Outdoor recreation interests and environmental attitudes in Norway

Abstract

In a survey among a representative sample of the Norwegian population (N 5 2449), the associations between environmental attitudes and interest in 15 outdoor recreation activities were assessed. Environmental attitudes were measured by a short version of the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale. Results suggest that most Norwegians agree with the environmental values tapped by the NEP scale. NEP scores were higher among women than among men and they were negatively associated with age. Rural inhabitants expressed lower NEP scores than did urban respondents, but educational level did not affect NEP scale scores. Multiple regression models explained only limited parts of the variance in respondents' NEP score and interests in outdoor recreation activities. The NEP scale yielded different regression coefficients across the 15 activities. However, the scale did contribute significantly to the prediction of interest in ten out of 15 activities. The results show that 'appreciative' and 'consumptive' activities do not constitute homogenous categories that relate to environmental attitudes in opposing ways. For example, various types of fishing and various types of hunting show different associations with environmental attitudes as measured by the NEP scale. The combined picture of the regression models suggests a complex relationship between recreational interests and the predictor variables. To obtain better explanations, other variables and more complex models will most likely be needed

Validation of the Greek Version of the Responsible Environmental Behavior Scale and Relationships with Participation in Outdoor Activities

“…In contrast, Zelezny and Schultz (2000) claimed that women were more engaged to responsible environmental behavior than men, and Johnson, Bowker and Cordell (2004) reported that women scored higher on the New Environmental Paradigm, a scale assessing environmental beliefs, than men. In contrast, results from a Norwegian sample showed that men had higher NEP scores than women (Bjerke, et al, 2006).…”

“…Furthermore, they reported that participants in motor-boating, snowmobiling and off-road driving viewed the environmental in terms of its potential use for the above vehicles. Teisl and O'Brien (2003) Recently, Bjerke Thrane and Kleiven (2006) showed that appreciative and consumptive activities did not constitute homogeneous categories that related to environmental attitudes in opposing ways. For example, various types of hunting and various types of fishing showed different associations with environmental attitudes.…”

Landowner perceptions of three types of boating in the Saranac Lakes area of New York State׳s Adirondack Park

“…Studies incorporating general beliefs (i.e., beliefs focused on human-environment relationships in general; Best & Mayerl, 2013) often base belief constructs on the new ecological paradigm scale, adapted from the new environmental paradigm (NEP; Dunlap & Van Liere, 1978;Dunlap, Van Liere, Mertig, & Jones, 2000). Use of this environmental concern scale has resulted in wide variation in scale scores across cultural and recreational groups, and both strong and weak relationships among scale items, attitudes, and behaviors (e.g., Dunlap et al, 2000;Bjerke, Thrane, & Kleiven, 2006;Thapa, 2010).…”

Do outdoor recreation participants place their lands in conservation easements?

“…It has been argued that choice of and participation in different recreation activities are influenced by individuals' environmental values or attitudes (Bjerke et al 2006;Jackson 1986). People participating in different types of outdoor recreation may have different value orientations toward or concerning environmental conservation (Peterson et al 2008;Theodori et al 1998).…”