TY - JOUR
T1 - Bottle with a message: The role of story writing as an engagement tool to explore children's perceptions of marine plastic litter
AU - Praet, Estelle
AU - Baeza-Álvarez, Jostein
AU - De, Veer D
AU - Holtmann-Ahumada, Geraldine
AU - Jones, Jen S.
AU - Langford, Sarah
AU - Dearte, Jessica Michel
AU - Schofield, John
AU - Thiel, Martin
AU - Wyles, Kayleigh J.
PY - 2023/1
Y1 - 2023/1
N2 - As human behaviors play a crucial role in addressing the global threat of plastic pollution, it is vital to understand perceptions about marine plastic litter (MPL) and to develop interventions encouraging pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs). This study evaluates story writing as a window to explore perceptions and as an engagement activity to boost PEBs. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, schoolchildren from the East Pacific coast participated in this activity, each creating a story and answering a pre-post survey. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of 81 stories and 79 surveys show awareness of sources and impacts. Participants identified land and local pollution as significant contributors to MPL and emphasized bio-ecological impacts, reflecting concern for landscape and wildlife. While the stories presented a diversity of solutions, recycling dominated the surveys. As participants reported an increase in self-assessed knowledge and improved PEBs after this activity, it can be seen as an engagement tool to encourage behavior change.
AB - As human behaviors play a crucial role in addressing the global threat of plastic pollution, it is vital to understand perceptions about marine plastic litter (MPL) and to develop interventions encouraging pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs). This study evaluates story writing as a window to explore perceptions and as an engagement activity to boost PEBs. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, schoolchildren from the East Pacific coast participated in this activity, each creating a story and answering a pre-post survey. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of 81 stories and 79 surveys show awareness of sources and impacts. Participants identified land and local pollution as significant contributors to MPL and emphasized bio-ecological impacts, reflecting concern for landscape and wildlife. While the stories presented a diversity of solutions, recycling dominated the surveys. As participants reported an increase in self-assessed knowledge and improved PEBs after this activity, it can be seen as an engagement tool to encourage behavior change.
U2 - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114457
DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114457
M3 - Article
SN - 0025-326X
VL - 186
JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin
JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin
IS - 0
ER -
