Wisconsin’s many parks and natural areas offer opportunities for relaxation, recreation, and renewal—but not everyone experiences the outdoors in the same way. New research by Michelle Marji and Dr. Paula Niedenthal explores why Black Americans often report fewer benefits, greater barriers, and, at times, less belonging in outdoor spaces, even as nature engagement is known to boost well-being.
Prior research shows that time spent in parks and nature improves physical and mental health, reduces the risk of disease and illness, and lowers stress levels. For this research, Marji and Niedenthal partnered with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and two outdoor nonprofits, with support from an Institute for Diversity Science Seed Grant, to better understand Black Americans’ experiences in parks and natural areas. While scholars have proposed that systemic exclusion, cost, discrimination, stereotypes, safety, cultural differences, and a lack of belonging may explain why Black Americans seem less likely to benefit from time in outdoor spaces, there isn’t consensus on these possible explanations.
To make sense of this puzzle, Marji and Niedenthal set out to explore how the psychological experiences of Black park users contribute to or detract from the advantages of time in nature. Across three studies, employing focus groups, online surveys of 400 Black and 400 White participants, and an in-person study conducted at a park in Wisconsin, Marji and Niedenthal examined how metastereotypes, or the awareness of how one’s racial group is perceived by others, affect Black Americans’ park experiences.
They found that certain metastereotypes—such as the view that society believes that outdoor recreation “isn’t a Black thing to do” or that Black Americans “lack knowledge about nature”—were prevalent. Additionally, individuals with higher awareness of stereotypes about their group reported lower belonging and higher vigilance in parks. Among their study participants, Black Americans reported significantly higher vigilance in parks compared to White Americans, which may be related to feelings of being watched or surveilled while in they are in parks and natural areas. However, despite reports of higher vigilance, Black Americans claimed levels of belonging, park visitation, and connection to nature that were comparable to those of White Americans.
While this research points to connections between metastereotypes and heightened vigilance among Black park users, study participants also described meaningful motivations for going outdoors, from enjoying food and working outside to connecting with family. Marji and Niedenthal suggest that addressing stereotyped depictions of people in nature and fostering belonging in parks through initiatives done in collaboration with Black communities may help ensure that all Wisconsinites can experience the full restorative benefits of nature.