Living with eco-emotions: Developing a peer support group activity of five times
Okkonen, Anna (2024)
2024
All rights reserved. This publication is copyrighted. You may download, display and print it for Your own personal use. Commercial use is prohibited.
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024121335511
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024121335511
Tiivistelmä
The objective of this thesis was to develop a peer-support group activity of five times called Living with eco-emotions for individuals experiencing emotions and concerns about climate change and the future of our planet. The aim was to support participants in facing and accepting emotions constructively within a peer group setting through sharing and selected exercises. This thesis was done with a working life partner Naistenkartano, an NGO that organizes women-specific peer support group activities of which aim to promote everyday well-being, foster the sense of self-knowledge and offer a safe community. Additionally, an expert from Tunne ry provided expertise on eco-emotions in planning and implementing the content of the group activity.
This is a development-based thesis where the information is gathered from academic sources on the subject. For the theoretical framework, both literature and research on the subject were utilized using source criticism. The theoretical base includes chapters on climate change and its effects on mental health, eco-emotions and how to face and accept them, pro-environmental behaviour, compassion, and positive psychology. It also covers the definition of peer support, its connection to participation and well-being, and finally, the relationship between peer support and eco-emotions. The developmental part of this thesis was to implement a content of the peer support group activity. The developed group activity was organized during fall 2024 as part of my other study unit, the placement of work development.
Feedback from the working-life partner was collected at various stages of development, with their evaluation indicating that the developed content of the group activity was functional and seen as beneficial for participants. The partner expressed satisfaction with both the collaboration process and the result. This report discusses the professional evaluation of the group activity’s content and overall functionality, without including participant interviews or feedback.
This is a development-based thesis where the information is gathered from academic sources on the subject. For the theoretical framework, both literature and research on the subject were utilized using source criticism. The theoretical base includes chapters on climate change and its effects on mental health, eco-emotions and how to face and accept them, pro-environmental behaviour, compassion, and positive psychology. It also covers the definition of peer support, its connection to participation and well-being, and finally, the relationship between peer support and eco-emotions. The developmental part of this thesis was to implement a content of the peer support group activity. The developed group activity was organized during fall 2024 as part of my other study unit, the placement of work development.
Feedback from the working-life partner was collected at various stages of development, with their evaluation indicating that the developed content of the group activity was functional and seen as beneficial for participants. The partner expressed satisfaction with both the collaboration process and the result. This report discusses the professional evaluation of the group activity’s content and overall functionality, without including participant interviews or feedback.