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Outdoor Recreation & Nature ExperienceWFES✓ Validated

Wildland Fear Expectancy Scale

Bixler & Floyd · 1997

Overview

Measures the degree to which individuals expect to experience fear, anxiety, or discomfort in wildland and wilderness settings. Assesses fear expectancies related to specific wildland hazards including wildlife encounters (bears, snakes, insects), getting lost, physical injury, weather, and darkness. Developed to understand psychological barriers to wildland recreation and nature engagement, particularly among urban populations with limited wildland experience. Fear expectancies are distinct from actual fear responses — they represent anticipated emotional reactions that influence recreation behavior and nature avoidance.

Measure Details

Number of Items20 items
Response Scale5-point Likert (1 = Not at all, 5 = Extremely)
Author(s)Bixler & Floyd
Year Published1997
Internal Reliabilityα = .85–.91
DomainOutdoor Recreation & Nature Experience

Citation

Bixler, R. D., & Floyd, M. F. (1997). Nature is scary, disgusting, and uncomfortable. Environment and Behavior, 29(4), 443–467.

Keywords

wildlandfearanxietywildernesswildlifebarriersurbanrecreationnature avoidanceBixlerFloyd

Use This Measure

Free to use for research and educational purposes. Please cite the original authors.

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At a Glance

Items20
Year1997
Reliabilityα = .85–.91