Outdoor Behavior Research Articles

Postal Workers’ Occupational and Leisure-time Sun Safety Behaviors (United States)

United States Postal Service letter carriers are exposed to long bouts of UVR and thus are vulnerable to skin cancer. While previous studies have shown that occupational sun protection is often deficient, few studies have examined outdoor workers' behavior during leisure time. Subjects (n = 2,660) self-reported widebrim hat and sunscreen use over the past five workdays and past two non-working days using Likert-type scales. Generalized linear mixed models and generalized estimating equations were used to compare hat and sunscreen rates and predictors during occupational and leisure time. On average, carriers spent 3.9 h outside during workdays and 3.3 h during non-working days. Sunscreen and widebrim hat use during the workday is low and rates of use are significantly lower during non-working days. Sun safety interventions for carriers should encourage sun protection at all times when outdoors.

A Cross-Regional Comparison of Recreation Patterns of Older Hunters

We studied outdoor recreation patterns among older hunting license holders in Pennsylvania and Colorado to better understand aspects of five trends that promise to impact outdoor recreation preferences, behavior, and management priorities: Sunbelt population growth, declining residential stability, urbanization, aging, and increasing levels of formal education. Results of our mail survey showed that the samples were similar in age, gender, and ethnicity, but Pennsylvania respondents were more likely to have lived their entire lives in the state and had spent more of their adult lives in rural areas. On the other hand, Pennsylvania respondents were less likely to have attended school beyond high school. Pennsylvania respondents hunted more frequently and were more likely to gather wild foods. Colorado respondents were more likely to fish, and they participated in more nonconsumptive activities. Education, rural/urban differences, and residential stability had a limited ability to predict differences in consumptive activities. Age, education, and residential stability predicted differences in nonconsumptive activities. Results suggest that cultural differences between regions may be more important than socio-demographic characteristics for understanding of outdoor recreation patterns in the past, present, and future.

Freshwater Fishing Participation Patterns of Racial and Ethnic Groups in Texas

Abstract The goal of this paper was to understand differences in the recreational fishing behavior of African-American, Mexican-American, and Anglo anglers in Texas. Hypotheses about different behaviors in recreational fishing were generated from documented differences in the cultural patterns of these groups as well as alternative theories of outdoor recreation behavior. Data from four Texas statewide angler surveys were used to test hypotheses. Twelve measures of participation were identified as subject to racial and ethnic differentiation. Except for the rate of licensed participation, only males were included in group comparisons because of the limited sample size of minority female anglers. Results indicated significant differences among racial and ethnic groups for 10 participation variables, all of which were generally consistent with what was expected from previous research. Anglo males were more likely than all other racial and gender groups (African-American males, African-American females, and ...

A Rejoinder to Reviewers' Comments

It is with satisfaction, and trepidation, that we engage in dialogue with the likes of Hobson Bryan, Walt Kuentzel, and Bonita McFarlane. Collectively, their respective works on recreational specialization have contributed much to our understanding of leisure behavior, particularly outdoor recreation behavior. Bryan's groundbreaking work on recreational specialization among anglers and fly fishermen laid a foundation for subsequent exploration of within-activity differences. His works in 1977 and 1979 spawned dozens of studies, theses and doctoral dissertations, and scholarly articles appearing in journals, conference proceedings, and books. Kuentzel's work on paddlers, hunters, and sailors shown us that different dimensions of recreational specialization have varying degrees of association with one another and that these dimensions do not correlate with other aspects of recreational involvement in a consistent manner. Finally, McFarlane's work on birdwatchers may be the most complete study conducted to date, using the recreational specialization framework, that seeks to determine the number of participants within a given leisure social world who embody particular styles of involvement. In this brief rejoinder, we will limit our remarks primarily to what we see are opportunities for additional research that stem from our distinguished colleagues' comments. Our three reviewers agreed that leisure researchers needed to conceive specialization as a process that entails change over time. In her comments, McFarlane noted that past research on recreational specialization has focused on quantifying the 'amount' of specialization individual possesses. Studies, in fact, have treated recreational specialization as a condition that characterizes people's involvement at a given point in time. An argument could be made that researchers, we included, have actually measured involvement and commitment rather than specialization. Our major objective was to rethink what recreational specialization means and how we should go about studying it. We believe that specialization is a process that entails a progression in how recreationists participate in and view the activity over time. Hence, our conception of recreational specialization is based on the idea that people's involvement changes over time as reflected by a focusing of behavior, the acquisition of skills and knowledge, and the tendency to become so committed to the activity that it becomes a central life interest. While we advocated the use of longitudinal data, we agree with McFarlane that qualitative research designs, which study participants at different stages of involvement, are well suited to helping us understand the factors that facilitate and constrain specialization. In his comments, Kuentzel provided valuable insight into the different career trajectories facing leisure participants. He made the case that modernity and commercialization of leisure have created a diversity of opportunities, which may actually encourage people to sample activities rather than specialize. We agree completely with this point and wrote the article with the understanding that specialization is not a typical career course that characterizes people's involvement in leisure activities. As we noted, many individuals may choose to participate in a wide range of leisure activities at any given point during their life. Such individuals may actually scoff at performance standards and codes of ethics embraced by specialists and social world insiders. Future research needs to establish the extent to which people choose to specialize in activities. Studies may reveal that experimenting (or sampling), dabbling, and other styles of involvement better describe people's leisure in modern society than does recreational specialization. Kuentzel also noted that a multiplicity of leisure opportunities is likely to generate various participation trajectories within a given leisure social world, which means that progress is unlikely to be directed toward an ultimate pre-established objective. …

Social environment and social network: extent and resources of the daily life of elderly persons

The study asks for factors determining the activity space of the aged. Indicators of old people's activities space are the number of their outdoor activities and their use of the local supply of public facilities. Controversial hypothesis are won from ecological gerontology and psychological attachment theory. At issue in the first place is how personal social networks mold older people's outdoor behavior. Another hypothesis assumes social support of the elderly to be exposed to the laws of reciprocity. The study makes use of a poll titled "life-organization of older people" that was conducted by the German Youth Institute in 1993. Respondents were German 55- to 79-year-olds (N = 4130). Analyses rely on multifactorial analyses of variance. Results back attachment theory and the reciprocity thesis.

Change of Ultraviolet Absorbance of Sunscreens by Exposure to Solar-Simulated Radiation

Regarding the outdoor behavior of the Caucasian population, modern sunscreens should provide high and broad-spectrum ultraviolet protection in the ultraviolet B as well as in the ultraviolet A range and should be photochemically stable for ultraviolet doses, which can be expected in solar radiation. At present an assessment of the photostability of suncare products is not a general requirement before marketing. In order to evaluate the photostability of suncare products we conducted an in vitro test and measured the spectral absorbance of 16 sunscreens before, and after exposure to increasing biologically weighted standard erythema doses (5, 12.5, 25, 50) of solar-simulated radiation. Seven of 16 suncare products showed a significant dose- and wavelength-dependent decrease of the ultraviolet A protective capacity, whereas the ability to absorb ultraviolet B was not affected. In the ultraviolet A range, the decrease of absorbance (photoinactivation), respectively, the increase of transmission was 12-48% for an ultraviolet exposure of 25 standard erythema dose. Photoinactivation started in the wavelength range between 320 and 335 nm with a maximum above 350 nm. Furthermore, our analysis showed that the behavior of suncare products was not predictable from its individual ingredients. Neither complex combinations of organic filters nor addition of inorganic filters could absolutely prevent photoinactivation. The inclusion of a single photounstable filter did not mean photoinstability of the complete suncare product. Photoinactivation of sunscreens appears to be an underestimated hazard to the skin, first, by formation of free radicals, second, by increased ultraviolet A transmission.

Indoor Air Pollution: An Update for the Clinician

Indoor air pollution can cause various health effects. The sources of indoor air contaminants include environmental tobacco smoke, combustion products, building materials and furnishings, cleaning agents, business machines, biologic agents, and radon. Common health effects that are usually reversible include cough, chest tightness, mucus membrane irritation, and sore throat. Certain specific lung diseases such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis, allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis, Legionella pneumonia, and lung cancer have been associated with specific indoor air pollutants. Other illnesses related to indoor air are of a nonspecific nature, e.g., sick building syndrome, with more subtle irritative and neuropsychologic symptoms. Diagnosing problems related to indoor air is challenging and depends primarily on a careful history. Efforts to reduce indoor pollutants such as improved ventilation, preventing indoor penetration of outdoor pollutants, source removal, and behavior modification measures can be helpful in treating individual patients. The most effective measures to manage indoor air problems use a multidisciplinary approach, with the involvement of public health professionals, local building engineers, and occupational medicine practitioners. Clin Pulm Med 2000;7(3):128-133

居住地域における高齢者の外出行動と人的交流に関する考察 : 在宅高齢者と施設居住者の比較研究

居住地域における高齢者の外出行動と人的交流に関する考察 : 在宅高齢者と施設居住者の比較研究

Outdoor Activities as a Basis for Environmental Responsibility

Different environmental education programs (field trips, hiking, camps, adventure activities) aim to develop pupils' affective relationship to the natural environment, their environmental sensitivity, and outdoor behavior, as well as their social relationships, through personal experiences. This study discusses the results of experiences from outdoor activities involving 11- and 12-year-old pupils in Rovaniemi and Vaasa, Finland. The qualitative research methods comprised case studies involving questionnaires, individual interviews, drawings, photographs of landscapes, and participant observations during camps. Nature experiences developed the pupils' self-confidence and feelings of safety, in particular, which in turn increased their willingness to participate in future outdoor activities. In this way, nature began to have new meanings for them on a personal level. Comparing pupils who were experienced in outdoor activities with pupils who were not, it was found that the former seemed to have a strong and clearly definable empathic relationship to nature. They also exhibited better social behavior and higher moral judgements. The reasons for conflicts between environmental attitudes and action, still observable in some experienced boys of the Vaasa group, are discussed in terms of conscious vs. unconscious action and applied knowledge. The role and possibilities of outdoor education in environmental education and natural studies are emphasized for schools as well as for teacher education.

Everyday competence in visually impaired older adults: a case for person-environment perspectives.

In this article, the need for an explicit consideration of the environment in order to address everyday competence (EC) in old age is illustrated based on an analysis of the day-to-day challenges of visually impaired older adults. Data are based on a sample of elderly adults suffering from different degrees of visual impairment (visually severely impaired vs blind, each N = 42) and a control group of visually unimpaired elderly persons (N = 42) with age means between 74.9 and 76.8 years. Findings underscore that: (a) EC, regarded as an outcome, is negatively affected by low person-environment fit in the home environment in visually impaired older adults but not in the visually unimpaired elderly population; (b) EC, understood as daily compensatory processes, is more pronounced in the visually impaired with respect to some compensation modes (e.g., use of latent skills), but not all; and (c) EC, as a predictor variable for outdoor behavior, assumes a particularly critical role when outside environmental press is high.

Studies on mosquitoes (Diptera:Culicidae) and anthropic environment. 12-host-seeking behaviour of Anopheles albitarsis s.l. in south-eastern Brazil.

Results obtained with Anopheles albitarsis s.l. catches mainly performed through human bait at the Ribeira Valley region, SP (Brazil), are reported. Two species of the complex were recognized, namely An. albitarsis s.s. and species B. This latter predominated both in the rice fields and in the dwelling environments. The crepuscular rhythms showed an unimodal sunset pattern with most blood-seeking females caught during dusk. The absence of differences between indoor and outdoor behavior was confirmed for both species of the complex.

Air pollution, the sick building syndrome, and social behavior

Research on air pollution and behavior has shifted from studies that examined the relationship between outdoor contaminants and behavior to studies on malodor and indoor air pollution. This shift increases the relevance of laboratory experiments that examined the effects of malodor on social behavior. A review of results from laboratory and field studies on the social consequences of air pollution suggests several opportunities for those doing research on the sick building syndrome (SBS). It is proposed that the social consequences of the SBS may be as important and costly as physical symptoms.

Normative perspectives on outdoor recreation behavior: Introductory comments

Normative perspectives on outdoor recreation behavior: Introductory comments

A Proposed Segmentation Framework for the Outdoor Recreation Market

Various segmentation variables and their usefulness are examined in the context of the outdoor recreation market.The utilization of values as an augmenting variable is proposed and discussed. In addition, a model of the interrelationship between values, demographic, attitudes toward outdoor recreation, and outdoor recreation behavior is developed.

Effects of Acculturation and Structural Assimilation in Resource-Based Recreation: The Case of Mexican Americans

The study examines the effects of Mexican American acculturation and structural assimilation on outdoor recreation patterns. Based on ethnic assimilation theory, we hypothesized that the greater the level of acculturation or primary structural assimilation, the more similar Mexican Americans would be to Anglo-Americans in their outdoor recreation behavior. Data to test these hypotheses came from a telephone survey of 1,057 households in Maricopa and Gila counties, Arizona. Analysis of covariance indicated that acculturation and primary structural assimilation each had impacts upon Mexican American recreation. In general, primary structural assimilation had its most apparent effects on site visitation, while acculturation was reflected most clearly in activity participation patterns.

Perspectives on experimental fires in Canadian forestry research

This paper offers some insights into the field approach to conducting experimental forest fires based on two decades of experience dealing with a wide variety of fuel types, burning conditions, and resultant fire behavior. The practical aspects involved in designing a study area for an experimental burning project and its successful execution are considered as well as the methods used in the measurement of physical fire characteristics, fuel properties, and fire weather elements. On the basis of this review, several impressions emerge about the possible future requirements and emphasis in outdoor forest fire behavior research involving naturally occurring fuel complexes. Finally, the conclusion is reached that there can be no substitute for actual “hands-on” experience in observing experimental fires as a basis for understanding the behavior of free-burning fires in the forest environment resulting from planned or accidental ignitions.

Influence of low air pressure on flashover voltages of polluted insulators: test data, generalization attempts and some recommendations

110 to 500 kV mountain power transmission lines in operation in the USSR are discussed. Since 1967 a 100 kV line has been in service at an altitude up to 3.58 km above sea level. A recent 100 kV overhead line is at =4 km, its entire 224 km length running above 1.8 km and at least 65% of its right-of-way lying in mountains over 3 km high. A number of 2220 to 500 kV lines cross passes whose altitude exceeds 3.2 km. Construction of overhead lines in the mountains of the Caucasus, central Asia and in the eastern USSR made it necessary to conduct unique studies of outdoor insulation behavior at air pressure p below the normal pressure values p/sub 0/. Some of the studies were made in altitude chambers and some at special high-altitude outdoor test facilities. An attempt is made to generalize the basic results of these studies.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Hybrid and non‐hybrid evaluation models for predicting outdoor recreation behavior: A test of predictive ability

Abstract This paper compares the internal validity, external validity and ease of implementation of different types of compositional, decompositional and hybrid evaluation models in the context of recreational trip behavior. The results indicate that the full‐profile conjoint measurement model outperforms the self‐explicated models, the hybrid evaluation models and the trade‐off conjoint measurement model in terms of both internal and external validity, although the models differ less in terms of external validity. However, in terms of ease of implementation, the decompositional models may be less attractive.

The Relation between Individual Characteristics of Residents and Their Outdoor Behavior Patterns in Nagoya City, with a Focus on the Influence of Social Area Structure

In an effort to analyze human travel-activity patterns, this paper clarifies the effects of the individual characteristics of urban residents on their outdoor behavior patterns which contain two dimensions: their socio-demographics and their location within a city. Previous studies have investigated mainly the relationship between travel and socio-demographic factors, while few works examine the impact of location factors. Socio-demographics in themselves, however, depend on the location within a city, as earlier social area analysts have found. This paper, therefore, focuses on how social area structure influences outdoor behavior patterns.The outdoor behavior pattern is described by the chain of travel purposes in which the individual leaves his home and returns there again. The following are found to be the main patterns the residents follow and their percentages among all the outdoor behavior:1. Outdoor Discretionary Activity→Return Home (24%)2. Attending School→Return Home (22%)3. Attending Work→Return Home (22%)4. Outdoor Business Activity→Return Home (6%)5. Outdoor Discretionary Activity→Outdoor Discretionary Activity→Return Home (3%)6. Attending Work→Outdoor Business Activity→Return to Work Place→Return Home (2%)7. Attending Work→Outdoor Discretionary Activity→Return Home (2%)8. Attending Work→Outdoor Discretionary Activity→Return to Work Place→Return Home (1%)Fifteen percent of all residents never went out of their home all day, which is the ninth pattern.As the result of this analysis, it become clear that the socio-demographics and social area structures have strong impact on the generation and location of stops of outdoor behavior patterns, that is:(1) The commuting patterns are divided into two types: White-collar commuters, who reside mainly in the eastern area of Nagoya city, tend to perform multipurpose travel toward the city core (Patterns 6, 7, 8). Blue-collar commuters, residing in the western area, take the simple round trip between home and the nearer work place (Pattern 3).(2) In the discretionary activity patterns (Patterns 1, 5), most stops occur at areas near-by residents homes. All the same, the residents in the eastern area tend to engage in their activities at the city core during the course of multi-purpose travel, as well as in their commuting patterns.(3) Attending school pattern (Pattern 2) is performed by students and pupils. Because they are concentrated in suburban areas, the generation of this pattern is remarkable in the outer zone of a city.(4) Business activity pattern (Pattern 4) is performed mainly by the workers whose work places correspond to their own residences. They are concentrated in the urban core area, so that the pattern is distinctive there.(5) The ninth pattern is also conspicuous in the urban core area, because people who never went out of their home are mainly elderly or the jobless, and they are concentrated in the urban core area.In summary, the commuting patterns and the discretionary activity patterns were closely related to the sectoral pattern of urban social area structure, while the other outdoor behavior patterns reflected the concentric structure.

Aggregated and disaggregated outdoor recreation participation models

A comparison is made of aggregated (county level) and disaggregated (household level) outdoor recreation participation models. The problems associated with each type of model for explaining household behavior are discussed using examples taken from the 1975—1980 Ohio State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. A summary of the strengths and weaknesses of the two types of models is made. Three general conclusions drawn are as follows: (1) at the present time we cannot successfully model outdoor recreation participation using disaggregated models; (2) the use of aggregate participation models may lead to incorrect conclusions about outdoor recreation behavior; and (3) much more emphasis must be given to developing better explanations of outdoor recreation behavior. Disaggregated participation models appear to have the greatest potential for future refinement.