TY - JOUR
T1 - Enhancing Adolescent Girls’ Well-Being in the Arctic—Finding What Motivates Spending Time in Nature
AU - Wiens, Varpu
AU - Soronen, Kari
AU - Kyngäs, Helvi
AU - Pölkki, Tarja
PY - 2021/2/19
Y1 - 2021/2/19
N2 - Background: According to previous studies, the natural environment positively influences well‐being, including that of adolescent girls. However, knowledge is lacking on what motivates adolescent girls to spend time in nature. A secondary analysis of qualitative data was conducted employing three preexisting sets of interview data that had formed the basis of previously published research reports. A novel perspective on what motivates adolescent girls in the Arctic to spend time in nature was uncovered—a finding that previous articles have not reported. Aim: The aim was to describe what motivates adolescent girls in the Arctic to spend time in nature. Methods: The participants were adolescent girls aged 13 to 16 living in the province of Finnish Lapland. The girls wrote about well‐being (n = 117) and were interviewed (n = 19) about the meaning of seasonal changes, nature and animals’ influence on well‐being. Also, five focus group interviews (n = 17) were held. The materials were analyzed by inductive content analysis. Results: After the secondary analysis, three generic categories were found: 1) wanting to have pleasant emotions, 2) the possibility of participating in activities and 3) a desire to feel better. The main category of “need to experience positive sensations” was formed. Conclusion: Based on these results, through personalized guidance and advice, it is possible to strengthen adolescent girls’ willingness to spend time in nature.
AB - Background: According to previous studies, the natural environment positively influences well‐being, including that of adolescent girls. However, knowledge is lacking on what motivates adolescent girls to spend time in nature. A secondary analysis of qualitative data was conducted employing three preexisting sets of interview data that had formed the basis of previously published research reports. A novel perspective on what motivates adolescent girls in the Arctic to spend time in nature was uncovered—a finding that previous articles have not reported. Aim: The aim was to describe what motivates adolescent girls in the Arctic to spend time in nature. Methods: The participants were adolescent girls aged 13 to 16 living in the province of Finnish Lapland. The girls wrote about well‐being (n = 117) and were interviewed (n = 19) about the meaning of seasonal changes, nature and animals’ influence on well‐being. Also, five focus group interviews (n = 17) were held. The materials were analyzed by inductive content analysis. Results: After the secondary analysis, three generic categories were found: 1) wanting to have pleasant emotions, 2) the possibility of participating in activities and 3) a desire to feel better. The main category of “need to experience positive sensations” was formed. Conclusion: Based on these results, through personalized guidance and advice, it is possible to strengthen adolescent girls’ willingness to spend time in nature.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Adolescent girls
KW - Arctic
KW - Motivation
KW - Nature
KW - Qualitative
KW - Second analysis
KW - Well‐being
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85100951007&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85100951007&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/ijerph18042052
DO - 10.3390/ijerph18042052
M3 - Article
SN - 1661-7827
VL - 18
SP - 1
EP - 17
JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
IS - 4
M1 - 2052
ER -