Connecting with Nature in the Digital Age: Intentions of Adolescents in California Urban Areas

Schwab, Keri; Hendricks, William W.; Greenwood, Jerusha B.; Goldenberg, Marni; Greenwood, Brian; Higgins, Lindsey M.

doi:10.18666/jpra-2019-9822

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…Through focus groups [ 42 , 43 ] and photo surveys [ 44 ], adolescents reported that they valued nature for providing them with good times with family and friends, where they could escape day-to-day stresses, relax, and ‘unplug’. Through a combination of photovoice, ‘talking circles’, and interviews, young people revealed that they found calm, hope, and metaphors of resilience in nature [ 45 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘This Is What the Colour Green Smells Like!’: Urban Forest Bathing Improved Adolescent Nature Connection and Wellbeing

McEwan

Potter²,

Kotera

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Background: Research suggests that an early connection with nature can benefit wellbeing into adulthood. However, there is less research assessing whether adolescents benefit from formal nature connection interventions such as forest bathing (slow mindful nature walks). This research aimed to assess whether an urban nature connection intervention (called ParkBathe) could improve adolescents’ nature connection and wellbeing. Method: In an experimental repeated measures design, 44 adolescents sampled opportunistically from Scouts groups, completed surveys and interviews before and after experiencing an urban nature connection intervention. Results: Paired-samples t-tests between baseline and post-intervention survey scores revealed statistically significant improvements in anxiety (13% reduction); rumination (44% reduction); scepticism (17% reduction); nature connection (25% increase); and social connection (12% increase). The largest effect size was found for nature connection. Interviews revealed that before the session, participants had a mixed understanding and expectations of the intervention. Conclusions: After the session, the participants expressed enjoying the social aspects of being part of a group and being present in the moment by noticing nature. They expressed the effects of this as immediately calming and relaxing. Urban forest bathing improved nature connection and wellbeing in adolescents and could be implemented and/or signposted by schools and youth charities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘This Is What the Colour Green Smells Like!’: Urban Forest Bathing Improved Adolescent Nature Connection and Wellbeing

McEwan

Potter²,

Kotera

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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“…For some adolescents, natural areas form valued places for adventure, refuge and resilience. Through focus groups (Schwab et al., 2020; Ward Thompson, Travlou, & Roe, 2006) and photo surveys of important places in their lives (Owens & McKinnon, 2009), teens in California and Scotland communicated that they valued local nature for three reasons. They sought out places for active recreation, risk, discovery and challenge in nature.…”

Section: Developing Connections With Nature: Qualitative Descriptionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For some adolescents, natural areas form valued places for adventure, refuge and resilience. Through focus groups (Schwab et al, 2020;Ward Thompson, Travlou, & Roe, 2006) and photo surveys of important places in their lives (Owens & McKinnon, 2009)…”

Section: Connecting With Nature In Middle Childhood and Adolescencementioning

confidence: 99%

Childhood nature connection and constructive hope: A review of research on connecting with nature and coping with environmental loss

2020

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Within a generation, children's lives have largely moved indoors, with the loss of free‐ranging exploration of the nearby natural world, even as research indicates that direct experiences of nature in childhood contribute to care for nature across the life span. In response, many conservation organizations advocate connecting children with nature, and there has been rising interest in measuring young people's connectedness with nature, understanding how it relates to their well‐being and stewardship behaviour and creating programs to increase connection. This article reviews the literature on these topics, covering both quantitative and qualitative studies. It notes that this research emphasizes positive experiences and emotions, even as global environmental changes and biodiversity loss accelerate. Young people's emotions of worry, frustration and sadness as they learn about environmental degradation also express their understanding that they are connected to the biosphere. Therefore this review includes research on how young people cope with information about large‐scale environmental problems, and it identifies practices to sustain hope. The review concludes by suggesting how research on connection with nature and coping with environmental change can benefit from integration. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.

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“…In the teen years, young people value nature as a place for good times with family and friends in parks and other green gathering places, physical challenges, and quiet retreats where they can find calm and relax (Hatala, Njeze, Morton, Pear, & Bird-Naytowhow, 2020;Owens & McKinnon, 2009;Schwab et al, 2020;Ward Thompson, Travlou & Roe, 2006). Kaplan and Kaplan (2002) noted, however, that for many young people the teen years become a "time out" from nature, when they are more strongly drawn to shops and built recreational attractions like athletic fields and sports events.…”

Section: Qualitative Descriptions Of Children's Developingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Childhood Nature Connection and Constructive Hope

Chawla

2022

High-Quality Outdoor Learning

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Abstract1. Within a generation, children’s lives have largely moved indoors, with the loss of free-ranging exploration of the nearby natural world, even as research indicates that direct experiences of nature in childhood contribute to care for nature across the life span.2. In response, many conservation organizations advocate connecting children with nature, and there has been rising interest in measuring young people’s connectedness with nature, understanding how it relates to their well-being and stewardship behaviour and creating programs to increase connection.3. This article reviews the literature on these topics, covering both quantitative and qualitative studies. It notes that this research emphasizes positive experiences and emotions, even as global environmental changes and biodiversity loss accelerate.4. Young people’s emotions of worry, frustration and sadness as they learn about environmental degradation also express their understanding that they are connected to the biosphere. Therefore this review includes research on how young people cope with information about large-scale environmental problems, and it identifies practices to sustain hope.5. The review concludes by suggesting how research on connection with nature and coping with environmental change can benefit from integration.

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Connecting with Nature in the Digital Age: Intentions of Adolescents in California Urban Areas

Cited by 4 publications

References 0 publications

‘This Is What the Colour Green Smells Like!’: Urban Forest Bathing Improved Adolescent Nature Connection and Wellbeing

‘This Is What the Colour Green Smells Like!’: Urban Forest Bathing Improved Adolescent Nature Connection and Wellbeing

Childhood nature connection and constructive hope: A review of research on connecting with nature and coping with environmental loss

Childhood Nature Connection and Constructive Hope

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