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Abstract The purpose of this study was to explore how ethnicity/race and gender, in combination, influence person-natural environment interactions. The sample consisted of 525 university students equally representing Black, Hispanic, and White ethnic/racial groups. Two research questions were developed and examined: (a) how ethnicity/race and gender are related to the affective meanings attached to the natural environment, and (b) how ethnicity/race and gender influence preference for environmental settings in outdoor recreation. The results for both research questions suggest that ethnicity/race and gender influence the affective meanings attached to a forest environment and the environmental settings preferred for outdoor recreation. Further analyses were performed across the 12 affective meaning scales on forest environments and six environmental setting preference scales. Differences in meanings and preferences across the ethnicity/race and gender attributes are presented and discussed. The final section of this article discusses some possible theoretical meanings of these relationships and their implications for outdoor recreation management. Keywords: Affective Meaning;Environmental Attitudes;Environmental Meaning;Environmental Setting Preference;Ethnicity;Gender;Outdoor Recreation;Race
Gordon J. Walker Randy J. Virden (Wed,) studied this question.