Author(s): Jessalyn Warhurst
Mentor(s): Kelly Goonan
Institution SUU
There is little research on how experiencing awe due to a natural or environmental stimulus can kindle pro-environmental behaviors and advocacy in college students. Students at Southern Utah University have a unique community surrounding nature, with SUU being the University of the Parks. This study explores how experiencing natural awe in outdoor recreation develops pro-environmental behaviors among college students at SUU. Students participating in a four-day river rafting trip on the Lower San Juan River in October 2024 were recruited to participate in a mixed-methods study. Students were asked to complete two surveys, one pre-test before and one post-test after the river trip. Students were also asked to consent to a five-question interview during the trip. Surveys were administered via Qualtrics. Interviews were recorded and transcribed for thematic analysis. A deductive approach was used to identify awe-related themes in the interview data. The surveys included questions about experiences with awe, current behaviors, trip goals, and demographic information. The post-test also incorporated two scales from the Environmental Attitudes Inventory (Milfont & Duckitt, 2010). Both pre and post-test surveys and interviews provided Keltner’s definition of awe: “Awe refers to the emotional experience of wonder in the face of something vaster, greater, and beyond current comprehension”(Keltner & Haidt, 2003). Seven of fourteen students attending the rafting trip completed the paired surveys, and all seven students consented to an interview, although only five were conducted due to time constraints. Results and discussion will address how participants who experience awe relate to the environment and how experiencing awe might promote environmental advocacy.