Enhancing personal and planetary wellbeing: A comparative study of the "3 Good Things" and "3 Good Things in Nature" interventions

Abstract

In this preregistered study, we compared the efficacy of the standard “Three Good Things” (3GT) intervention to a nature-based adaptation, “Three Good Things in Nature” (3GTiN), in enhancing well-being and nature-related outcomes. For one week, participants (N = 330) were randomly assigned to either note three good things that happened each day (3GT condition) or note three good things they noticed in everyday nature each day (3GTiN condition). Results revealed that 3GTiN was statistically equivalent to 3GT in boosting affect balance and life satisfaction, while also offering additional well-being benefits, namely greater transcendent connectedness (feeling connected to other humans, to nature, and to life in general) and elevation (a composite emotion which includes feeling deeply appreciative, profoundly touched, morally uplifted). Further, engagement in the 3GTiN intervention increased nature connectedness, which emerged as a strong predictor of intention to engage in pro-environmental behaviour. Levels of eco-anxiety did not significantly differ between the two conditions. Qualitative analyses of over 10,000 responses provided several additional insights, including nature being a prominent good thing mentioned in the standard 3GT intervention. The present research provides additional evidence of 3GTiN’s potential for helping to promote aspects of both personal and planetary well-being.