Social Gathering And Motivations: Understanding What Draws Young Visitors To Urban Parks; [Convivencia Social Y Motivaciones: Comprendiendo Qué Atrae a jóvenes Visitantes A Los Parques Urbanos]

Aranibar Ramos E.R.; Olarte Pacco M.A.D.; Parizaca Ninaja R.M. · Revista de Psicologia (Peru) (2026) · DOI: 10.18800/psico.202602.020

Resumen

Urban parks are public infrastructures that support recreation, socialization, and psychological well-being, yet their relevance to younger generations in digital societies remains underexplored. This article addresses this gap by examining the extent to which youngsters engage in social behaviors within parks. Drawing on 97 structured interviews across São Paulo, Salvador, Lima, and Arequipa, it adopts a qualitative, interpretivist design. Findings reveal that relaxation, nature contact, and peer interaction are dominant motivations, while digital connectivity functions as facilitator and distraction. The analysis highlights urban parks as hybrid socio-digital arenas and urges policymakers to design inclusive, safe and multifunctional spaces. The study contributes to bridging environmental psychology, urban sociology, and youth studies, offering a perspective on the evolving functions of public spaces.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa