In today’s global context of increasing instability in both planetary and human health, remedying and promoting a healthy connection between people and nature is crucial. Nature is consistently shown to benefit health and well-being, although research has been primarily focused on green spaces, and less on blue spaces. As a particular type of blue space, evidence for positive effects of coastal landscapes on well-being is growing. Various mechanisms are suggested to explain these effects, however emotional processes remain unclear, as well as the specific contexts they depend on. The aim of the present dissertation was to uncover the emotional mechanisms and moderating factors underlying the effects of coastal landscapes on well-being and pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors. In the general introduction, I provide a theoretical background of relevant concepts and associations and identify existing research gaps. Chapter 1 describes a quasi-experimental study that replicates the positive relationship between residential proximity to the Belgian coast and well-being, within the context of a major health crisis. In Chapter 2, the emotional processes linked to the coast and their influence on well-being are explored via semi-structured interviews. Coastal residents perceive the coast as a safe haven, in which they experience emotional restoration, awe, and nostalgia, accompanied with adaptive emotion-regulating strategies. Several of these findings have subsequently been experimentally tested in Chapters 3 and 4. Chapter 3 presents two experimental studies testing the effects of virtual exposure to coastal landscapes (vs. an urban landscape) on emotions, stress, and pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors (PEABs). Coastal landscapes led to higher experience of small self, nostalgia, and nature connectedness in both studies, with the latter two emotions mediating the stress-reducing effects of the coast in Study 2. Income level was shown to be a moderator, but not presence of plastic. In Chapter 4, effects of real-life exposure to the coast are assessed via a guided walk along the beach or an urban street. Although no differences in terms of stress, mood, and worry were found, being mindfully engaged during the coastal walk led to higher awe, nature connectedness, and adaptive emotion-regulating strategies, compared to being distracted during the urban walk. Neither virtual nor real-life exposure to the coast had significant effects on PEABs. Nonetheless, Chapter 5 showcases the positive impact of a citizen science intervention on ocean literacy, pro-environmental intentions, nature connectedness, and well-being, in secondary school students living in North and West Africa. In the general discussion, I present the theoretical applications and practical considerations of the overall findings, as well as future research directions. This dissertation brings forward a rich and complex emotional experience of the coast, with multiple well-being benefits.
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