Direct, indirect, and vicarious nature experiences collectively predict preadolescents' self-reported nature connectedness and conservation behaviors.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The quantity and context of children's nature experiences are undergoing significant changes, exacerbating a pervasive negative cycle that could impact future conservation efforts. Therefore, it is essential to conduct further studies on the potential impacts of these changes on children's willingness to engage in conservation practices.

Methods

We surveyed 2,175 preadolescents (aged 9-12) from rural and city schools in Hangzhou, Kunming, and Xishuangbanna, China, regarding their nature experiences (direct, indirect, and vicarious) and self-reported nature connectedness and conservation behaviors.

Results

We found that children in urban areas have higher frequencies of indirect and vicarious experiences than those in rural areas, with some direct nature exp

SUBMITTER: Yue Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10290449 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature