The differences of nature experiences between urban and rural children

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the differences between urban and rural children in experiencing nature through direct experiences and indirect experiences, as well as nonnature experiences. Questionnaires were distributed to 760 children from 20 schools located in urban and rural areas in Kedah and Penang, Malaysia. The data were analysed using mean score, standard deviation and one-way analysis of variance. The results confirmed that direct experiences with nature among children in both urban and rural areas have declined and children obtain nature experiences mostly through indirect experiences. The results also showed that there were differences between urban and rural children in experiencing nature. Rural children have slightly more direct experiences with nature as compared to children in urban areas, but further analysis showed that the differences of direct experiences between children in Urban Kedah and Rural Kedah were the one that significantly differ with each other. As for indirect experiences, urban children have more indirect experiences with nature as compared to rural children. Meanwhile, for non-nature experiences, there was no difference between urban and rural children. Overall, this study suggests that urban and rural location do influence the frequency of children's experiences with nature particularly the frequency of direct experiences with nature. However, having nearby nature within children's places and spaces is rather more important in making a significant difference on how frequent children have direct experiences with nature. This study further highlights the importance to reconnect both urban and rural children with nature within their daily places and spaces such as home yard, neighbourhood areas, playground, and schools. The directions of future research are also discussed.

Unpacking Determinants of Middle-School Children’s Direct Nature Experiences (DNEs): An Island Perspective

“…Unlike some studies (Larson et al, 2018;Mustapa et al, 2018), children in this study favoured nature-based activities while in NPs. Though this discrepancy may arise from methodological differences, the results lend further support to the argument that Maldivian children are still intuitively connected with nature.…”

“…Earlier studies have identified opportunities and orientations as broad determinants of children's nature experiences. The contextual basis for these factors is supported by many past studies (e.g., Almeida et al, 2018;Larson et al, 2018;Mustapa et al, 2018;.…”

“…The main determinants of children's DNEs are sometimes broadly categorized as opportunities or orientations . Opportunities constitute possibilities for interactions with nature in terms of time and space that tend to decline with urbanization (Imai et al, 2018;Muslim et al, 2019;Mustapa et al, 2018;Zhang et al, 2014). Urbanizationimposed barriers to DNEs include a loss of access to nature due to a depletion of wildlife (Kai et al, 2014), increased distance to nature spaces (Colléony et al, 2020;, logistics of city design and spatial barriers (Kellert et al, 2017).…”

“…The loss of orientation is often associated with manifestations of modernization, particularly increasingly sedentary lifestyles (Kellert et al, 2017) and substitution of DNEs with digitally-mediated engagements (Ballouard et al, 2011;Kellert et al, 2017). Sometimes, children prefer to engage in screen-based activities (Larson et al, 2018) or sports (Mustapa et al, 2018) rather than DNEs, even while outdoors. Nonetheless, children's use of screen-based media is not always negatively associated with the extent of their DNEs .…”

“…Preferences primarily influenced children's nature experiences in terms of their favourite nature places (NPs) visited, activities in NPs, pastimes, and reasons for visits. The literature identifies such determinants as orientations towards nature (Larson et al, 2011(Larson et al, , 2018Mustapa et al, 2018;). In the Maldives, "sandy beaches are the everyday playground for young children" (p. 39), while walking on the reef is a form of recreation (M. Mohamed, 2012).…”