Outdoor Recreation Research Articles

The Effect of Outdoor Recreational Areas on Public Health: A Systematic Review

This systematic review aims to assess studies over the past five years (2018–2023) regarding the influence of outdoor recreation areas on public health. We aggregated data from a study encompassing 18 articles in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, utilizing the keywords "open-air recreation areas," "public health," "physical health," "mental health," and "social well-being." Research indicates that outdoor recreational areas enhance mental health by reducing stress, foster social relationships among neighbors, and promote physical health by encouraging exercise. We advocate for the utilization of longitudinal and experimental designs in forthcoming studies to improve our understanding of the beneficial impacts of these domains on public health. A comprehensive analysis of the health effects of outdoor recreational areas necessitates a more in-depth examination of environmental and socioeconomic factors, alongside an increased volume of research targeting varied demographic groups.

Multi-scale matching and simulating flows of ecosystem service supply and demand in the Wuhan metropolitan area, China

Metropolitan areas face the challenge of balancing increasing social needs against limited natural resources. The multi-scale evaluation of ecosystem services (ES) supply, demand and flows is crucial but under explored. Four prominent ES, food provision (FP), carbon sequestration (CS), soil conservation (SC), and outdoor recreation (OR) in Wuhan metropolitan area (WMA) were selected as cases. ES supply and demand were assessed by InVEST model, geographic information system (GIS) spatial analysis, and statistical methods. A linear programming model was employed to reveal the characteristics of ES flows. Results showed the following: (1) the total ES supply capacity can meet the demand of the study area. At different scales, the supply patterns were fundamentally consistent, except for FP, which was significantly higher in Wuhan's suburban areas. In contrast, the other three ES exhibited high supply in the northeast and south WMA, encompassing the Dabie and Mufu Mountains. The high demand for all ES radiated from the city center, except for SC. (2) A significant scale effect of ES mismatch was found, and ecological deficit patches decreased with increasing research scale. The Mismatch was evident on finer scales but lessened at coarser ones. (3) ES flows, consisting of FP, CS, and OR, formed a flow pattern from the suburbs to the city center. Coarse-scale management integrating ecological flows may better maintain ES balance than fine-scale measures. These findings provide insights for multi-scale management strategies that not only contribute to localized ecological restoration, but also optimize strategies for ecological corridors and compensation mechanisms.

Outdoor recreation shows promise as an equitable context for youth informal STEM learning in amenity-rich rural areas

Many state and federal agencies are promoting outdoor recreation as an economic development strategy in natural resource-dependent rural regions of the United States that have experienced sustained divestment and outmigration after the collapse of traditional extractive industries. An underappreciated dimension of these efforts is how to prepare a future workforce from within rural communities that can help develop this diverse and growing sector. This article reports on an intervention delivered to middle and high-school aged youth in a rural area in the northeastern U.S. that examined whether outdoor recreation activities can serve as an accessible context for informal STEM learning. Results show strong engagement regardless of sociodemographic barriers, suggesting that outdoor recreation activities may be harnessed to engage youth who have historically been excluded from STEM and other career pathways, yet whose future participation is important for achieving rural development aims.

Advancements in monitoring: a comparison of traditional and application-based tools for measuring outdoor recreation.

Outdoor recreation has experienced a boom in recent years and continues to grow. While outdoor recreation provides wide-ranging benefits to human well-being, there are growing concerns about the sustainability of recreation with the increased pressures placed on ecological systems and visitor experiences. These concerns emphasize the need for managers to access accurate and timely recreation data at scales that match the growing extent of the recreation footprint. Here, we compare spatial and temporal patterns of winter and summer recreation using traditional (trail cameras, infrared counters, aerial surveys, participatory mapping) and application-based tools (Strava Metro, Strava Global Heatmap, Wikiloc) across the Columbia and Canadian Rocky Mountains of western Canada. We demonstrate how recreation use can be estimated using traditional and application-based tools, although their accuracy and utility varies across space, season and activity type. We found that trail cameras and infrared counters captured similar broad-scale patterns in count estimates of pedestrians and all recreation activities. Aerial surveys captured areas with low recreation intensity and participatory mapping captured coarser information on the intensity and extent of recreation across large spatial and temporal scales. Application-based data provided detailed spatiotemporal information on recreation use, but datasets were biased towards specific activities. Strava Metro data was more suited for capturing broad-scale spatial patterns in biking than pedestrian recreation. Application-based data should be supplemented with data from traditional tools to identify biases in data and fill in data gaps. We provide a comparison of each tool for measuring recreation use, highlight each tools' strengths and limitations and applications to address real-world monitoring and management scenarios. Our research contributes towards a better understanding of which tool, or combinations of tools, to use that can expand the rigor and scope of recreation research. These findings support decision-making to mitigate pressures on wildlife and their habitats while allowing for high-quality recreation experiences.

Effects of outdoor recreation on multiple vertebrate guilds in a fragmented sagebrush‐steppe ecosystem

AbstractOutdoor recreational use is growing rapidly in the western United States, which increases the pressure on multiple‐use public lands. Balancing recreational use with conservation goals requires considering the spatial and temporal intensity of recreational use and examining its effects on multiple species within an ecosystem. In 2019–2021, we assessed the relationship between recreational intensity and the abundance of a dominant prey species (Piute ground squirrel [Urocitellus mollis]), the abundance of avian and mammalian facultative scavengers that rely on ground squirrels, and the abundance and nesting success of ground‐nesting birds at a national conservation area in southwestern Idaho, USA, where recreational shooting and off‐highway vehicle use are the primary recreational activities. Recreational intensity varied across the study site. The abundance of ground squirrels was not related to recreational intensity. The abundance of common ravens (Corvus corax) and the abundance of American badgers (Taxidea taxus), 2 common facultative scavengers, were both positively associated with recreational intensity, while the abundance of other avian facultative scavengers was not related to recreational intensity. The abundance of horned larks (Eremophila alpestris) and nesting success of long‐billed curlews (Numenius americanus), a more sensitive species, were negatively related to recreational intensity. Together, our results highlight the importance of considering variation in recreational intensity and the effect of recreation on multiple guilds within the ecosystem. An improved understanding of these relationships can be used with public land management to protect wildlife while providing opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Heat Stress Impacts on Coral Reef Ecosystems and Communities: An Evaluation of Visitor Perceptions, Behaviors and Substitution Effects in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, USA

Evaluating the effects of environmental events across both biophysical and social dimensions is important in establishing a holistic view of such events. This study focuses on the impact of a devastating heat stress incident that occurred in many locations across the Caribbean region and South Atlantic during the 2023 summer season. The survey and focus of data collection was within Monroe County, a unique nature-based setting south of Miami, Florida, USA. The impact of the heat wave is still being calculated at the time of submission of this paper, but indications are that there was a major negative impact. The survey and data collection sought to understand recreationists’ perceptions, knowledge, and behavior changes as result of the heat stress impact in the Florida Keys. Respondents were interviewed during community workshops in person and through an online sample of boating/angler license holders. The results indicated a change in behavior by some respondents, which may have a longer-term economic impact, along with trends of satisfaction with outdoor recreation over time. This rapid survey method can be applied to future scenarios where social and economic data are needed to fully contextualize environmental impacts in addition to biological endpoints.

Rejuvenating Mind and Soul: Psychological Benefits of Camping Experiences and the Moderating Role of Psychological Distress

ABSTRACTThis study examines the extent to which camping experiences influence campers' restoration, psychological capital, and life satisfaction and the role psychological distress plays in this process. Survey data were collected from 420 Chinese campers and analyzed using multigroup structural equation modeling. Four categories of experiences (i.e., escapist, entertainment, esthetic, and educational experiences) positively impacted restoration, which then contributed positively to psychological capital and life satisfaction. Psychological capital influenced life satisfaction and mediated the relationship between restoration and life satisfaction. The association between restoration and psychological capital was weaker in the group with higher psychological distress. The study calls for a broader application of psychological capital in outdoor recreation and tourism research.

230 Optimising Outdoor Recreational Activities in Bali, Indonesia: The Significance of the Cultural Landscape Subak as a Health-Enhancing Environment

Abstract Purpose Subak – the terraced rice landscapes of Bali – appears to be more protected and better preserved than the rest of the greenspaces in Indonesia. As one of the first studies of outdoor recreational activities in the cultural landscape subak, this study aims to describe the significance of this environment – which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site – for the activities to promote and improve health and well-being. Methods The study compiled a quantitative questionnaire answered by fifty-eight respondents, five semi-structured in-depth interviews, and a series of participant observations. Results Based on mixed methods analyses, the results revealed: (1) outdoor recreational activities in the subak areas have yielded benefits, namely improved cognitive and social skills, as well as an enhanced state of health and well-being, (2) the role of the subak areas in facilitating outdoor recreational activities has shown cognitive, emotional, and behavioural changes in the study participants, and (3) outdoor recreational activities in the subak areas have fostered a more environmentally conscious mindset that helps improve human health and well-being. Conclusions This study elucidated possible implications that underlined the activities in the subak as a way to adopt pro-environmental behaviour (PEB) and thereby helped improve human health and well-being, protect the subak environment, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the context of this study, particularly SDG 3 Good Health and Well-Being, SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production. Overall, the mixed methods analysis applied in the study provided new transcendent perspectives that in future research can form the starting point to emphasise the significance of the greenspaces, namely the cultural landscape subak, as a health-enhancing environment for outdoor recreational activities to promote and improve health and well-being. Funding The fieldwork was funded by the Swedish government Sida (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency) through a scholarship of 27,000 SEK.

Sport in Times of Crisis: Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Sport and Physical Exercise Habits of College Students at SEC Member Institutions

With the COVID-19 pandemic in the rear window, the sport industry ramped up efforts to evaluate the financial and cultural detriment of the global public health crisis. Therefore, this study aimed to assess how the altered sport and physical exercise habits of college students at Southeastern Conference (SEC) member institutions impacted their physical and mental well-being. Drawing from social ecology theory, data were collected through a qualitative online survey consisting of open-ended questions, disseminated via email to SEC college students. Study findings indicate the critical role of access to physical exercise and sports in the overall well-being of society and may prove invaluable for addressing future public health emergencies and crises. Theoretical and practical recommendations include the development of sustainable outdoor recreation activities as well as coping strategies and alternatives to traditional sports and physical exercise (e.g., immersive virtual reality options).

Psychosocial Determinants of Lyme Disease Preventive Behavior Among Outdoor Recreationists

The incidence of Lyme disease (LD) has grown over time despite extensive awareness campaigns of disease risk. While previous research has explored public knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes toward tick-borne diseases, there is minimal research in understanding preventive behavior among individuals frequently engaging in outdoor recreation. This study addresses this gap by investigating the perceptions of LD preventive behavior, focusing on psychosocial factors influencing behavior. Utilizing an integrative framework incorporating the Health Belief Model and Social Cognitive Theory, we examined outdoor recreationist performance of three key preventive behaviors: tick checks, tick repellent use, and protective clothing. Data were collected through intercept surveys at Bradbury Mountain State Park (Maine, US). Findings indicate that tick-related knowledge and experience have a limited impact on preventive behavior, while efficacy beliefs and perceived benefits significantly influence behavior. In this paper we discuss the implications of these factors to both theory and practice in LD prevention studies.

Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things in Recreation: A Systematic Literature Review

This study aimed to examine the literature on the use of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things in the field of recreation and leisure and present the results within themes identified inductively from the data. We employed a systematic review methodology, consisting of determining appropriate selection criteria, choosing data sources, extracting data, categorizing the results, and reporting. Using the Web of Science database, we identified a total of 69 articles published between 2017 and 2024. After filtering and screening for keywords, 23 full-text articles related to artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things in the field of recreation and leisure were included in the analysis. Relevant studies were evaluated according to year, journal, focus, country, type of technology, recreation area, and results obtained. Findings from the reviewed articles are discussed under six themes: safety, ecosystem, personalized recreation experience, wearable technology, health, and potential recreation and leisure areas. We observed that the most frequently investigated topic in the studies was recreational tourism, with a general focus on outdoor recreation. The studies often referred to nature conservation and planned and safe personal leisure time. In conclusion, we determined that artificial intelligence and Internet of Things technologies have various applications in the field of recreation, but relevant studies are limited.

Measuring the human-dimension of outdoor recreation and its impacts on terrestrial wildlife

Inclusion and measurement of the various human-dependent factors that modulate wildlife responses to non-consumptive outdoor recreational activities is crucial for improving our understanding of the complex nature by which these activities influence wildlife. A wide range of methods exist to collect this information, yet little is known about whether and how they are used to improve our understanding of the impact of outdoor recreational activity on wildlife. Here, we critically assess the methods used to measure the outdoor recreational activity in 242 studies that focused on discerning their impacts on terrestrial mammals and birds. We identified and categorised the methods used into nine classes: available records, disturbance treatments, observations, camera trapping, GPS tracking devices, traffic counters, audio recordings, questionnaires, and interviews. We found that almost half of the studies (45.5%) used more than one method. Notably, while most studies used available records (59.1%), their use has decreased, and the less commonly used methods (e.g., camera trapping and GPS tracking devices) are encouragingly becoming more prevalent. We also found that even though the diversity of methods is increasing, their use has been limited to collecting information on the intensity of the outdoor recreation, despite the capacity of many to collect additional information (e.g., the behaviour and perceptions of recreationists). This review highlights the need for future studies to expand the range of methods used to measure the outdoor recreational activity, collaborate across disciplines, and consider the broader diversity of information that can be gathered on recreationists.

Measuring belongingness in outdoor orientation programs

Outdoor orientation programs (OOPs) are reported to be successful at increasing students' feelings of belongingness. Currently only a handful of measures exist for assessing college students’ sense of belonging. This exploratory study examines three belongingness scales currently used in higher education assessing their effectiveness as measures of OOPs: the Student Belongingness Scale, the Workplace Belongingness Scale, and a one-question belongingness measure. The scales varied in their focus; for example, the Student Belongingness Scale measured perceptions of both peer belonging and institutional belonging. Researchers determined that scales focusing on belongingness to a small group provided the most useful data for OOPs. Management Implications: The findings of this study suggest managers of outdoor recreation programs consider ways to measure a sense of belongingness among participants as belongingness continues to grow as a measurement concept important to managers of outdoor recreation programs. Researchers recommend using an adaptation of the Workplace Belongingness Scale (renamed The Adventure Belongingness Scale) because the scale has both face validity and high correlations with the Behavioral Trust Inventory. The Student Belongingness Scale provides particularly useful data for assessing belongingness to institutions. Both scales should be considered to provide insight into the effectiveness of OOPs. The data for this study were collected via an online survey conducted in the fall of 2021.

Movement as Environmental Communication: A Heuristic of Embodied Rhetorical Placemaking

ABSTRACT This essay develops the theorization of movement as a mode of environmental communication, offering a heuristic of embodied rhetorical placemaking through the concepts of passage, event, and interval. Adapted from Alfred North Whitehead’s process philosophy, these concepts respectively identify transition, punctuation, and anticipation as distinct forms of movement that collectively capacitate how people come to know the places they tread. Exploring this heuristic in an ethnographic case study of wilderness trip reporting, this essay examines how a Maine-based outdoors reporter physically traverses nature trails for digital recording purposes. Guided by Whiteheadian thought, this analysis reveals a dynamic confluence of transitions, punctuations, and anticipations, enacted in more-than-human relationships, constitutes placemaking. By emphasizing the diverse materiality and formational quality of movement, this heuristic has implications beyond outdoor recreation for theorizing communication, analyzing placemaking, and practicing fieldwork.

Understandings and Perceived Benefits of Outdoor-Based Support for People Living with Dementia.

The importance of the outdoors for supporting well-being is recognized, but less is known about the role of the outdoors in supporting people living with dementia. The aim of this study was to examine three stakeholder groups' understandings about outdoor-based support and care for people living with dementia to help understand what might be done to maximize the outdoors as a source of support for people living with dementia. Data were collected in Southern Ontario, Canada, between January and June 2023 via 1-1 interviews (n = 12); four focus groups (n = 17) with staff from organizations providing outdoor recreation or social programming; six in-person focus groups (n = 37); and 2 outdoor-based walking focus groups (n = 17) conducted with people living with dementia, care partners, and older adults. All interviews and focus groups, other than the walking focus groups where the field notes were used, were audio recorded and fully transcribed verbatim. Within and across data sets, thematic analysis was conducted. We report findings relating to the challenges of achieving full participation in outdoor-based activities; perceived physical, social, and mental health benefits of outdoor activities; stigma; and overcoming perceived risks. The importance of the outdoors for people living with dementia and their care partners is evident. There are implications for care policy and practice relating to the promotion of (social) health and well-being for people living with dementia.

Effects of different audiovisual landscapes in bamboo forest space on physical and mental restorative potential of university students: based on eye-tracking experiments

With its unique audiovisual environment, bamboo forest spaces serve as natural sanctuaries for urban residents, offering significant restorative effects by reducing physical and mental stress and alleviating fatigue. This promotes the vigorous development of outdoor recreation activities. To further explore the restorative effects of bamboo forest space on people's audiovisual perceptual aspects. In this study, we conducted field research in the Southern Sichuan Bamboo Sea, collecting audiovisual materials from four types of bamboo forest spaces: pathway type, cultural type, ornamental type, and recreational. These spatial photographs were combined with three types of soundscapes (silent, background, and background + wind-blown bamboo sound). Eye tracking experiments were utilized to investigate the physical and mental restorative effects of these different audiovisual features on college students. The results showed that in the visual aspect, the visual restorative properties of recreational-type and ornamental-type bamboo spaces were better than those of pathway type and cultural-type spaces; in the auditory aspect, the sounds of wind-blown bamboo, flowing water, and chirping birds in the bamboo forest significantly enhanced the subjective restorative properties of the bamboo forest space, reducing the number of fixations and the average pupil diameter. In addition, this paper found that the soundscape guided people's visual attention, with the wind-blown bamboo sound increasing focus on natural elements, and the extensibility of the bamboo forest space was positively correlated with the number of fixations, while fascination was negatively correlated with the average saccade amplitude. These findings provide insights for the optimized design of audiovisual restorative environments in bamboo forest space in the future.

Reimagining Recreational Landscapes: A Generative AI-Aided Comparative Study of Academic Greenspaces at IPB University and UP Los Baños

Abstract A systematic examination of recreational landscape users’ behavioral patterns on university campuses is needed to fill the knowledge gap in implementing healthy academic greenspaces. To do so, a study is made to see the general behavioral patterns vis-à-vis cross-cultural factors in two campuses in Indonesia and the Philippines using the following methods: 1) behavioral mapping (BM) to record landscape activities data, 2) literature review to create the coding system, and 3) generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) application to aid generate images for the recommendations. The time frame, time-frequency, density, facilities, academic greenspace codes, and images were recorded using the BM. The study revealed that outdoor recreation in academic greenspaces is experienced in disparate physical spaces with various combinations of four dimensions: social space, symbolic space, active space, and experience space. The devised coding system helped align the study areas, determining commonalities, dissimilarities, and unusual findings. Common lacking features extracted from the data analysis were used as text prompts, while site images were used as image prompts. Using the prompts, landscape scenarios were generated using the GenAI application-Midjourney. Rendered figures suggest prominent landscape intervention ideas that feature enhancements of visual resources and the addition of placemaking elements.

Effective Communication and Group Cohesiveness in the Outdoor Recreation Program Curriculum

This research endeavor seeks to explore the correlation between effective communication and group cohesiveness within the framework of outdoor recreational programs' curriculum. The study delves into the two fundamental components of effective communication: external perception encompassing clarity and information dissemination, and internal dissemination focusing on conflict resolution. In addition, the analysis of group cohesiveness entails an examination of four dimensions: individual attractions towards the group in social contexts (ATG-S), individual attractions towards the group in task-oriented settings (ATG-T), group integration-social (GI-S) and group integration-task (GI-T). A set of questionnaires based on Interpersonal Communication Skills (ICS) and Group Environment Questionnaire (GEQ) was completed by 100 students who took an outdoor recreation program. The respondent in this study consists of male (n=58) and female (n=42) respondents. The result revealed that external perception is positively associated with group integration social (GI-S) but negatively associated with individual attraction to the group task (ATG-T). Internal disseverance is not associated with individual attraction to the group social (ATG-S) and group integration task (GI-T). Conversely, negatively associated with group integration social (GI-S) and individual attraction to the group task (ATG-T). The findings underscore the complex interplay between external factors (such as perception) and internal group dynamics (such as conflict management) in shaping overall group cohesiveness and member engagement. These findings could help students and academicians understand the elements of group cohesiveness which can lead to more effective group work and improved learning experience for better educational achievement.

The impact of outdoor activities on adolescents' mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

Outdoor activities have always been important in determining an individual's physical and mental health, and this is especially true for adolescents. The value of participating in outdoor activities cannot be stressed in the fast-paced, technologically driven world of today when youngsters are often engrossed in screens and lead sedentary lives.With the potential to have significant effects on health and well-being, COVID-19 is changing how people communicate with their surroundings. To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on teenagers' engagement in outside activities and subjective well-being (SWB), as well as the potential protective benefits of outdoor activity on declining SWB. We conducted a representative survey of young people age 10 to 18 using a panel (n = 624) between April 30 and June 15, 2020. In what way often do people engage in outdoor activities before and during the epidemic. The results of paired t tests showed drops in both engagements in outdoor recreation and SWB. Strong correlations between alterations to outside games (B = 0.44, p <0.001) and nature based activities (B = 0.22, p = 0.017) were found in a regression model looking at relations between changes in SWB ( = 0.42). The SWB of all adolescent environments who engaged in these activities throughout the epidemic showed less of a drop.The results highlight the importance of providing youth with outdoor recreation alternatives during times of crisis and demonstrate that time's crucial function spent outside and playing in nature in boosting teenagers' ability to pressures like the COVID-19 outbreak.

Active and Passive Outdoor Recreation Among Young Polish Adults: Measurement, Profiles, and Correlates with Well-Being

Active and Passive Outdoor Recreation Among Young Polish Adults: Measurement, Profiles, and Correlates with Well-Being