Abstract
Visitors’ evaluations of outdoor recreation experiences are influenced by a variety of factors. This paper utilizes a stress/coping framework to investigate the relationship between previous experience, place attachment, and perceptions of conflict in two northeastern wilderness areas. Previous research has demonstrated that those with higher levels of experience are likely to report higher levels of place attachment. Level of experience has also been shown to influence visitors’ appraisal of conflict. This study synthesizes previous works by examining the relationship between these variables in a comprehensive framework. Data were collected through a combination of on-site interviews (n=60) and mail-back surveys (n=381) in the summers of 2003 and 2004. Results indicate: (1) visitors can be classified by level of experience and degree of attachment to the site; (2) multiple dimensions of conflict exist; and (3) level of experience and degree of attachment influence the type/intensity of conflict.
| Original language | American English |
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| State | Published - Mar 15 2005 |
| Event | George Wright Society Biennial Conference on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites - Duration: Mar 15 2005 → … |
Conference
| Conference | George Wright Society Biennial Conference on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites |
|---|---|
| Period | 03/15/05 → … |
DC Disciplines
- Human Ecology
- Place and Environment
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Sociology
- Tourism