TY - JOUR
T1 - The childhood factor
T2 - Adult visits to green places and the significance of childhood experience
AU - Thompson, Catharine Ward
AU - Aspinall, Peter
AU - Montarzino, Alicia
PY - 2008/1
Y1 - 2008/1
N2 - This article explores the significance of childhood experience of woodlands and other green or natural places in relation to adult patterns of use and attitudes to such places. It draws on data collected in different parts of Britain. Questionnaires were used to explore the frequency of adults' visits to green places, the frequency with which they reported visiting such places as children, and their attitudes to different attributes of the places they visited. The data show a strong relationship between frequent childhood visits and being prepared to visit woodlands or green spaces alone as an adult. By contrast, not visiting as a child was associated with a very low likelihood of later adult visits. The data also suggest that the physical and the emotional benefits of access to green space are strongly reflected in childhood experience. The significance of these findings for today's children, as they become adults, is discussed. © Sage Publications, Inc. 2008.
AB - This article explores the significance of childhood experience of woodlands and other green or natural places in relation to adult patterns of use and attitudes to such places. It draws on data collected in different parts of Britain. Questionnaires were used to explore the frequency of adults' visits to green places, the frequency with which they reported visiting such places as children, and their attitudes to different attributes of the places they visited. The data show a strong relationship between frequent childhood visits and being prepared to visit woodlands or green spaces alone as an adult. By contrast, not visiting as a child was associated with a very low likelihood of later adult visits. The data also suggest that the physical and the emotional benefits of access to green space are strongly reflected in childhood experience. The significance of these findings for today's children, as they become adults, is discussed. © Sage Publications, Inc. 2008.
KW - Access
KW - Childhood
KW - Green places
KW - Green space
KW - Woodlands
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=36549077027&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0013916507300119
DO - 10.1177/0013916507300119
M3 - Article
SN - 0013-9165
VL - 40
SP - 111
EP - 143
JO - Environment and Behavior
JF - Environment and Behavior
IS - 1
ER -