Decenter to Reenter Nature: Relationships Between Decentering, Self-Transcendence, and Nature Connectedness

The tendency to decenter from internal experiences, such as thoughts, emotions, and sensations, can alter the sense of self. In some instances, decentering can occasion self-transcendent experiences, during which a profound sense of oneness with others and the natural world is realized. Thus, a theoretical thread links decentering, self-transcendence (ST), and a sense of nature connectedness (NC), but whether ST mediates the relationship between decentering and NC has not been empirically examined. The present study investigated the relationships between these three constructs in two separate samples, totaling 657 participants. Results indicated significant, positive relationships between decentering, ST, and NC. Furthermore, in separate path analyses, ST either partially or fully mediated the relationship between decentering and NC. This study provides the first empirical evidence that decentering from internal experiences can alter the sense of self to a degree that a sense of connection with nature emerges. Future experimental research is needed to investigate the dynamic unfolding of decentering, ST, and NC over time and whether the regular cultivation of these transient mental states, potentially through mindfulness practice, has measurable effects on environmental behavior.