Factors influencing teenagers’ recreational forest use in a densely-populated region in Switzerland

Abstract

It is undisputed that frequent forest visits have health benefits and positive developmental influences on adolescents. However, little research has been conducted on teenagers' recreational forest use behavior. This paper examines various factors influencing adolescents' forest visit frequency, including motives and constraints, the forest use during childhood, as well as preferences concerning leisure activities. We conducted a survey in eight different schools in a densely-populated region in Switzerland, with a total of 643 respondents between 13 and 22 years of age. The statistical analysis shows that Swiss teenagers visit forests on average once a month and that for most teenagers, forest only plays a marginal role in their lives. Frequent forest visits during childhood, with parents or unsupervised, are positively associated with more frequent visits as teenagers, as are certain leisure preferences. The frequent use of electronic media was strongly linked to a low forest visitation. The highest proportion of the visit frequency's variance could be explained by the friends' visit frequencies and the perceived boredom during a forest visit. We draw the conclusion that forest visits do not offer enough entertainment for most adolescents, alternative leisure activities are therefore preferred. Management implicationsThis study provides a quantitative analysis of teenagers’ recreational forest use, and we highlight factors associated with forest visit frequency. Our results show the importance of childhood visits, differing leisure preferences and the role of perceived boredom, fear and disgust during forest visits. Future management strategies should acknowledge these factors and attempt to get children to visit woodlands from an early age on, accompanied by their parents, as members of youth groups or unsupervised. Further, managers should strive to make forest visits engaging and entertaining for youth, for example by providing open spaces and possibilities for playing.