Beyond the Picture: An Analysis of Emotional Attachment in Relation to Meaningful Natural Spaces.

Across two studies, this thesis looks at differences between blue, oceanic, mountainous, green, and urban spaces to determine individual impacts on subjective wellbeing and place attachment. The first study looks at images of meaningful places to unravel the relationship between physical and emotional features of spaces with a student population. The second study displays a complex methodology of manual image coding and various text analysis methods, to discern how natural spaces are evaluated and discussed in an ecologically valid context, through discourse surrounding images posted on Reddit. Findings include evidence that natural spaces differ in rates of place attachment, preference, and positive and negative affect. Stronger place attachment and positive ratings of meaningful places relate to increased wellbeing. Reinforced across both studies is the negative affect and emotional reaction to urban spaces when compared with natural spaces. This thesis also promotes the separation of blue (freshwater) and oceanic spaces, but the creation of a sky space within place attachment, landscape preference, and place wellbeing research. Specifically, oceanic spaces were higher in positive sentiment and blue spaces were discussed with higher levels of joy than any other space type studied. Overall, support is found for evolutionary theories of place preference. Natural spaces need to be protected and available to ensure health and wellbeing benefits of the natural world can be achieved.