Nature deficit and technology overuse in childhood. A correlational study by gender of its influence on sustainable identity construction in childhood

This article addresses important aspects of the fragmented bidirectionality between children and nature that currently exists in childhood. The combination of factors to consider as a result of constant socio-environmental crises makes addressing two important points relevant: where children prefer...

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Main Authors: Sara Serrate González, Judit Alonso del Casar, Carmen Patino Alonso, José Manuel Muñoz Rodríguez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR) 2025-01-01
Series:Revista Española de Pedagogía
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Online Access:https://www.revistadepedagogia.org/rep/vol83/iss290/9/
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author Sara Serrate González
Judit Alonso del Casar
Carmen Patino Alonso
José Manuel Muñoz Rodríguez
author_facet Sara Serrate González
Judit Alonso del Casar
Carmen Patino Alonso
José Manuel Muñoz Rodríguez
author_sort Sara Serrate González
collection DOAJ
description This article addresses important aspects of the fragmented bidirectionality between children and nature that currently exists in childhood. The combination of factors to consider as a result of constant socio-environmental crises makes addressing two important points relevant: where children prefer spending their free time and the differences they perceive according to whether the options are more or less artificial/natural; and, on similar lines, whether these decisions and preferences shape other key pieces of their identity, such as their sense of freedom, autonomy, and responsibility. The main aim is to identify their preferences and, based on their perceptions, analyse whether there are differences by gender in how they approach free time: whether they use technology or not, whether they prioritise the street and natural spaces, and whether effects are observed in their identity construction. An anonymous, self-administered quantitative survey using a structured questionnaire was performed. The target population comprised students enrolled in years 5 and 6 of primary school, with a sample of 2586 respondents at a national level. The statistical analysis involved calculating descriptive measures such as means, standard deviations, medians, and interquartile ranges (IR). The Mann-Whitney U test was also applied and Spearman’s correlation coefficient was calculated. The results, based on a series of correlational analyses, suggest that there are significant differences by gender in preference for use and spaces, as well as differences in the effects of these preferences on their identity. The possibility of new pedagogical demands and responsibilities for social justice in environmental matters emerging remains open.
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spelling doaj-art-6ee685c2ba1c4ba08bf9a7b6235d351f2025-02-07T11:40:45ZengUniversidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR)Revista Española de Pedagogía0034-94612174-09092025-01-018329014115710.22550/2174-0909.4124Nature deficit and technology overuse in childhood. A correlational study by gender of its influence on sustainable identity construction in childhoodSara Serrate González0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9985-7623Judit Alonso del Casar1https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0485-3196Carmen Patino Alonso2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8232-6685José Manuel Muñoz Rodríguez3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4688-6420Universidad de SalamancaUniversidad de SalamancaUniversidad de SalamancaUniversidad de SalamancaThis article addresses important aspects of the fragmented bidirectionality between children and nature that currently exists in childhood. The combination of factors to consider as a result of constant socio-environmental crises makes addressing two important points relevant: where children prefer spending their free time and the differences they perceive according to whether the options are more or less artificial/natural; and, on similar lines, whether these decisions and preferences shape other key pieces of their identity, such as their sense of freedom, autonomy, and responsibility. The main aim is to identify their preferences and, based on their perceptions, analyse whether there are differences by gender in how they approach free time: whether they use technology or not, whether they prioritise the street and natural spaces, and whether effects are observed in their identity construction. An anonymous, self-administered quantitative survey using a structured questionnaire was performed. The target population comprised students enrolled in years 5 and 6 of primary school, with a sample of 2586 respondents at a national level. The statistical analysis involved calculating descriptive measures such as means, standard deviations, medians, and interquartile ranges (IR). The Mann-Whitney U test was also applied and Spearman’s correlation coefficient was calculated. The results, based on a series of correlational analyses, suggest that there are significant differences by gender in preference for use and spaces, as well as differences in the effects of these preferences on their identity. The possibility of new pedagogical demands and responsibilities for social justice in environmental matters emerging remains open.https://www.revistadepedagogia.org/rep/vol83/iss290/9/nature deficittechnology surpluschildhoodidentityautonomyfreedomresponsibility
spellingShingle Sara Serrate González
Judit Alonso del Casar
Carmen Patino Alonso
José Manuel Muñoz Rodríguez
Nature deficit and technology overuse in childhood. A correlational study by gender of its influence on sustainable identity construction in childhood
Revista Española de Pedagogía
nature deficit
technology surplus
childhood
identity
autonomy
freedom
responsibility
title Nature deficit and technology overuse in childhood. A correlational study by gender of its influence on sustainable identity construction in childhood
title_full Nature deficit and technology overuse in childhood. A correlational study by gender of its influence on sustainable identity construction in childhood
title_fullStr Nature deficit and technology overuse in childhood. A correlational study by gender of its influence on sustainable identity construction in childhood
title_full_unstemmed Nature deficit and technology overuse in childhood. A correlational study by gender of its influence on sustainable identity construction in childhood
title_short Nature deficit and technology overuse in childhood. A correlational study by gender of its influence on sustainable identity construction in childhood
title_sort nature deficit and technology overuse in childhood a correlational study by gender of its influence on sustainable identity construction in childhood
topic nature deficit
technology surplus
childhood
identity
autonomy
freedom
responsibility
url https://www.revistadepedagogia.org/rep/vol83/iss290/9/
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