Abstract Type: Independent oral presentation
Abstract TitlePlace-based approach for predicting pro-environmental behaviors of hikers at Namsan Park, South Korea
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Abstract
Leisure participants’ pro-environmental behavior is critical, and it is necessary to consider how to increase these behaviors. According to the conservation-recreation model (Larson et al., 2018), place-based psychological variables such as place meanings and place attachment can predict outdoor recreationists’ engagement of pro-environmental behaviors (PEB). We tested whether place meanings influence place attachment to Namsan Park in Seoul, Korea, which in turn may predict diverse PEBs (i.e., conservation lifestyle behavior, environmental citizenship, environmental concern, environmental norms). The self-administered on-site surveys were distributed to hikers at Namsan park, resulting in 357 completed surveys. All variables (i.e., all dimensions of place meanings, place attachment, and pro-environmental behaviors) were measured with a 5-point Likert-type scale. Analysis of the pooled sample indicated a satisfactory fit of the model to the data (measurement model: χ2=900.081, df=340, RMSEA=.071, NNFI=.952, CFI=.957; structural model: χ2=597.530, df=322, RMSEA=.050, NNFI=.975, CFI=.979). The results showed that environmental and social place meanings positively increased three dimensions of place attachment (place identity, place dependence, and social bonding). Among these place attachment dimensions, place identity negatively predicted environmental norms, while social bonding positively influenced conservation lifestyle behaviors and environmental norms. Place identity was found to have a negative effect on environmental norms, while social bonding had a positive effect on them. If the hikers value social bonding within the park, it also increased the engagement of conservation lifestyle behaviors such as recycling and saving energy. Our study findings could help researchers/practitioners utilize the place-based approach to understanding outdoor recreationists’ psychological attachment to a park and the engagement of PEB and create a better public leisure space.
Related Conference Topic Area
recreation and tourism
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Presenter Information
First Name Jee In |
Last Name Yoon |
Affiliation Kyung Hee University |
Author(s) Information
Author | First Name | Last Name | Affiliation |
1 | Jee In | Yoon | Kyung Hee University |
2 | Nayoung | Kim | Kyung Hee University |