Introduction


In the literature, significant relationships between nature relatedness and pro-environmental behaviors have been reported. Some studies have also demonstrated the mediating role of biospheric values in the relationship between connectedness to nature and pro-environmental behavior. This study aims to contribute to the literature by focusing specifically on nature relatedness and examining six distinct categories of pro-environmental behaviors. Furthermore, this study is unique in examining this relationship with a Turkish community sample.


Purpose


The present study examines the indirect pathway via biospheric values in the relationship between nature relatedness and pro-environmental behavior across six categories: collective action, consumer behavior, energy conservation, water consumption, household appliance use, and transportation.


Method


The study comprised 375 Turkish individuals aged 18 and over who financially contributed to their household. They were recruited via convenience sampling. Participants completed a demographic form, the Nature Relatedness Scale, biospheric values items from the Values Orientation Scale, and the Pro-Environmental Behavior Scale. We conducted six separate mediation analyses using PROCESS MACRO Model 4 with 5,000 bootstrap samples.


Results


Controlling for age, gender, and education, the mediating role of biospheric values was significant for consumer behavior (b = 0.13, 95% CI [0.05, 0.23]), energy conservation (b = 0.13, 95% CI [0.03, 0.25]), water consumption (b = 0.20, 95% CI [0.08, 0.33]), household appliance use (b = 0.18, 95% CI [0.07, 0.30]), and transportation (b = 0.15, 95% CI [0.03, 0.28]); the indirect effect for collective action was not significant (b = 0.05, 95% CI [−0.04, 0.14]). Direct effects were significant across all six domains; partial mediation emerged in five.


Conclusions


Nature relatedness promotes pro-environmental behaviors both directly and through biospheric values across distinct categories, whereas collective action may depend more on sociopolitical factors and structural opportunities. Accordingly, interventions that enhance nature relatedness may be a promising way to increase pro-environmental behaviors.