Outdoor Recreation and Well-Being of 45-55 Years Old People

Abstract

Abstract Physical activity plays a fundamental role not only in improving the physical health, but also in increasing the well-being (Biddle, Mutrie, 2002, 2007). The aim of the study was to discover how the natural means for outdoor recreation (biking, Nordic walking, cross-country skiing) influence the positive and negative emotions of the 45-55 year-old people. Methods of research: “FaceReader 3.0” (testing positive and negative emotions), pulsometry, case study, analysis of qualitative data and mathematical - statistical methods of data processing. The obtained results after carrying out recreational activities indicate a tendency to increase. The most significant increase in the percentage of positive emotions was observed in those participants who performed a ride on a bike – increase in emotion of joy +266.4%, increase in emotion of surprise +140.6% and decrease in negative emotions – sadness -41.0%; anger -56.3%; disgust -71.2% (p> 0.05). Nordic walking, increases the level of joy by +121.0%, surprise level by +13.4% (p>0.05). An increase in positive emotions was observed in cross-country skiers – in joy emotions + 19.3% and in surprise emotions + 2.9% (p> 0.05). Analyzing the FR negative emotions data, a decrease was observed – in sadness -24.7% and in anger – 21.7% (p> 0.05). Physical Recreation – cycling, Nordic walking and cross-country skiing outdoors, with applied load of 50 minutes with intensity of 65 – 70% of maximum heart rate, improves the positive emotions.