Research studies have shown that positive experiences in nature lead to increased environmental responsibility and connection to nature. Pathways to this relation, however, are generally unknown, especially among children from developing countries.
The present study addressed this gap in the research by examining the relationship between Mexican children's place of residence (rural/urban) and self-reported pro-environmental behavior (PEB). The study considered the children's connection to nature as a mediator in the relationship between their place of residence and PEB. Two groups of children (age 9 -12) participated in the study: 200 from Mexican rural areas and 200 from a Mexican urban area. All the children completed a self-report survey of their pro-environmental behaviors and a connection to nature scale.
Children from both the urban and rural settings showed a high sense of connection to nature and low pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs). Children living in rural areas, however, had higher connection to nature scores and reported more PEBs than those living in urban areas. PEB was similar for both boys and girls, but girls reported more connection to nature than boys. Additionally, the relationship between connection to nature and PEB was stronger for girls than for boys. The overall results of the study showed that place of residence was directly and positively linked to children's PEBs, and that this relationship was mediated by children's connection to nature.
These findings are consistent with other studies indicating that the stronger children feel connected with the natural world, the more likely they are to behave in a more environmentally responsible way. The positive link between living in a rural area and greater frequency of PEB is also consistent with previous studies which demonstrate that time spent in rural areas -- and hence in closer contact with nature -- is one of the main determinants of people's PEB. The low frequency of PEB found in this study is consistent with previous studies conducted in Latin America where participants reported low to medium PEB. The positive link between connection to nature and PEB has been found in both developed and developing countries. This study and previous research suggest that increasing children's contact with nature may be a way of promoting their pro-environmentalism. Because living close to nature isn't always possible, other ways of providing opportunities for children's contact with nature should be considered, including the greening of schoolyards.
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