Preferred Name
Katelyn Dolieslager
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
ORCID
0009-0000-4636-8976
Date of Graduation
5-15-2025
Semester of Graduation
Spring
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Department of Graduate Psychology
First Advisor
Debbie Sturm
Second Advisor
Renee Staton
Third Advisor
Cara Meixner
Abstract
This dissertation investigated the way in which EcoWellness and Attachment Theory implications interact, specifically emphasizing how integrating these components can enhance clinical practice with caregivers and youth. The first component of the dissertation explored how EcoWellness principles could be applied to strengthen child attachment through family engagement in outdoor activities. The conceptual article discussed how shared outdoor play and recreation offer families the opportunity to bond, improve communication, and develop secure attachments. It provides a framework for clinicians to use EcoWellness to help children recognize their connection to the broader natural world, which fosters emotional growth and attachment. The second component explored the crucial role of parents as mediators in children’s natural experiences. The second study utilized narrative inquiry and the Enhanced Critical Incident Technique (ECIT) to gain insight into parents’ personal experiences and critical moments in nature. By examining how these experiences shape their parenting practices, this study aimed to provide insights into how parents can either help or hinder their children’s nature connection. The third study sought to explore how children between the ages of 7 and 11 perceive and articulate EcoWellness through interviews. The study aimed to gain insight into how children conceptualize their relationship with nature and the themes of attachment woven into their stories. Together, these studies provided a comprehensive understanding of how EcoWellness and Attachment theory intersect, the role of parents in fostering nature connections, and the need for age-appropriate conversations to discuss EcoWellness in the lives of youth. This research offered practical implications for enhancing clinical practices and educational approaches to support well-being through nature.
