RESEARCH PROJECTS

The Role of Generativity in Community Engagement and Environmentalism

Our research shows that early generativity (age 23) predicts later engagement in environmental actions, positive attitudes toward the environment, a more committed identity to the natural world (assessed through questionnaires) and a more sophisticated and meaningful life story about one's connection to nature at age 32 (longitudinal). Our qualitative analyses show that early generativity is tied to later environmentalism through three themes: wanting to feel more empowered to help the environment, the role of having children as a focus for crystallizing environmentalism and passing on specific family traditions from earlier generations to children and grandchildren. 

We are continuing to explore associations between generativity, community and environmental engagement, and  well-being/adjustment during the transition to adulthood.