Exploring Youth Experiences in Nature Through a Health Equity Lens: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Research demonstrates that for youth, connections to nature are protective health assets and that socio-economic status impacts health outcomes and opportunities. Less is known about how the intersection of youth connections to nature and socio-economic status shape health experiences and findings that do exist are mixed. The purpose of this qualitative study is to understand how youth in the Niagara Region of Canada experience nature, with attention to their socio-economic status. Eight youth between the ages of 11 and 15 were recruited from community organizations and contacts at Brock University and participated in a semi-structured interview. These youth all self-identified as having positive experiences in nature as part of the eligibility requirements for the study. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Two themes were identified from the results 1) connections between nature and participants were strong, regardless of a participant’s socio-economic circumstances and 2) experiences in nature appear to be influenced by SES in terms of the ways youth were able to connect with nature through things like resources and access. Findings are discussed through the lens of the Central Capabilities Approach. A strengths-based approach guided this study.