Nature Versus Technology: Which is More Appealing to Youth Ages 11-14?

Abstract

Recent studies show playtime for youth has shifted from playing outdoors to being connected to a screen-based device. This study examines the amount of time youth ages 11-14 are spending in nature versus the amount of time they are spending connected to a screen-based device. The Drift Prairie group (N=16) spent a day in the great outdoors interacting with their peers and nature. The Comparison group (N=19) was randomly selected from a local 4-H organization. Both the Drift Prairie group and the Comparison group were surveyed using a questionnaire. The Drift Prairie group response was 62.6% active in nature whereas the Comparison group was 68.4%. The Drift Prairie group response to using a screen-based device was 6.3% whereas the Comparison group was 15.8%. The results of this study were not conclusive with the growing trend of youth spending more time with a screen-based device versus spending time with nature.