Assessing the Impact of Social and Ecological Change during COVID-19 in Natural Areas Through the Subjective Well-Being and Place Attachment of Natural Area Users

Authors

  • Savannah Stuart University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
  • Ryan Plummer Brock University
  • Gillian Dale Brock University
  • Garrett Hutson Brock University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18666/JOREL-2023-11659

Keywords:

outdoor recreation, COVID-19, place attachment, subjective wellbeing, sustainability

Abstract

The devastating impact of COVID-19 on the mental health and well-being of individuals has led researchers to increasingly consider the importance of people-place interactions as drivers of positive mental health. This study explores people-place relationships with natural areas through the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on subjective well-being and place attachment. The study was conducted in a system of natural areas in the Niagara Region, Ontario. Through completion of self-report questionnaires, natural area users identified changes they observed in the natural areas over the COVID-19 pandemic and reported their self-perceived impact of these changes. Findings emphasize the importance of managing social and ecological changes in natural areas to preserve ecological health and user benefits.

Author Biographies

Ryan Plummer, Brock University

Director, Environmental Sustainability Research Centre

Gillian Dale, Brock University

Postdoctoral research fellow, Environmental Sustainability Research Centre

Garrett Hutson, Brock University

Associate Professor, Recreation and Leisure Studies

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Published

2023-10-31

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 1 (2024)

Section

Regular Papers

License

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