The influence of place attachment on proenvironmental behavior among winter recreationist in lift-served wasatch winter recreation areas

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between place attachment and proenvironmental behaviors among winter recreationists in the Wasatch Mountains. As the anthropogenic effects of climate change the snowfall in winter recreation areas, participants' recreation opportunities may be at risk of disappearing. This anthropogenic effect is reversible by human behavior. This study aimed to find out whether those attached to affected recreation areas were willing to perform proenvironmental behaviors when demonstrating a higher place attachment for their winter recreation area. This study aimed to provide managers with a measure of their visitor's place attachment and intentions to perform proenvironmental behaviors. A survey of the participants resulted in 155 responses from winter recreationists in the Wasatch Mountains. The results of this study found the two dimensions of place attachment: dependence and place identity. The study also showed a significant influence of experience on place attachment, which is in line with previous research on place attachment. The results showed no significance for the influence of experience on proenvironmental behavior. This component has not been studied previously; further research is necessary to determine whether these results hold in different populations. The influence of experience and place attachment on proenvironmental behaviors was analyzed with a multiple regression analysis. This showed no significance, which is in contrast with previous research. Further research could suggest what barriers winter recreationist see when doing proenvironmental behaviors. The survey results of proenvironmental behavior do show what behaviors winter recreationists are more likely to perform. Managers can use this information to improve their sustainability programs and limit impacts their recreation area and visitors have. This information helps to understand visitors of winter recreation areas.