Download Participation in Sustainable Behavior and Stress Shawna Jordon Dr. Carole Dennis

Participation in Sustainable Behavior and Stress
Shawna Jordon
Dr. Carole Dennis
It is quite obvious that the Earth is going through a time of climate change. Even though the
causes of change are under controversy, one cannot deny that we are living in a world that is facing
great transformation. Climate change is not only physically changing our surroundings, but it is taking
a toll on the emotional and mental states of individuals. As humans, we have a special relationship with
our surroundings. Nature does not just meet our physical needs, but it is also vital in our ability to be
emotionally and spiritually satisfied. If the environment can no longer meet our needs, we begin to feel
the effects of occupational deprivation (Whiteford, 2000). As defined by Whiteford (2000),
occupational deprivation is “a state of preclusion from engagement in occupations of necessity and/or
meaning due to factors that stand outside the immediate control of the individual” (p. 201). This stress
is not only from the actual physical changes that surround us, but the perception that global warming is
completely out of our control and the fear that the earth will no longer meet our needs and the needs of
our future generations. If people can change their focus from perceiving only the negative affects of
climate change, such as occupational deprivation, and instead focus on participating in environmentally
responsible behavior this may decrease feelings of stress. This is because individuals' feelings of lack
of control can be concentrated into productivity. Can the process of “doing” help to alleviate the
feelings of stress from global warming because individuals feel more in control?
Globally our pursuit of happiness has caused environmental destruction, which has led to the
creation of the idea of sustainable happiness. O'Brien (2008) defines sustainable happiness as “the
pursuit of happiness that does not exploit other people, the environment, or future generations” (p.
290). Sustainable happiness has the potential to promote well-being in the individual, community, and
throughout the world. Acting sustainably seems to support levels of high life satisfaction. Learning to
practice sustainability in everyday life allows people to better their individual lives and the community
(O'Brien, 2008).
Happiness and ecological well-being are often seen as two variables in conflict. It has been
thought that people are too concerned with their own goal of personal happiness (too concerned with
consumerism) to take steps to respect the environment. Often there is the mistaken belief that being
ecologically responsible means giving up happiness because people would have to sacrifice certain
aspects of their lives to protect the environment (Brown & Kasser, 2004). Therefore, it can be difficult
to convince people to participate in ecologically sustainable actions. However, contrary to belief,
Brown and Kasser discovered that personal well-being and ecologically responsible behavior are
actually complementary (2004).
The O'Brien and the Brown & Kasser studies are just two examples of research supporting the
concept of sustainable behavior and increased well-being. Through a literature review this research has
compiled a multitude of studies relating the concepts of control, sustainability, well-being, and stress
together. It highlights humans' therapeutic relationship with nature, the need for having an
environmental identity, and the theoretical benefits of participating in ecologically sustainably behavior
to gain a sense of control over climate change to decrease stress. Other research has discovered the
reasons as to why people are motivated to be environmentally active, but there is very limited research
on using environmentally active behavior to decrease stress from the effects of climate change. For
instance, will participation in ecologically responsible behavior decrease stress and mental illnesses?
The purpose of this literature review was to gather information to help determine whether being
environmentally active could potentially decrease stress and, furthermore, expose future research
opportunities in this area by unearthing a myriad of questions. We know that the human-nature
relationship has therapeutic effects. There are well-documented cases that include how nature is
healing, relaxing, and restorative, focusing only on recuperation, not as nature being a source of wellbeing and decreased stress. Global change matters because it has the potential to harm what humans
value—a pursuit of happiness.
References
Brown, K., & Kasser, T. (2005). Are psychological and ecological well-being compatible? The
role of values, mindfulness, and lifestyle. Social Indicators Research, 74(2), 349-368.
doi:10.1007/s11205-004-8207-8
O'Brien, C. (2008). Sustainable happiness: How happiness studies can contribute to a more
sustainable future. Canadian Psychology/Psychologie Canadienne, 49(4), 289- 295.
doi:10.1037/a0013235
Whiteford, G. (2000). Occupational deprivation: global challenge in the new millennium. British
Journal Of Occupational Therapy, 63(5), 200-204.