Human–Nature Connection as an Operationalization of Environmental Engagement in Guidance and Counseling Services: Development and Psychometric Evaluation of an Instrument among High School Students
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Abstract
younger generations as part of sustainable education. In educational settings, environmental engagement encompasses not only ecological knowledge but also emotional connectedness with nature and pro-environmental behavior. However, instruments for comprehensively assessing environmental engagement within guidance and counseling services in Indonesia remain limited. Objective: This study aimed to develop and examine the preliminary psychometric properties of a Human Nature Connection (HNC) instrument as an operationalization of environmental engagement among high school students. Methods: The study employed a research and development (R&D) approach comprising construct analysis, blueprint development, item construction, expert validation, and instrument testing. Participants were 70 high school students in Malang City selected through purposive sampling. The instrument consisted of three dimensions: affective, cognitive, and behavioral. Data were analyzed using item validity testing, Cronbach's Alpha reliability analysis, and descriptive analysis. Results: Of the 30 items initially developed, 27 were retained as valid, and 3 were eliminated. The instrument demonstrated very high internal consistency, with a Cronbach's Alpha coefficient of 0.979. Descriptive findings indicated that students' environmental engagement was generally moderate, with the affective dimension appearing more prominent than the behavioral dimension. Discussion: The findings indicate that students' emotional connectedness with nature does not necessarily translate consistently into pro-environmental behavior. This pattern highlights the importance of guidance and counseling services that facilitate the transformation of environmental awareness and emotional connectedness into observable, environmentally responsible actions. Conclusion: The study provides preliminary evidence supporting the reliability and item-level validity of the HNC instrument for assessing environmental engagement among high school students. The instrument may serve as an initial assessment tool for sustainability-oriented guidance and counseling services, although further validation with larger, more diverse samples is needed.
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