Aim of the study:
The study aimed to clarify the relationships between experienced nature connectedness (NC) and depression, anxiety and stress levels with mediating role of coping strategies.

Subject or material and methods:
Study group included 81 young adults (Mean = 28.02; SD 8.22) who completed questionnaires measuring nature connectedness, coping strategies, well-being, and mental illness. To verify whether the associations between connectedness to nature (measured by CNS) and mental health status (stress, anxiety and depression measured by DASS-21) are mediated by coping strategies parallel mediation analysis was employed. Following three coping strategies as mediators were tested: problem-focused coping strategy, emotion-focused coping strategy, avoidant-focused coping strategy.

Results:
Results showed a significant mediation of the association between nature connectedness and mental health via coping strategies. The study indicated that: 1) NC was indirectly related to stress and depression through its relationship with the problem-focused coping; 2) NC was neither directly nor indirectly associated with anxiety symptoms.

Discussion:
The health and wellbeing benefits of contact with nature are becoming increasingly recognized in psychology and medicine. Nevertheless, until now researchers haven't clearly recognized underlying mechanisms of nature-related mental health well-being. Presented study indicate one of the key pathways of associations.

Conclusions:
The findings support thesis that nature connectedness seems to be a mental health protective factor.