Outdoor recreation interests and environmental attitudes in Norway

Abstract

In a survey among a representative sample of the Norwegian population (N = 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