect size f² = 0.25), the statistical power (1-β) at 0.9, and the probability of a Type I error (α) at 0.05. The study focused on adolescents aged 12–16, corresponding to the secondary school stage (junior high school). A total of 420 questionnaires were distributed. The questionnaires adhered to voluntary participation, data confidentiality, and anonymous completion. Upon collection, invalid questionnaires were excluded, resulting in 379 valid responses, yielding an effective response rate of 90.24%. Of the participants, 156 (41.2%) were male and 223 (58.8%) were female. The sample comprised 112 (29.6%) junior high school students, 110 (29.0%) high school students, and 157 (41.4%) senior high school students. Additionally, 99 (26.1%) were only children, while 280 (73.9%) had siblings. Furthermore, 117 (30.9%) resided in urban areas, whereas 262 (69.1%) were from non-urban areas. 2.2 Measures 2.2.1 Nature connection Scale This study employed the Nature Connection Scale developed initially by Mayer and Frantz ( 2004 ) and subsequently revised by Chinese scholars. The scale comprises 14 items, including statements such as "I often feel at one with nature" and "My sense of well-being is not related to how good or bad nature is." Responses are recorded on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree), with higher aggregate scores indicating a stronger personal connection to nature. Items 4, 12, and 14 were reverse-scored. The internal consistency reliability of the Chinese version of the Nature Connection Scale was 0.783, the retest reliability was 0.901 ( p < 0.01), and the compatibility validity was 0.491 ( p < 0.01). The scale is reliable and valid for Chinese students. The Cronbach's alpha for the questionnaire in this study was 0.83, reflecting good internal consistency. 2.2.2 Moral Identity Scale The Chinese adaptation of the Moral Identity Scale (C-MIS) comprises two subscales: Internalization, which reflects the significance of possessing moral traits, and Symbolization, which reflects the importance of demonstrating to others that one possesses such traits (Aquino & Reed, 2002 ). This study concentrates on the chronic aspect of moral identity, employing the internalization subscale to evaluate the pertinent theoretical predictions. Participants are prompted to envision an individual embodying nine moral traits (e.g., helpfulness and caring) and subsequently respond to five items (e.g., "I would feel good if I were a person who possessed these traits"). Responses are recorded on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). Higher mean scores across the five items denote greater moral self-importance for each participant. Cronbach's alpha for the two questionnaire parts was .73 and .82, respectively. In this study, the Cronbach's alpha for the scale was determined to be 0.81. 2.2.3 Empathy with Nature Scale This study employed the Natural Traits Empathy Scale, developed initially by Tam ( 2013 ) and subsequently revised by Chinese scholars. Tam's original questionnaire comprises 10 items assessed on a 7-point Likert scale, where '1' signifies complete disagreement and '7' signifies complete agreement. Sample items include statements such as "I imagine how I would feel if I were a suffering plant or animal" and "I participate in the feelings of the suffering plant or animal." In the revised version utilized for this study, a 5-point Likert scale was adopted, wherein higher scores correspond to greater levels of empathy towards nature. The internal consistency coefficient of the questionnaire was 0.90. As determined in the present study, the internal consistency coefficient for this scale was 0.832. 2.2.4 Pro-Environmental Behaviour Scale This study employed a self-assessment scale of pro-environmental behaviors, revised by Chinese scholars. The scale comprises 12 items that prompt participants to reflect on their engagement in the specified behaviors over the past year, utilizing a 5-point Likert scale, where '1' denotes "never" and '5' signifies "often." Higher scores on the scale indicate greater levels of pro-environmental behavior exhibited by the individual. The internal consistency coefficient for the scale was 0.783, and for the two dimensions it was 0.681 and 0.768, respectively. The internal consistency coefficient for the scale in this study was found to be 0.820. 2.3 Data Analysis The study employed SPSS version 26.0 for data analysis. Following data collection, common method bias was assessed using Harman's single-factor test. Subsequently, after importing the data into SPSS, descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation coefficient were applied to examine the relationships among natural associations, moral identity, empathy with nature, and pro-environmental behavior. The mediating effects of the variables were analyzed using the SPSS macro Process version 3.5. This methodology facilitated a comprehensive analysis of the study. 3 Results 3.1 Common method bias test Since all data collected in the study were self-reported by participants, there was a potential risk of common method bias. To address this concern, Harman's single-factor test was employed for factor analysis. The analysis identified ten factors with eigenvalues exceeding 1. Notably, the variance explained by the first principal component was 26.11%, below the threshold value of 40%. This result suggests that common method bias was not a significant issue among the variables measured in this study. 3.2 Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis for each variable Descriptive statistics and correlation analyses were performed to examine the associations among all variables. As presented in Table 1 , there is a significant positive correlation between adolescents' nature connection and moral identity (r = 0.622, p < 0.01), nature connection and empathy with nature (r = 0.643, p < 0.01), and nature connection and pro-environmental behaviors (r = 0.594, p < 0.01). Additionally, significant positive correlations were observed between adolescents' moral identity and empathy with nature (r = 0.598, p < 0.01),, moral identity and pro-environmental behaviors (r = 0.572, p < 0.01), as well as between empathy with nature and pro-environmental behaviors (r = 0.603, p < 0.01). These findings indicate a positive correlation among adolescents' nature connection, moral identity, empathy with nature, and pro-environmental behaviors. Table 1 Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis for each variable variable M SD 1Nature connection 2Moral identity 3Nature empathy 4PEB 1 4.98 0.76 1 2 3.65 0.52 0.622** 1 3 3.68 0.63 0.643** 0.598** 1 4 3.68 0.65 0.594** 0.572** 0.603** 1 Note : * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, N = 379 In summary, a positive correlation exists among adolescents' intrinsic connection to nature, moral identity, empathy with nature, and pro-environmental behavior. This correlation establishes the groundwork for further examination of the mediating roles of moral identity and empathy with nature in the relationship between nature connection and pro-environmental behavior. 3.3 A Mediation Model of Moral Identity and Empathy with Nature This study employed the SPSS macro program Process version 3.5 to examine the mediating roles of moral identity and empathy with nature in the relationship between adolescents' connection to nature and their pro-environmental behaviors. A chained mediation model was subsequently developed to illustrate these effects (refer to Fig. 1 ). As demonstrated in Table 2 , the construct of nature connection emerged as a significant predictor of individual pro-environmental behaviors (β = 0.590, p < 0.001). It was also an important predictor of moral identity in adolescents (β = 0.621, p < 0.001). Furthermore, both nature connection and moral identity were found to positively predict nature-based empathy (β = 0.437, p < 0.001; β = 0.327, p < 0.001, respectively). Collectively, nature connection, moral identity, and empathy with nature significantly predicted pro-environmental behavior in adolescents (β = 0.256, p < 0.001; β = 0.229, p < 0.001; β = 0.300, p < 0.001, respectively). Notably, the direct effect of nature connection on pro-environmental behavior remained significant, indicating a partial mediating effect of moral identity and empathy with nature. Table 2 Regression analysis between variables Outcome variable Predictor variable R R ² F β t PEB Nature connection 0.590 0.348 201.37*** 0.590 14.190*** Moral identity Nature connection 0.621 0.385 236.114*** 0.621 15.366*** Nature empathy Nature connection 0.690 0.476 170.700*** 0.437 9.181*** Moral identity 0.327 6.876*** PEB Nature connection 0.679 0.461 106.912*** 0.256 4.788*** Moral identity 0.229 4.455*** Nature empathy 0.300 5.729*** Note : * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, N = 379. Subsequent tests for mediation effects revealed that both moral identity and innate empathy significantly mediated the relationship between adolescents' intrinsic associations and pro-environmental behaviors. A notable chain mediation effect was observed between moral identity and empathy with nature. As illustrated in Fig. 1 and detailed in Table 3 , the combined indirect effect of moral identity and empathy with nature was quantified at 0.285, representing 56.5% of the total effect. Notably, the Bootstrap 95% confidence interval for this indirect effect did not include zero, indicating statistical significance. Table 3 Analysis of the mediating effects of moral identity and natural empathy Total indirect effect Indirect effect value Boot standard error BootCI lower limit BootCI higher limit Relative mediation effect value(%) 0.285 0.042 0.208 0.376 56.5 indirect effect 1 0.121 0.028 0.068 0.179 24.0 indirect effect 2 0.112 0.030 0.059 0.177 22.2 indirect effect 3 0.052 0.014 0.027 0.083 10.7 Note : 1 : nature connection → moral identity → pro-environmental behaviour 2 : nature connection → nature empathy → pro-environmental behaviour 3 : a chain mediator of nature-connected moral → moral identity → nature empathy → pro-environmental behaviour The mediating effect was comprised of the following three principal pathways: (1) Nature Connection leading to Moral Identity, which subsequently influenced Pro-Environmental Behavior [95% Confidence Interval (CI) = (0.068, 0.179), Standard Error (SE) = 0.028], with an indirect effect magnitude of 0.121, representing 24.0% of the overall mediating effect; (2) Nature Connection progressing to empathy with nature, which then affected Pro-Environmental Behavior [95% CI = (0.059, 0.177), SE = 0.030], with an indirect effect magnitude of 0.112, constituting 22.2% of the total mediated effect; and (3) Nature Connection advancing through Moral Identity and empathy with nature to influence Pro-Environmental Behavior [95% CI = (0.027, 0.083), SE = 0.014], with an indirect effect magnitude of 0.052, accounting for 10.7% of the total mediated effect. See Fig. 2 Chain intermediary role diagram 4 Discussion This study developed a chain mediation model to investigate the intrinsic mechanisms through which nature association impacts adolescents' pro-environmental behaviors. This model examines the chain-mediated effects of moral identity and empathy with nature on adolescents' pro-environmental behaviors. The findings elucidate the influence of nature connection on adolescents' pro-environmental actions and the underlying mechanisms, while also offering empirical evidence and recommendations for enhancing pro-environmental behavior among adolescents. The present study identified a significant positive correlation between nature connection and pro-environmental behaviors among adolescents, aligning with previous research findings (Tonge et al., 2015 ). This suggests a stronger connection to nature is associated with increased pro-environmental behaviors. This relationship is also reflective of traditional Chinese cultural values. According to the ancient Chinese concept of the ‘unity of heaven and man,’ a deeper connection to the natural world is believed to foster greater pro-environmental actions. The positive influence of nature connection on adolescents' pro-environmental behaviors observed in this study may be attributed to the enduring impact of these classical ideas, which have been imparted since childhood and have shaped individuals' behaviors towards living in harmony with nature and protecting the environment. Another possible reason is that individuals are inherently self-interested, and to safeguard their interests from harm, they will proactively protect nature, appreciate it, and care for the environment. When in a natural setting, they will naturally engage in environmental actions. This study identified a significant positive correlation between adolescents' natural association, moral identity, and pro-environmental behavior. It was found that natural association can indirectly influence pro-environmental behavior through moral identity. Previous research has demonstrated that the impact of natural association on adolescents’ pro-social intentions is mediated by moral identity. Specifically, adolescents’ pro-social intentions are directly influenced by their natural association and the pathway of natural association leading to moral identity, which in turn influences pro-social intentions. Pro-environmental behavior is considered a form of pro-social behavior. When adolescents engage with nature, live harmoniously, and establish a positive connection with the natural world, they deeply experience the power emanating from nature. This connection fosters a sense of unity with nature and others, leading to a genuine identification with the values of a shared human destiny and moral consciousness. Consequently, adolescents are more willing to engage in pro-environmental behaviors. A significant positive correlation exists between adolescents' connection to nature, their empathy towards nature, and their pro-environmental behaviors. Furthermore, nature connection can indirectly influence pro-environmental behaviors through the mediation of empathy with nature, aligning with findings from previous research. Several studies have identified empathy with nature as a crucial determinant in motivating individual behavior, emphasizing its significant impact. Nature connection has been shown to positively predict empathy with nature, a mediating mechanism through which nature connection affects pro-environmental behavior. By enhancing individuals' emotional experiences and their relationship with nature, nature connection encourages them to perceive the human-nature relationship from environmental and nature-centric perspectives. This perception becomes particularly pronounced when the natural environment is threatened, stimulating individuals' empathy with nature and fostering increased pro-environmental behaviors. The preceding discussion demonstrates that adolescents' inherent empathy significantly contributes to their pro-environmental behaviors. Specifically, individuals with higher levels of innate empathy are more capable of empathizing with nature, thereby increasing their likelihood of considering issues from an ecological perspective. This nature connection enhances an individual's emotional experience and bond with the environment, fostering the development of empathy with nature. Consequently, this heightened empathy encourages individuals to critically evaluate the potential impact of their actions on the natural world, ultimately motivating them to engage in behaviors that are beneficial to the environment. The study indicated a positive correlation between adolescents' connection to nature, moral identity, empathy with nature, and pro-environmental behaviors. Moral identity and empathy with nature functioned as sequential mediators in the relationship between adolescents' connection to nature and pro-environmental behaviors, with an indirect effect value of 0.052, constituting 10.7% of the total mediating effect. Empathy processing theory shapes individual empathy through emotional sharing and cognitive coordination. This suggests that identification with moral attributes encourages individuals to broaden their moral framework, thereby processing stimuli with elevated moral standards. Furthermore, from the perspective of the social cognitive orientation of moral identity, moral identity is conceptualized as a self-schema associated with moral traits, encompassing all dimensions of an individual's cognition, experience, and behavior. Individuals possessing a strong moral identity are inclined to view themselves through a lens of elevated moral standards, both in their cognitive processes and behavioral practices. This heightened moral framework fosters an understanding and empathy towards the natural environment, thereby encouraging pro-environmental behaviors aimed at its preservation. Conversely, individuals with a diminished moral identity are more likely to prioritize personal interests over the welfare of their surroundings, often engaging in actions that serve their self-centered desires. This study demonstrates that empathy with nature is a significant mediator between nature connection and pro-environmental behaviors, while moral identity also significantly mediates this relationship. Additionally, empathy with nature substantially mediates the relationship between moral identity and pro-environmental behaviors. These findings indicate that empathy with nature is a crucial pathway through which individuals can translate their moral identity into tangible pro-environmental actions. Furthermore, the study suggests that nature connection influences adolescents' pro-environmental behaviors through moral identity and empathy with nature, highlighting the chain mediating role these factors play between nature connection and pro-environmental behaviors. The results thus support the research hypothesis. 5 Limitation This study has several limitations.First, the study sample was only from three cities in Yunnan Province, China, with a total of 379 adolescents, and the sample was relatively homogeneous in terms of geographical and cultural backgrounds, which may limit the generalisability of the findings. The study sample did not cover adolescents from different regions or cultural backgrounds, making it difficult to generalise to a wider population. Future studies can collect data from various regions and countries from a cross-cultural perspective to make the results more applicable. Second, the study used a cross-sectional survey, which did not allow for the identification of causal relationships between variables. Although a chain mediation model was proposed, there was a lack of longitudinal data support to validate the dynamic relationship of the variables over time. Future research could conduct a longitudinal tracking study to explore the long-term effects of natural linkages on pro-environmental behaviours. Third, all data were collected through self-report questionnaires, which may be subject to social desirability bias or subjective error, affecting the objectivity of the results. Despite the common method bias test, this limitation was not completely eliminated. Future research could use an experimental paradigm to retest the results and reduce common method bias. The study did not consider the influence of external factors such as family, schooling or socio-economic status on adolescents' environmental behaviours, and these variables may have significantly interfered with the results. These variables could be re-examined in the future. 6 Conclusion Our study highlights the importance of natural associations for adolescents regarding pro-environmental behaviour. The findings suggest that strengthening adolescents' connection with nature helps to foster environmental behaviours, and that this facilitation is mainly achieved by raising the level of moral identity and enhancing their ability to empathise with nature. To effectively strengthen the pro-environmental behaviour of adolescents, it is crucial to focus on strengthening their connection to nature while at the same time focusing on the development of their moral identity and their ability to empathize with nature. Declarations C onflicts of interest : The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. F unding sources Research on the Spatiotemporal Evolution and Spatial Statistical Relationship of Air Pollution and Ecological Resilience in Cities in the Yellow River Basin, funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. [12361008]) ; Ningxia Philosophy and Social Sciences (Education) Planning Project "Research on the Psychological Health Status and Coping of Ningxia College Students" (Grant No. [23NXJB05]). D ata availability statement The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions. Ethics statement The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by Ningxia University( NXU - 2025 - 273). Consent to participate For underage participants, written informed consent was obtained from parents, and written consent was obtained from the adolescents themselves；Written consent was obtained from the adult participants themselves. A cknowledgments . This work was supported by the [National Natural Science Foundation of China] (Grant No. [12361008]) and [Ningxia Philosophy and Social Sciences (Grant No. [23NXJB05]). The authors would like to express their gratitude to all colleagues and lab members who provided insightful discussions and technical support throughout this study. We are also thankful to the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments, which greatly improved the manuscript. References Anderson KC, Stern MJ, Powell RB, Dayer AA, Archibald TG. (2022). A culturally responsive evaluation framework and its application in environmental education. Evaluation and Program Planning , 92 . ttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2022.102073 Aquino K, Reed A. The self-importance of moral identity. J Personal Soc Psychol. 2002;83(6):1423–40. ttps://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.83.6.1423. Barbaro N, Pickett SM. Mindfully green: Examining the effect of connectedness to nature on the relationship between mindfulness and engagement in pro-environmental behavior. Pers Indiv Differ. 2016;93:137–42. ttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2015.05.026. Barragan-Jason G, Loreau M, de Mazancourt C, Singer MC, Parmesan C. (2023). Psychological and physical connections with nature improve both human well-being and nature conservation: A systematic review of meta-analyses. Biological Conservation , 277 . ttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109842 Berenguer J. The effect of empathy in proenvironmental attitudes and behaviors. Environ Behav. 2007;39(2):269–83. ttps://doi.org/10.1177/0013916506292937. Berenguer J. The effect of empathy in environmental moral reasoning. Environ Behav. 2010;42(1):110–34. ttps://doi.org/10.1177/0013916508325892. Bockarjova M, Steg L. 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J Theoretical Social Psychol. 2018;2(2):49–57. ttps://doi.org/10.1002/jts5.18. Larson KL, Corley EA, Andrade R, Hall SJ, York AM, Meerow S, Coseo P, Childers DL, Hondula DM. Subjective evaluations of ecosystem services and disservices: an approach to creating and analyzing robust survey scales. Ecol Society: J Integr Sci Resil Sustain. 2019;24(2). ttps://doi.org/10.5751/es-10888-240207. Li Y, Zhao Y, Huang Q, Deng J, Deng X, Li J. Empathy with nature promotes pro-environmental attitudes in preschool children. PsyCh J. 2024;13(4):598–607. ttps://doi.org/10.1002/pchj.735. Liu J-X. (2023). The influence of narrative transportation on university students’ environmental intentions: A serial mediation of empathy with nature and environmental Attitudes. Journal of Cleaner Production , 431 . ttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.139763 Luchs MG, Mooradian TA. Sex, personality, and sustainable consumer behaviour: Elucidating the gender effect. J Consum Policy. 2012;35(1):127–44. ttps://doi.org/10.1007/s10603-011-9179-0. Mackay CML, Schmitt MT. (2019). Do people who feel connected to nature do more to protect it? A meta-analysis. Journal of Environmental Psychology , 65 . ttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2019.101323 Mayer FS, Frantz CM. The connectedness to nature scale: A measure of individuals’ feeling in community with nature. J Environ Psychol. 2004;24(4):503–15. ttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2004.10.001. Murtagh N, Gatersleben B, Uzzell D. 20:60:20–differences in energy behaviour and conservation between and within households with electricity monitors. PLoS ONE. 2014;9(3). ttps://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0092019. Nisbet EK, Zelenski JM. The NR-6: a new brief measure of nature relatedness. Front Psychol. 2013;4:813. ttps://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00813. Richardson M, Hunt A, Hinds J, Bragg R, Fido D, Petronzi D, Barbett L, Clitherow T, White M. A measure of nature connectedness for children and adults: Validation, performance, and insights. Sustainability. 2019;11(12):3250. ttps://doi.org/10.3390/su11123250. Richardson M, Sheffield D. Reflective self-attention: A more stable predictor of connection to nature than mindful attention. Ecopsychology. 2015;7(3):166–75. ttps://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2015.0010. Sevillano V, Aragonés JI, Schultz PW. Perspective taking, environmental concern, and the moderating role of dispositional empathy. Environ Behav. 2007;39(5):685–705. ttps://doi.org/10.1177/0013916506292334. Sheng X, Zhang X, Zhou X. Show me the impact: Communicating behavioral impact message to promote pro-environmental consumer behavior. Sustainable Prod Consum. 2023;35:709–23. ttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2022.12.012. Sherman CJ. (1986). The psychology of moral development. Vol. 2: The nature and validity of moral stages. Lawrence Kohlberg. The Journal of Religion , 66 (3), 354–355. ttps://doi.org/10.1086/487419 Soga M, Gaston KJ. Shifting baseline syndrome: causes, consequences, and implications. Front Ecol Environ. 2018;16(4):222–30. ttps://doi.org/10.1002/fee.1794. Steg L, Vlek C. Encouraging pro-environmental behaviour: An integrative review and research agenda. J Environ Psychol. 2009;29(3):309–17. ttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2008.10.004. Stern PC. New environmental theories: Toward a coherent theory of environmentally significant behavior. J Social Issues. 2000;56(3):407–24. ttps://doi.org/10.1111/0022-4537.00175. Tam K-P. Dispositional empathy with nature. J Environ Psychol. 2013;35:92–104. ttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2013.05.004. Tam K-P, Lee S-L, Chao MM. Saving Mr. Nature: Anthropomorphism enhances connectedness to and protectiveness toward nature. J Exp Soc Psychol. 2013;49(3):514–21. ttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2013.02.001. Tonge J, Ryan MM, Moore SA, Beckley LE. The effect of place attachment on pro-environment behavioral intentions of visitors to coastal natural area tourist destinations. J Travel Res. 2015;54(6):730–43. ttps://doi.org/10.1177/0047287514533010. Wang Y, Pan J. (2019). Building ecological security patterns based on ecosystem services value reconstruction in an arid inland basin: A case study in Ganzhou District, NW China. Journal of Cleaner Production , 241 . ttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118337 Whitburn J, Linklater W, Abrahamse W. Meta-analysis of human connection to nature and proenvironmental behavior. Conserv Biology: J Soc Conserv Biology. 2020;34(1):180–93. ttps://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13381. Zeier P, Lange F, Rowland Z, Wessa M, Wenzel M. (2025). A glimmer of hope: Pro-environmental behavior increases positive emotions after confrontation with environmental threat. Journal of Environmental Psychology , 103 . ttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102575 Zelenski JM, Dopko RL, Capaldi CA. Cooperation is in our nature: Nature exposure may promote cooperative and environmentally sustainable behavior. J Environ Psychol. 2015;42:24–31. ttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2015.01.005. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 08 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 07 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 07 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 02 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 02 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 02 Apr, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 31 Mar, 2026 Editor invited by journal 17 Mar, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 16 Mar, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 16 Mar, 2026 First submitted to journal 08 Mar, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9067333","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":616624292,"identity":"345d053b-5b86-425a-bcf0-b03807769f91","order_by":0,"name":"Xueping Qie","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Ningxia University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Xueping","middleName":"","lastName":"Qie","suffix":""},{"id":616624293,"identity":"5d26871a-8a80-4954-978a-7b5fe637e6f3","order_by":1,"name":"Yali Tian","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Ningxia University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yali","middleName":"","lastName":"Tian","suffix":""},{"id":616624294,"identity":"71b49226-296b-4be6-b158-22381da3563c","order_by":2,"name":"Yu Ma","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAxUlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACgwNA4oOBBA8/M/PBB0RpsQRqYZxRYSMn2c6WbECUFnugFmaeM2nGBud5zASI0mJ2vMdMgrftcOLmwwxmDAw1NtGEtZw5YyYhCdSy7TBD2gOGY2m5DQS13MgxkzCEaDluwNhwmLAWA5CWRJDDmhnbJIjXcgDkfWZmNiK1nDlWbNkADGSJw2zMBgnE+MXgePPG239AUdl//uODDzU2hLUwMHAgRWACYeUgwP6AOHWjYBSMglEwcgEAfLtDyMQXehcAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"Ningxia Vocational Technical College of Industry and Commerce","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yu","middleName":"","lastName":"Ma","suffix":""},{"id":616624295,"identity":"856ef46a-8566-4965-86db-8ed8e19f0cf9","order_by":3,"name":"Weifu Ding","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"North Minzu University of Mathematics and Informatics Science","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Weifu","middleName":"","lastName":"Ding","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-03-09 01:53:57","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9067333/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9067333/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":106106734,"identity":"fd0d635e-1bf3-4d3f-a6b7-39bf6dc4dab1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-03 14:04:51","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":25615,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eResearch hypothesis model\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9067333/v1/c983aa12b9d62aa44e299d7c.png"},{"id":106402293,"identity":"c0a3f11c-9fcf-4ef7-9a2d-935f8e378cb9","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-08 09:11:40","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":37712,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eChain intermediary role diagram\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9067333/v1/e3ab50a4fc74e7d8c6095512.png"},{"id":106405519,"identity":"05acdc4a-673c-4f46-9f52-7040fc80f200","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-08 09:27:00","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1204368,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9067333/v1/8102f175-0b7d-458a-afb4-e61553dbb58a.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Nature connection and Adolescents’ Pro-environmental Behavior: An Analysis Based on Chain Mediation","fulltext":[{"header":"1 Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eAs humanity's material wealth grows, environmental challenges, such as pollution, resource depletion, and soil erosion, have emerged. These environmental issues have already significantly impacted human physiology, psychology, and behavior, thereby directly threatening the survival and development of human beings. The underlying cause of these environmental problems is the relationship between humans and nature. Consequently, addressing these issues requires more than just scientific, technological, economic, and legal interventions; it necessitates the establishment of a correct and healthy perspective on nature and promoting responsible environmental behavior. In response, numerous scholars have introduced the concept of \"pro-environmental behavior\" and conducted extensive research on the topic. Pro-environmental behavior encompasses actions that reduce environmental harm and enhance environmental quality (Stern, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2000\u003c/span\u003e), to protect the environment or prevent its degradation (Chang \u0026amp; Wu, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e; Steg \u0026amp; Vlek, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2009\u003c/span\u003e)。\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn domestic and international research, pro-environmental behaviors are often equated with environmentally friendly behaviors, responsible environmental behaviors, and similar concepts. These behaviors are crucial for reducing the depletion of natural resources, decreasing pollutant emissions, and mitigating environmental degradation, thereby serving as an effective strategy for addressing environmental challenges and safeguarding the environment for sustainable development. Nonetheless, enhancing the ecological environment is not an endeavor that can be achieved instantaneously; it necessitates the efforts of successive generations. Adolescents, who are in a rapid physical and mental development phase, play a pivotal role in this process. Cultivating and shaping their pro-environmental behaviors can significantly impact environmental protection and be a continuous driving force for future efforts. Previous research has identified a strong connection with nature as a key factor in fostering positive pro-environmental attitudes. Studies indicate that individuals with a closer relationship with nature, or a higher degree of nature association, are more inclined to engage in activities that promote environmental well-being.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec2\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e1.1 The Relationship Between Nature Connection and Pro-environmental Behavior\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eNature connection is defined as the profound emotional bond and identification between humans and the natural environment, indicating the extent to which individuals are experientially and emotionally integrated with nature (Mayer \u0026amp; Frantz, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2004\u003c/span\u003e). This construct serves as a significant predictor of pro-environmental behavior (Barragan-Jason et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e; Geng et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e; Mackay \u0026amp; Schmitt, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e; Nisbet \u0026amp; Zelenski, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e; Whitburn et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR42\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). Empirical evidence suggests that nature connection positively correlates with pro-environmental behaviors among adolescents, indicating that higher levels of nature connection are associated with an increased exhibition of such behaviors. Furthermore, a robust connection to nature not only fosters pro-environmental behaviors (Barbaro \u0026amp; Pickett, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e; Geng et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e; Junot et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e; Richardson et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e) but also contrasts with the tendencies of individuals who are less connected to nature, as they may be more prone to engage in environmentally detrimental behaviors (Barbaro \u0026amp; Pickett, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e; Junot et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis analysis indicates that an individual's connection to nature is integral to fostering pro-environmental behavior. Nature connection encapsulates an individual's emotional bond with the natural world. Adolescents who cultivate a profound emotional attachment to nature are not only less inclined to engage in environmentally destructive behaviors (Cheng \u0026amp; Monroe, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e) but also exhibit a markedly higher frequency of participation in pro-environmental activities (Nisbet \u0026amp; Zelenski, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e). This relationship may be understood on two levels: the affective level, where emotional experiences with nature inspire a sense of environmental responsibility (Tam, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e), and the cognitive level, where regular exposure to nature heightens individuals' awareness of environmental changes (Chawla \u0026amp; Cushing, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2007\u003c/span\u003e). Nonetheless, the direct impact of nature\u0026rsquo;s connection to pro-environmental behavior remains debatable. Meta-analyses suggest that the strength of this relationship is moderated by cultural context; specifically, in collectivist cultures such as China and Japan, nature connection is a significantly stronger predictor of pro-environmental behavior compared to individualistic cultures like the United States (Tam et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR39\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis phenomenon may be associated with the traditional Eastern cultural concept of the \u0026lsquo;unity of heaven and mankind,\u0026rsquo; which underscores the harmonious symbiosis between humans and nature, reinforcing the foundational values of the nature connection. Furthermore, variations in measurement instruments may contribute to inconsistent findings. For instance, Mayer and Frantz's (2004) Nature Connection Scale (CNS) emphasizes affective dimensions (e.g., \"Nature makes me feel calm\"). In contrast, Schultz's (2004) Inclusion of Nature in Self Scale (INS) incorporates cognitive integration dimensions (e.g., \"Humans and nature belong to the same system\"). Consequently, Hypothesis 1 posits that nature connection positively predicts pro-environmental behavior.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e1.2 The Relationship between nature connection, Moral Identity, and Pro-Environmental Behaviors\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eMoral identity is conceptualized as an individual's self-concept that is constructed and internalized around moral characteristics (Aquino \u0026amp; Reed, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2002\u003c/span\u003e). According to the theoretical framework proposed by Aquino and Reed (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2002\u003c/span\u003e), moral identity comprises two dimensions: internalization and symbolization. Internalization pertains to aligning environmental values with one's self-concept, exemplified by statements such as \"environmental protection is my core belief.\" On the other hand, symbolization involves the expression of these values through behavior, as illustrated by declarations like \"I want to be a voice for the environment\" (Aquino \u0026amp; Reed, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2002\u003c/span\u003e). Empirical evidence suggests that moral identity positively predicts pro-social behavior, indicating that individuals with a strong moral identity are more likely to engage in pro-social actions (Cheng \u0026amp; Monroe, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMoral identity theory, as proposed by Soga et al., posits that an individual's moral identity comprises a schema of their moral self, which motivates moral behaviors and enhances altruistic and pro-social actions (Soga \u0026amp; Gaston, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e). An elevated moral identity generally characterizes individuals exhibiting high levels of responsibility and are less inclined to rationalize unethical behavior. Concurrently, when individuals perceive their ecological selves as integral to a broader moral identity that transcends personal boundaries, this expanded moral identity enables those with pronounced environmental selves to possess a heightened moral identity (Zelenski et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR44\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e). The connection with nature may inspire adolescents to regard environmental protection as an unwavering moral duty by reinforcing the ethical perception of a 'symbiosis between humans and nature.' This process is further elucidated by Self-Consistency Theory (SCT), which suggests that individuals with a strong moral identity strive to maintain congruence between their actions and self-concept to mitigate cognitive dissonance.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhen adolescents integrate environmental protection into their self-identity, engaging in behaviors that contravene ecological principles, such as resource wastage, induces significant psychological discomfort. This discomfort subsequently motivates a behavior modification (Murtagh et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn experimental study demonstrated that adolescents who engaged in moral self-reflection activities, such as composing an environmental pledge, exhibited a significantly higher frequency of pro-environmental behavior (PEB) compared to a control group (Bolderdijk et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e). Nevertheless, the mediating effect of moral identity is subject to certain boundary conditions. Specifically, the predictive efficacy of moral identity diminishes considerably when environmental behavior necessitates personal sacrifices, such as paying a premium for eco-friendly products (Bockarjova \u0026amp; Steg, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e). This indicates that the influence of moral identity is moderated by the costs associated with the behavior; in situations where costs are high, individuals may be more inclined to depend on external incentives, such as financial compensation, rather than intrinsic values to guide their actions. Furthermore, this implies that individuals with a strong sense of natural connectedness are often characterized by elevated levels of morality, which subsequently motivates them to engage more actively in environmentally responsible behaviors. Consequently, Hypothesis 2 is posited, suggesting that moral identity serves as a mediating variable between natural connectedness and adolescents' pro-environmental behaviors.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec4\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e1.3 The Relationship Between Nature Connection, Empathy with Nature, and Pro-Environmental Behavior\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eEmpathy with nature refers to an individual's capacity to emotionally perceive and comprehend the natural environment's essence, particularly when under duress (Tam, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e; Tam et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR39\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e). Analogous to human empathy, this form of empathy enables individuals to experience emotions such as sadness or anger in response to environmental degradation, such as deforestation, thereby fostering motivation for conservation efforts. Neuroscientific research provides physiological corroboration for this phenomenon: individuals with high levels of empathy with nature exhibit significantly greater activation in the anterior insula, associated with emotional empathy, and the dorsal anterior cingulate gyrus, associated with cognitive regulation, when exposed to images depicting ecological harm, compared to those with lower levels of empathy (Wang \u0026amp; Pan, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR41\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe nature connection may enhance individuals' empathic sensitivity by creating a psychological sense of belonging to the natural environment.. For instance, Tam's (2013) longitudinal study demonstrated that adolescents with higher levels of nature connection exhibited a more rapid increase in their empathy with nature scores one year later. This growth partially mediated their elevated pro-environmental behavior (PEB) (Tam, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e). This process strengthens the bond between humans and nature by establishing a robust human-nature connection, which transforms perceptions and emotions regarding the natural world. Consequently, individuals with a strong connection to nature are more likely to exhibit greater empathy with nature. According to the Affect-Behavior Linkage Hypothesis, empathy with nature influences PEBs through two mechanisms: firstly, by directly stimulating conservation motives (e.g., \"I must cease behaviors that harm nature\"), and secondly, indirectly through feelings of guilt or responsibility (Larson et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e). For example, an experimental study revealed that adolescents who watched a documentary on endangered species exhibited significantly higher levels of empathy with nature and engaged more frequently in school waste sorting in the subsequent week (Collado et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eempathy with nature is integral to one's connection with the natural environment and is a significant motivational factor in promoting pro-environmental behaviors (Zeier et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR43\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e). This perspective offers a distinctive lens to examine the mechanisms driving such behaviors (Chen et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e). Individuals with a stronger bond to nature are likelier to engage in outdoor activities, experience enhanced well-being, and develop a profound affection for the natural world. These positive influences collectively foster pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors (Hoffman, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1977\u003c/span\u003e) (Zeier et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR43\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e). The impact of nature connection on empathy may be attributed to improved emotion regulation and heightened attentional capacity following exposure to natural settings (Decety \u0026amp; Jackson, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2004\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eResearch indicates that nature connection positively predicts empathy with nature (Tam et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR39\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e). Individuals exhibiting high levels of empathy with nature demonstrate increased attentiveness to environmental challenges, enhanced ability to consider issues from nature's perspective, and stronger desire to forge a close connection with the natural world. They are also more perceptive of various environmental problems in their lives and are more inclined to adopt pro-environmental intentions and behaviors that foster harmony between humans and nature (Liu, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). Additional studies, which account for demographic variables, have identified a positive correlation between empathy with nature and pro-environmental behaviors (Li et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e). Individuals with elevated empathy with nature levels are more likely to participate in pro-environmental activities (Berenguer, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2007\u003c/span\u003e; Luchs \u0026amp; Mooradian, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e; Richardson \u0026amp; Sheffield, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e), further confirming the positive relationship between empathy with nature and pro-environmental behaviors (Richardson \u0026amp; Sheffield, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSome studies have found that individuals exhibiting a heightened empathy towards the natural environment tend to possess more favorable environmental attitudes, demonstrate a greater propensity for engaging in pro-environmental behaviors, and be willing to participate in significant practical environmental activities (Berenguer, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2010\u003c/span\u003e). Empathy for nature not only fosters an intrinsic motivation to safeguard the environment but also translates into tangible actions aimed at environmental protection (Berenguer, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2007\u003c/span\u003e; Jing et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e; Sevillano et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2007\u003c/span\u003e). Consequently, this study posits Hypothesis 3, suggesting that empathy with nature may mediate the relationship between adolescents' connection to nature and their engagement in pro-environmental behaviors.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec5\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e1.4 The Relationship Between Nature Connection, Moral Identity, Empathy with Nature, and Pro-Environmental Behavior\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAccording to the Cognitive-Affective Synergy Model (CASM), the connection with nature facilitates the internalization of values by reinforcing moral identity, exemplified by the belief that \"environmental protection is my responsibility.\" Subsequently, it stimulates emotional motivation through empathy with nature, which is encapsulated in the sentiment \"Nature's pain is my pain,\" which propels behavioral practices (Edwards et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e). This sequence is particularly evident in adolescents, whose moral development is transitioning from focusing on 'otherness' to 'self-discipline' (Sherman, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1986\u003c/span\u003e). For instance, Zhang et al. (2023) demonstrated in a study involving Chinese junior high school students that nature connection influences pro-environmental behavior through a sequential pathway of 'moral identity \u0026rarr; empathy with nature' (Sheng et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSeveral studies have indicated that exposure to nature during early adolescence indirectly enhances empathy with nature and the frequency of pro-environmental behavior (PEB) in adulthood by fostering moral identity (Chawla, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). For instance, a longitudinal study demonstrated that adolescents who participated in an eco-camp exhibited greater consistency in environmental behavior five years later. This effect was mediated through a sequential pathway involving moral identity and empathy with nature (Anderson et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). Furthermore, a correlation has been established between empathy and moral identity, with moral identity influencing individuals through the partial mediation of empathy on pro-social behavioral tendencies (Detert et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e). Although prior research has examined various factors affecting pro-environmental behavior from diverse perspectives, no study has explicitly investigated the chain mediating role of moral identity and empathy with nature between nature bonding and pro-environmental behavior.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eConsequently, Hypothesis 4 is formulated, positing that moral identity and empathy with nature may function as sequential mediators in the relationship between nature connection and pro-environmental behavior. See Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e Research hypothesis model.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"2 Methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec7\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.1 Participants and procedures\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eInitially, to ensure the acquisition of an adequate sample, a priori power analyses were conducted using G*Power 3.1 before the commencement of the study. A multiple linear regression analysis was selected, with a predicted sample size of no less than 67 participants. This estimation was based on setting the effect size at a medium level (effect size f\u0026sup2; = 0.25), the statistical power (1-β) at 0.9, and the probability of a Type I error (α) at 0.05. The study focused on adolescents aged 12\u0026ndash;16, corresponding to the secondary school stage (junior high school). A total of 420 questionnaires were distributed. The questionnaires adhered to voluntary participation, data confidentiality, and anonymous completion. Upon collection, invalid questionnaires were excluded, resulting in 379 valid responses, yielding an effective response rate of 90.24%.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOf the participants, 156 (41.2%) were male and 223 (58.8%) were female. The sample comprised 112 (29.6%) junior high school students, 110 (29.0%) high school students, and 157 (41.4%) senior high school students. Additionally, 99 (26.1%) were only children, while 280 (73.9%) had siblings. Furthermore, 117 (30.9%) resided in urban areas, whereas 262 (69.1%) were from non-urban areas.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.2 Measures\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec9\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.2.1 Nature connection Scale\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study employed the Nature Connection Scale developed initially by Mayer and Frantz (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2004\u003c/span\u003e) and subsequently revised by Chinese scholars. The scale comprises 14 items, including statements such as \"I often feel at one with nature\" and \"My sense of well-being is not related to how good or bad nature is.\" Responses are recorded on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree), with higher aggregate scores indicating a stronger personal connection to nature. Items 4, 12, and 14 were reverse-scored. The internal consistency reliability of the Chinese version of the Nature Connection Scale was 0.783, the retest reliability was 0.901 (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01), and the compatibility validity was 0.491 (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01). The scale is reliable and valid for Chinese students. The Cronbach's alpha for the questionnaire in this study was 0.83, reflecting good internal consistency.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec10\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.2.2 Moral Identity Scale\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Chinese adaptation of the Moral Identity Scale (C-MIS) comprises two subscales: Internalization, which reflects the significance of possessing moral traits, and Symbolization, which reflects the importance of demonstrating to others that one possesses such traits (Aquino \u0026amp; Reed, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2002\u003c/span\u003e). This study concentrates on the chronic aspect of moral identity, employing the internalization subscale to evaluate the pertinent theoretical predictions. Participants are prompted to envision an individual embodying nine moral traits (e.g., helpfulness and caring) and subsequently respond to five items (e.g., \"I would feel good if I were a person who possessed these traits\"). Responses are recorded on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). Higher mean scores across the five items denote greater moral self-importance for each participant. Cronbach's alpha for the two questionnaire parts was .73 and .82, respectively. In this study, the Cronbach's alpha for the scale was determined to be 0.81.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.2.3 Empathy with Nature Scale\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study employed the Natural Traits Empathy Scale, developed initially by Tam (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e) and subsequently revised by Chinese scholars. Tam's original questionnaire comprises 10 items assessed on a 7-point Likert scale, where '1' signifies complete disagreement and '7' signifies complete agreement. Sample items include statements such as \"I imagine how I would feel if I were a suffering plant or animal\" and \"I participate in the feelings of the suffering plant or animal.\" In the revised version utilized for this study, a 5-point Likert scale was adopted, wherein higher scores correspond to greater levels of empathy towards nature. The internal consistency coefficient of the questionnaire was 0.90. As determined in the present study, the internal consistency coefficient for this scale was 0.832.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec12\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.2.4 Pro-Environmental Behaviour Scale\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study employed a self-assessment scale of pro-environmental behaviors, revised by Chinese scholars. The scale comprises 12 items that prompt participants to reflect on their engagement in the specified behaviors over the past year, utilizing a 5-point Likert scale, where '1' denotes \"never\" and '5' signifies \"often.\" Higher scores on the scale indicate greater levels of pro-environmental behavior exhibited by the individual. The internal consistency coefficient for the scale was 0.783, and for the two dimensions it was 0.681 and 0.768, respectively. The internal consistency coefficient for the scale in this study was found to be 0.820.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec13\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.3 Data Analysis\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study employed SPSS version 26.0 for data analysis. Following data collection, common method bias was assessed using Harman's single-factor test. Subsequently, after importing the data into SPSS, descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation coefficient were applied to examine the relationships among natural associations, moral identity, empathy with nature, and pro-environmental behavior. The mediating effects of the variables were analyzed using the SPSS macro Process version 3.5. This methodology facilitated a comprehensive analysis of the study.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"3 Results","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec15\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.1 Common method bias test\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSince all data collected in the study were self-reported by participants, there was a potential risk of common method bias. To address this concern, Harman's single-factor test was employed for factor analysis. The analysis identified ten factors with eigenvalues exceeding 1. Notably, the variance explained by the first principal component was 26.11%, below the threshold value of 40%. This result suggests that common method bias was not a significant issue among the variables measured in this study.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec16\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.2 Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis for each variable\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eDescriptive statistics and correlation analyses were performed to examine the associations among all variables. As presented in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, there is a significant positive correlation between adolescents' nature connection and moral identity (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.622, \u003cem\u003ep\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;0.01), nature connection and empathy with nature (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.643, \u003cem\u003ep\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;0.01), and nature connection and pro-environmental behaviors (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.594, \u003cem\u003ep\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;0.01). Additionally, significant positive correlations were observed between adolescents' moral identity and empathy with nature (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.598, \u003cem\u003ep\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;0.01),, moral identity and pro-environmental behaviors (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.572, \u003cem\u003ep\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;0.01), as well as between empathy with nature and pro-environmental behaviors (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.603, \u003cem\u003ep\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;0.01). These findings indicate a positive correlation among adolescents' nature connection, moral identity, empathy with nature, and pro-environmental behaviors.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDescriptive statistics and correlation analysis for each variable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003evariable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eM SD\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1Nature connection\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2Moral identity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3Nature empathy\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4PEB\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.98 0.76\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.65 0.52\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.622**\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.68 0.63\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.643**\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.598**\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.68 0.65\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.594**\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.572**\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.603**\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003ctfoot\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"6\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eNote\u003c/em\u003e: \u003csup\u003e*\u003c/sup\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, \u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01, \u003csup\u003e***\u003c/sup\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001, N\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;379\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tfoot\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn summary, a positive correlation exists among adolescents' intrinsic connection to nature, moral identity, empathy with nature, and pro-environmental behavior. This correlation establishes the groundwork for further examination of the mediating roles of moral identity and empathy with nature in the relationship between nature connection and pro-environmental behavior.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec17\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.3 A Mediation Model of Moral Identity and Empathy with Nature\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study employed the SPSS macro program Process version 3.5 to examine the mediating roles of moral identity and empathy with nature in the relationship between adolescents' connection to nature and their pro-environmental behaviors. A chained mediation model was subsequently developed to illustrate these effects (refer to Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAs demonstrated in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e, the construct of nature connection emerged as a significant predictor of individual pro-environmental behaviors (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.590, \u003cem\u003ep\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;0.001). It was also an important predictor of moral identity in adolescents (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.621, \u003cem\u003ep\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;0.001). Furthermore, both nature connection and moral identity were found to positively predict nature-based empathy (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.437, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001; β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.327, \u003cem\u003ep\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;0.001, respectively). Collectively, nature connection, moral identity, and empathy with nature significantly predicted pro-environmental behavior in adolescents (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.256, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001; β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.229, \u003cem\u003ep\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;0.001; β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.300, \u003cem\u003ep\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;0.001, respectively). Notably, the direct effect of nature connection on pro-environmental behavior remained significant, indicating a partial mediating effect of moral identity and empathy with nature.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRegression analysis between variables\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"7\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOutcome variable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePredictor variable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eR\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eR\u003c/em\u003e\u0026sup2;\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eF\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eβ\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePEB\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNature connection\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.590\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.348\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e201.37***\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.590\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.190***\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMoral identity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNature connection\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.621\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.385\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e236.114***\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.621\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.366***\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNature empathy\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNature connection\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.690\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.476\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e170.700***\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.437\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.181***\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMoral identity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.327\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.876***\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePEB\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNature connection\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.679\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.461\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e106.912***\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.256\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.788***\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMoral identity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.229\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.455***\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNature empathy\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.300\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.729***\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003ctfoot\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"7\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eNote\u003c/em\u003e: * \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, **\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01, ***\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001, N\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;379.\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tfoot\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSubsequent tests for mediation effects revealed that both moral identity and innate empathy significantly mediated the relationship between adolescents' intrinsic associations and pro-environmental behaviors. A notable chain mediation effect was observed between moral identity and empathy with nature. As illustrated in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e and detailed in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, the combined indirect effect of moral identity and empathy with nature was quantified at 0.285, representing 56.5% of the total effect. Notably, the Bootstrap 95% confidence interval for this indirect effect did not include zero, indicating statistical significance.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAnalysis of the mediating effects of moral identity and natural empathy\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTotal indirect effect\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndirect effect value\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBoot standard error\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBootCI lower limit\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBootCI higher limit\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRelative mediation effect value(%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.285\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.042\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.208\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.376\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e56.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eindirect effect 1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.121\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.028\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.068\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.179\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eindirect effect 2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.112\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.030\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.059\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.177\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eindirect effect 3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.052\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.014\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.027\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.083\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003ctfoot\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"6\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eNote\u003c/em\u003e: 1 : nature connection \u0026rarr; moral identity \u0026rarr; pro-environmental behaviour\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tfoot\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e2 : nature connection \u0026rarr; nature empathy \u0026rarr; pro-environmental behaviour\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3 : a chain mediator of nature-connected moral \u0026rarr; moral identity \u0026rarr; nature empathy \u0026rarr; pro-environmental behaviour\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe mediating effect was comprised of the following three principal pathways: (1) Nature Connection leading to Moral Identity, which subsequently influenced Pro-Environmental Behavior [95% Confidence Interval (CI) = (0.068, 0.179), Standard Error (SE)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.028], with an indirect effect magnitude of 0.121, representing 24.0% of the overall mediating effect; (2) Nature Connection progressing to empathy with nature, which then affected Pro-Environmental Behavior [95% CI = (0.059, 0.177), SE\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.030], with an indirect effect magnitude of 0.112, constituting 22.2% of the total mediated effect; and (3) Nature Connection advancing through Moral Identity and empathy with nature to influence Pro-Environmental Behavior [95% CI = (0.027, 0.083), SE\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.014], with an indirect effect magnitude of 0.052, accounting for 10.7% of the total mediated effect. See Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e Chain intermediary role diagram\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"4 Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study developed a chain mediation model to investigate the intrinsic mechanisms through which nature association impacts adolescents' pro-environmental behaviors. This model examines the chain-mediated effects of moral identity and empathy with nature on adolescents' pro-environmental behaviors. The findings elucidate the influence of nature connection on adolescents' pro-environmental actions and the underlying mechanisms, while also offering empirical evidence and recommendations for enhancing pro-environmental behavior among adolescents.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe present study identified a significant positive correlation between nature connection and pro-environmental behaviors among adolescents, aligning with previous research findings (Tonge et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR40\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e). This suggests a stronger connection to nature is associated with increased pro-environmental behaviors. This relationship is also reflective of traditional Chinese cultural values. According to the ancient Chinese concept of the \u0026lsquo;unity of heaven and man,\u0026rsquo; a deeper connection to the natural world is believed to foster greater pro-environmental actions. The positive influence of nature connection on adolescents' pro-environmental behaviors observed in this study may be attributed to the enduring impact of these classical ideas, which have been imparted since childhood and have shaped individuals' behaviors towards living in harmony with nature and protecting the environment.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAnother possible reason is that individuals are inherently self-interested, and to safeguard their interests from harm, they will proactively protect nature, appreciate it, and care for the environment. When in a natural setting, they will naturally engage in environmental actions.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study identified a significant positive correlation between adolescents' natural association, moral identity, and pro-environmental behavior. It was found that natural association can indirectly influence pro-environmental behavior through moral identity. Previous research has demonstrated that the impact of natural association on adolescents\u0026rsquo; pro-social intentions is mediated by moral identity. Specifically, adolescents\u0026rsquo; pro-social intentions are directly influenced by their natural association and the pathway of natural association leading to moral identity, which in turn influences pro-social intentions. Pro-environmental behavior is considered a form of pro-social behavior. When adolescents engage with nature, live harmoniously, and establish a positive connection with the natural world, they deeply experience the power emanating from nature. This connection fosters a sense of unity with nature and others, leading to a genuine identification with the values of a shared human destiny and moral consciousness. Consequently, adolescents are more willing to engage in pro-environmental behaviors.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA significant positive correlation exists between adolescents' connection to nature, their empathy towards nature, and their pro-environmental behaviors. Furthermore, nature connection can indirectly influence pro-environmental behaviors through the mediation of empathy with nature, aligning with findings from previous research. Several studies have identified empathy with nature as a crucial determinant in motivating individual behavior, emphasizing its significant impact. Nature connection has been shown to positively predict empathy with nature, a mediating mechanism through which nature connection affects pro-environmental behavior. By enhancing individuals' emotional experiences and their relationship with nature, nature connection encourages them to perceive the human-nature relationship from environmental and nature-centric perspectives. This perception becomes particularly pronounced when the natural environment is threatened, stimulating individuals' empathy with nature and fostering increased pro-environmental behaviors.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe preceding discussion demonstrates that adolescents' inherent empathy significantly contributes to their pro-environmental behaviors. Specifically, individuals with higher levels of innate empathy are more capable of empathizing with nature, thereby increasing their likelihood of considering issues from an ecological perspective. This nature connection enhances an individual's emotional experience and bond with the environment, fostering the development of empathy with nature. Consequently, this heightened empathy encourages individuals to critically evaluate the potential impact of their actions on the natural world, ultimately motivating them to engage in behaviors that are beneficial to the environment.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study indicated a positive correlation between adolescents' connection to nature, moral identity, empathy with nature, and pro-environmental behaviors. Moral identity and empathy with nature functioned as sequential mediators in the relationship between adolescents' connection to nature and pro-environmental behaviors, with an indirect effect value of 0.052, constituting 10.7% of the total mediating effect. Empathy processing theory shapes individual empathy through emotional sharing and cognitive coordination. This suggests that identification with moral attributes encourages individuals to broaden their moral framework, thereby processing stimuli with elevated moral standards. Furthermore, from the perspective of the social cognitive orientation of moral identity, moral identity is conceptualized as a self-schema associated with moral traits, encompassing all dimensions of an individual's cognition, experience, and behavior.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndividuals possessing a strong moral identity are inclined to view themselves through a lens of elevated moral standards, both in their cognitive processes and behavioral practices. This heightened moral framework fosters an understanding and empathy towards the natural environment, thereby encouraging pro-environmental behaviors aimed at its preservation. Conversely, individuals with a diminished moral identity are more likely to prioritize personal interests over the welfare of their surroundings, often engaging in actions that serve their self-centered desires.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study demonstrates that empathy with nature is a significant mediator between nature connection and pro-environmental behaviors, while moral identity also significantly mediates this relationship. Additionally, empathy with nature substantially mediates the relationship between moral identity and pro-environmental behaviors. These findings indicate that empathy with nature is a crucial pathway through which individuals can translate their moral identity into tangible pro-environmental actions. Furthermore, the study suggests that nature connection influences adolescents' pro-environmental behaviors through moral identity and empathy with nature, highlighting the chain mediating role these factors play between nature connection and pro-environmental behaviors. The results thus support the research hypothesis.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"5 Limitation","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study has several limitations.First, the study sample was only from three cities in Yunnan Province, China, with a total of 379 adolescents, and the sample was relatively homogeneous in terms of geographical and cultural backgrounds, which may limit the generalisability of the findings. The study sample did not cover adolescents from different regions or cultural backgrounds, making it difficult to generalise to a wider population. Future studies can collect data from various regions and countries from a cross-cultural perspective to make the results more applicable.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSecond, the study used a cross-sectional survey, which did not allow for the identification of causal relationships between variables. Although a chain mediation model was proposed, there was a lack of longitudinal data support to validate the dynamic relationship of the variables over time. Future research could conduct a longitudinal tracking study to explore the long-term effects of natural linkages on pro-environmental behaviours.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThird, all data were collected through self-report questionnaires, which may be subject to social desirability bias or subjective error, affecting the objectivity of the results. Despite the common method bias test, this limitation was not completely eliminated. Future research could use an experimental paradigm to retest the results and reduce common method bias. The study did not consider the influence of external factors such as family, schooling or socio-economic status on adolescents' environmental behaviours, and these variables may have significantly interfered with the results. These variables could be re-examined in the future.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"6 Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eOur study highlights the importance of natural associations for adolescents regarding pro-environmental behaviour. The findings suggest that strengthening adolescents' connection with nature helps to foster environmental behaviours, and that this facilitation is mainly achieved by raising the level of moral identity and enhancing their ability to empathise with nature. To effectively strengthen the pro-environmental behaviour of adolescents, it is crucial to focus on strengthening their connection to nature while at the same time focusing on the development of their moral identity and their ability to empathize with nature.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eC\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eonflicts of interest\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eF\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eunding sources\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResearch on the Spatiotemporal Evolution and Spatial Statistical Relationship of Air Pollution and Ecological Resilience in Cities in the Yellow River Basin, funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China\u003c/strong\u003e(Grant No. [12361008])\u003cstrong\u003e; Ningxia Philosophy and Social Sciences (Education) Planning Project \"Research on the Psychological Health Status and Coping of Ningxia College Students\"\u003c/strong\u003e(Grant No. [23NXJB05]).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eD\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eata availability statement\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics statement\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by Ningxia University( NXU - 2025 - 273).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConsent to participate\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor underage participants, written informed consent was obtained from parents, and written consent was obtained from the adolescents themselves；Written consent was obtained from the adult participants themselves.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ecknowledgments\u003c/strong\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis work was supported by the [National Natural Science Foundation of China] (Grant No. [12361008]) and [Ningxia Philosophy and Social Sciences (Grant No. [23NXJB05]).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors would like to express their gratitude to all colleagues and lab members who provided insightful discussions and technical support throughout this study. We are also thankful to the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments, which greatly improved the manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnderson KC, Stern MJ, Powell RB, Dayer AA, Archibald TG. (2022). A culturally responsive evaluation framework and its application in environmental education. \u003cem\u003eEvaluation and Program Planning\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e92\u003c/em\u003e. ttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2022.102073\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAquino K, Reed A. The self-importance of moral identity. J Personal Soc Psychol. 2002;83(6):1423\u0026ndash;40. ttps://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.83.6.1423.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBarbaro N, Pickett SM. Mindfully green: Examining the effect of connectedness to nature on the relationship between mindfulness and engagement in pro-environmental behavior. 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J Environ Psychol. 2015;42:24\u0026ndash;31. ttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2015.01.005.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bmc-psychology","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"psyo","sideBox":"Learn more about [BMC Psychology](http://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"BMC Psychology","twitterHandle":"BMC_series","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"BMC Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Pro-environmental Behavior, Nature Connection, Moral Identity, Empathy with Nature","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9067333/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9067333/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis study aimed to investigate the intrinsic mechanisms linking nature connection and pro-environmental behavior (PEB) in adolescents by constructing a chain mediation model, with a focus on the mediating effects of empathy with nature and moral identity. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was administered to 379 adolescents aged 12\u0026ndash;16 from three cities in Yunnan Province, China. The findings revealed that: (1) significant positive correlations were observed among adolescents' nature connection, empathy with nature, moral identity, and pro-environmental behaviors; (2) nature connection exerted a significant direct predictive effect on pro-environmental behaviors; and (3) moral identity and empathy with nature play a chain mediating effect between adolescents' nature connections and pro-environmental behaviors. These findings illuminate the psychological pathways through which a sense of connection to the natural world encourages responsible environmental behavior and offers practical guidance for educational initiatives to enhance adolescents' engagement with ecological issues.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Nature connection and Adolescents’ Pro-environmental Behavior: An Analysis Based on Chain Mediation","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-04-03 14:04:47","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9067333/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2026-04-08T08:58:01+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-04-07T15:05:19+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"258671736158685033453205343495007317419","date":"2026-04-07T15:03:50+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-04-02T13:06:39+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"116916564394633932796803006081554346629","date":"2026-04-02T12:58:13+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"41196528408841801642602588782338144094","date":"2026-04-02T10:11:35+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-03-31T09:39:42+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2026-03-17T05:38:45+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-03-16T11:05:17+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-03-16T11:05:08+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"BMC Psychology","date":"2026-03-09T01:41:55+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bmc-psychology","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"psyo","sideBox":"Learn more about [BMC Psychology](http://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"BMC Psychology","twitterHandle":"BMC_series","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"BMC Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"8075369b-0b15-4695-a90b-9e6d21c95125","owner":[],"postedDate":"April 3rd, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-29T14:39:32+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-04-03 14:04:47","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-9067333","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-9067333","identity":"rs-9067333","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}