Using games to draw attention to urban nature exposure and its therapeutic benefits: a study protocol

Nature exposure is an important determinant of physical, psychological, and social development and well-being. However, it has been suggested that today's youth are less likely to engage with the natural world than generations before. This trend has been attributed, in part, to behavioral and attitudinal shifts exacerbated by the rise of sedentary lifestyles, digital hobbies, and nature disaffection. These factors have been especially pronounced for those living in urban areas. There may be an opportunity to counter this growing nature disconnection by promoting opposing behavioral and attitudinal shifts. Persuasive games offer a promising avenue for achieving this by leveraging game design to encourage nature exposure.

The primary objective of this study will be to understand to what extent a mixed-media gaming intervention can be used to investigate urban nature exposure, while also drawing attention to the therapeutic benefits associated with urban nature exposure, in a population of university-attending youth (18-25 years old). Participants will be assigned to either a control group or a City Safari intervention group, the intervention comprising a persuasive game modeled after "bingo photography". Participants in the intervention group will be tasked with taking pictures of their urban nature surroundings. A select number of participants from the intervention group will be invited to elaborate on their pictures in a semi-structured, one-on-one interview drawing from a modified photovoice methodology. The resultant transcripts will be analyzed through thematic analysis.

The findings from this project are expected to provide the basis for knowledge communication deliverables targeted to both traditional academic and general non-academic audiences.