Ocean connectedness, experiences, and stewardship: a qualitative study of American adults.

Introduction: This qualitative study explores the various ways in which Americans experience the marine environment. Methods: To this end, thematic analysis was applied to analyze survey responses of a representative sample (N = 1,138) of U.S. adults, standardized for age, sex, and regional location. Two major vantage points for the analysis were what Americans think the ocean teaches them about life, as well as what they consider meaningful ocean experiences. Results: The results revealed that important themes related to ocean connectedness include well-being, positive emotions, recreational activities, encounters with marine creatures, bonding with friends and family, as well as spiritual and cultural connections. Discussion: These nuanced and rich insights can help to design impactful ocean conservation campaigns that, in turn, will foster deeper appreciation for the ocean's life-sustaining role and may promote ocean stewardship.