Nature's Role in Meaning: A Growth-Relief Framework That Connects Nature with Self-Expansion, Existential Anxiety, and Meaning in Life

Contact with nature has been viewed as a potential source of meaning in life (MIL); however, few studies have examined why such connection enhances MIL, who benefits most, and the outcomes of this enhancement. Using six experimental studies, this research investigated a growth-relief framework of the impact of nature on MIL that includes both a growth-oriented mechanism (i.e., enhancing self-expansion) and a relief-oriented mechanism (i.e., reducing existential anxiety). Studies 1–2 provided evidence supporting the mediating roles of self-expansion and existential anxiety in the effect of nature on MIL. Field study 3 confirmed the ecological validity of the aforementioned relationships. Study 4 examined the moderating effects of personality traits in this context and revealed that higher levels of openness and neuroticism were associated with stronger mediating effects of existential anxiety. Study 5 explored the downstream outcomes of the impact of nature on MIL and suggested that this connection promotes pro-environmental values and intentions via MIL. Study 6 ruled out alternative explanations based on discrete emotions (e.g., awe, boredom), demonstrating that the effects via self-expansion and existential anxiety remained robust. Finally, internal meta-analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings. This study deepens our understanding of how nature enhances MIL and demonstrates how these meaningful nature connections can contribute to broader aspects of pro-environmental benefits.