Benefits and Constraints of Outdoor Recreation for People with Physical Disabilities: Inferences from Recreational Fishing

Abstract

The benefits and constraints to angling participation experienced by recreational anglers with and without disabilities were compared in this study. Data were gathered for 775 angler organization members (n = 347 with disabilities) responding to a mail survey in Germany. Anglers with disabilities were older and more often retired than anglers without disabilities, but there were no differences in angling frequency between angler groups. The social and self-improvement benefits associated with recreational fishing were higher for anglers with disabilities compared to anglers without disabilities, and anglers with disabilities experienced significantly more and different constraints to participation. Targeted management actions specifically directed at people with disabilities are needed to capitalize on the importance of a nature-based recreation activity like angling for this demographic group.