Outdoor Recreation Activities Research Articles

The Relationship between Outdoor Environment and Recreational Activities of the Elderly Based on Behavioral Mapping

The Relationship between Outdoor Environment and Recreational Activities of the Elderly Based on Behavioral Mapping

Amnesia and homework

Introduction: In humans, the phenomenon of temporally graded retrograde amnesia has been described in the clinic and the laboratory for more than 100 years. The memory f\deficit can occur against a background of intact intellectual and perceptual functions. Material and methods: There were analyzed articles from the PubMed database from the last 5 years 2019-2024, mentioning such words as “amnesia”, “homework”. Results: Amnestic syndrome is narrower than once believed in the sense that a number of learning and memory abilities are preserved. The brain system damage in amnesia has only a temporary role in memory. In the 1950 edition of the Encyclopedia of Educational Research H.J. Otto wrote “compulsory homework does not result in sufficiently improved academic accomplishments to justify retention” [1]. Eighteen years later P.R Wildman went a step further, starting that “whenever homework crowds out social experience, outdoor recreation, and creative activities and whenever it usurps time devoted to sleep, it is not meeting the basic needs of children and adolescents” [2]. Conclusion: Thus, as Otto’s remark exemplifies, homework fell out of favor. Homework, it was believed could accelerate knowledge acquisition. Wildman expressed the concern of the time that too much emphasis on school would lead to the neglect of other areas of personal fulfillment. Not all amnesias, results from brain damage. Amnesia may be produced by severe emotional trauma or naturally occurring changes in state or arousal [3-5]. Improves creative activity total quality management as a predictor of artificial intelligence provides competitive marketing, proven and by the role of social networks in reducing stress [6,7], confirming that amnesia has only a temporary role in memory.

Use of Natural Areas among Latinxs Living in South Carolina

The Latinx population in the United States (US) is growing. While Latinxs have historically been present in US cities and southwestern states, there is a notable surge in migration to new destination states, including South Carolina (SC). As the Latinx population grows and extends to new geographies, there is a need to examine the evolution of Latinxs’ outdoor recreation patterns. Exploring their changing preferences regarding public spaces can inform park management planning and policy. This study examines outdoor recreation use among SC-based Latinxs, exploring three central questions: 1. What are the outdoor recreation preferences among Latinxs living in SC? 2. What constraints do Latinxs face while engaging in outdoor recreation? 3. What are Latinxs’ primary motivations in visiting natural areas? This study employs a convergent parallel mixed method design. The quantitative phase consists of a cross-sectional sampling approach via online surveys, while the qualitative phase utilizes focus groups. Analyses of survey results include descrip-tive statistics and ANOVA and Chi-square tests for select variables. Qualitative analyses are based on a priori open coding with thematic development. Quantitative and qualitative data were first examined separately and later compared. Results suggest that walking/hiking is the primary outdoor recreation activity in which Latinxs engage. Focus-group participants also mentioned a variety of land- and water-based outdoor recreation activities. The most prevalent motivations for recreation experiences included relaxation, escape, and improved health. The top five factors preventing survey respondents from visiting natural areas were tiredness after work, insufficient time off work, insufficient time and money to visit natural areas, and proximity to natural areas. Focus group participants also reported various constraints hindering their visits to natural areas, including time, cost, safety, inadequate on-site amenities, weather, and Latinx-specific constraints. The findings indicate that natural resource agencies wanting to improve Latinx outdoor recreation experiences should have bilingual front-line staff and provide communicative media, such as website information or on-site signage, in Spanish. Our findings also underscore the importance of Latinx-focused social media groups as useful tools for disseminating information.

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.

A Review of Force Health Protection Aspects of Lyme Disease in the U.S. Military.

Lyme disease (LD) is an underrated threat to the military that negatively impacts mission readiness. Lyme disease has traditionally been thought to only be a risk in an operational context, where training or deployments are frequently conducted in heavily wooded environments. However, this view diminishes risks posed by many off-duty outdoor recreational activities. Furthermore, although the Army introduced a permethrin factory-treated Army Combat Uniform in 2012, permethrin retention and subsequent protection have been shown to decrease significantly after 3 months of wear. Thus, although LD is a known health risk that threatens unit readiness, beyond using treated uniforms there has been little progress at the unit level to address this threat. Focusing on a narrative review of LD and its impact on U.S. military force health protection, sources included DoD websites and policies, government press releases and information papers from sources like the CDC and FDA, and scholarly peer-reviewed journals with full-text access from the online databases EBSCOhost, MEDLINE, SCOUT, and Google Scholar. Searches included the following key words: LD and military, Army, etiology, epidemiology, incidence, treatments, post-treatment LD, and chronic LD. Articles were selected for review based on the relevance of their abstracts and titles. Although the incidence of LD appears to be increasing among service members, it is difficult to attribute this increase to military-related duties. Also, despite ongoing LD research specifically conducted and funded by the DoD, there are limited data on the mitigating effects of force education and permethrin-treated uniforms on the LD threat. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that LD negatively impacts military readiness and monetary costs diverted from other priorities. Lyme disease poses a genuine threat to the health and careers of service members and is an often-overlooked disruptor to military operations. Simple, feasible prevention strategies that are tailored to high-risk geographic regions can be emphasized by military units to reduce the incidence of on-duty and off-duty cases. Additionally, there remains a critical need for new preventative and diagnostic measures for LD.

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).

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.

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.

Detection of novel orthoparamyxoviruses, orthonairoviruses and an orthohepevirus in European white-toothed shrews.

While the viromes and immune systems of bats and rodents have been extensively studied, comprehensive data are lacking for insectivores (order Eulipotyphla) despite their wide geographic distribution. Anthropogenic land use and outdoor recreational activities, as well as changes in the range of shrews, may lead to an expansion of the human-shrew interface with the risk of spillover infections, as reported for Borna disease virus 1. We investigated the virome of 45 individuals of 4 white-toothed shrew species present in Europe, using metagenomic RNA sequencing of tissue and intestine pools. Moderate to high abundances of sequences related to the families Paramyxoviridae, Nairoviridae, Hepeviridae and Bornaviridae were detected. Whole genomes were determined for novel orthoparamyxoviruses (n=3), orthonairoviruses (n=2) and an orthohepevirus. The novel paramyxovirus, tentatively named Hasua virus, was phylogenetically related to the zoonotic Langya virus and Mòjiāng virus. The novel orthonairoviruses, along with the potentially zoonotic Erve virus, fall within the shrew-borne Thiafora virus genogroup. The highest viral RNA loads of orthoparamyxoviruses were detected in the kidneys, in well-perfused organs for orthonairoviruses and in the liver and intestine for orthohepevirus, indicating potential transmission routes. Notably, several shrews were found to be coinfected with viruses from different families. Our study highlights the virus diversity present in shrews, not only in biodiversity-rich regions but also in areas influenced by human activity. This study warrants further research to characterize and assess the clinical implications and risk of these viruses and the importance of shrews as reservoirs in European ecosystems.

Accessible nature: Balancing contradiction in protected areas

Physical and social barriers have long hindered people with disabilities from full participation in outdoor recreation and nature experiences. As spending time in nature, where protected areas constitute an important arena for nature engagement, is increasingly connected to improved health and well-being, there is a need for nature activities and experiences in protected areas to become more accessible and inclusive. However, the provision of accessible protected areas for outdoor recreation and nature activities poses challenges for planners and managers of such areas, as there are elements of contradiction between interests of accessibility and nature conservation. This qualitative study examines how providers of nature experiences and outdoor activities, such as governmental authorities, outdoor recreation associations and nature-based tourism entrepreneurs in Sweden view and practice the balancing of these interests, through perspectives of the social construction of nature, inclusion, and collaboration. Findings indicate that interests in nature conservation generally take precedence over measures of accessibility and that such initiatives are directed to a few, designated areas. There is also an apparent lack of knowledge about how people with disabilities wish to engage with nature, which hinders full access to nature. It is therefore important to include people with disabilities in the process of developing accessibility in protected areas and promote collaboration between stakeholders, to avoid excluding decisions. The study concludes by stating the necessity to challenge the viewpoint of accessible infrastructure for outdoor activities in protected areas as ‘ruining’ the nature experience, in order for access to nature to become a truly democratic right.

Evolution of Lyme Borreliosis Epidemiology in Primary Care and Hospital Settings in France During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: Lyme borreliosis (LB) remains a public health concern in France despite improved patient management and medical care. Stay-at-home restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected participation in outdoor recreational activities and disrupted access to health care services, may have impacted the risk of developing LB. Methods: We analyzed data from two general practitioner networks in France (Sentinel Network and an electronic medical records database [EMR]) and the national hospital discharge database to describe LB epidemiology in 2020-2021 and compare it to previous years. Google Trends' search volume was used to evaluate the association between the population's interest in LB and the evolving epidemiology. Results: Annual LB incidence rates in primary care decreased from 104 cases/100,000 population in 2018 to 71/100,000 in 2021 and from 82/100,000 to 60/100,000 according to Sentinel Network and EMR, respectively. Google Trends' search volume for "Lyme" followed a similar trend, one year earlier. Annual hospitalizations were stable from 2012-2019 (1.6/100,000 on average) and declined to 1.3/100,000 in 2020 and 1.1/100,000 in 2021. This decline was observed primarily in adults (e.g., 3.4/100,000 in 2017-2019 to 1.8/100,000 in 2020-2021 for 70-79 years of age). Changes in regional incidence rates in primary care from 2017-2019 to 2020-2021 ranged from -75% to 208%. Hospitalizations decreased in all regions except in Bretagne. Conclusions: The estimated LB incidence decreased in 2020 and 2021 compared with previous years but this change may not be related to COVID-19. The incidence decrease observed in primary care could result from reduced population interest in LB, leading to lower care-seeking behavior. The decrease in LB hospitalizations may be explained by changes in clinical practice. Surveillance systems are critical to understand the evolution of LB epidemiology. However, external factors impacting incidence estimates should be considered.

Patients poorly recognize lesions of concern that are malignant melanomas: is self-screening the correct advice?

Australia is known for its outdoor culture, with a large percentage of its population engaging in outdoor recreational activities, aquatic, non-aquatic and outdoor occupational activities. However, these outdoor enthusiasts face increased exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR), leading to a higher risk of skin cancer, including malignant melanoma (MM). Over the past 40 years, there has been a significant rise in skin cancer rates in Australia, with two out of three Australians expected to develop some form of skin cancer by age 70. Currently, skin cancer examinations are not endorsed in asymptomatic or low-risk individuals in Australia, with only high-risk individuals recommended to undergo regular skin examinations. Notably, the Melanoma Institute Australia suggests that one-half of patients identify MMs themselves, although this claim appears to be based on limited Australian data which may not reflect contemporary practice. Therefore this study sought to determine the percentage of patients who were able to self-identify MMs as lesions of concern when presenting for a skin cancer examination. Multi-site, cross-sectional study design incorporating a descriptive survey and total body skin cancer screening, including artificial intelligence by a skin cancer doctor. A total of 260 participants with suspect MM lesions were biopsied, with 83 (31.9%) found to be melanomas. Of the true positive MMs only a small percentage of participants (21.7% specificity) correctly had concerns about the suspect lesion being a MM. These MMs were located primarily on the back (44.4%), shoulder (11.1%) and upper leg (11.1%). There was no significant difference in the size between those participants aware of a MM versus those who were not (P=0.824, 24.6 vs 23.4 mm2). Significantly more males identified lesions of concern that were MMs as compared to females (P=0.008, 61.1% vs 38.9%, respectively). With regard to true negatives males and females were similar (52.1% vs 47.9%, respectively). With regard to false negatives (n=65), a greater percentage of males than females did not recognize the MM as a lesion of concern (66.2% vs 33.8%, respectively). Participants were more likely to correctly identify an invasive MM as opposed to an in situ MM (27.3% versus 21.3%). Only a small percentage of participants in this study were able to self-identify either in situ or invasive MM as a lesion of concern with a tendency to identify the more advanced, thicker MMs. Given that MM is associated with a high mortality and cost of treatment, particularly when invasive, the inability of lay persons to identify these cancerous lesions will likely lead to delayed treatment and a possible adverse outcome. We believe the current melanoma screening practices in Australian general practice should be revisited to improve patient outcomes with regard to MM. Additionally, prevention campaigns should include images and primary risk factors for MM.

Aggressive shark displays: a quantitative analysis of its impact on shark tourism

ABSTRACT Shark tourism is considered a type of enjoyable and exciting ecotourism that can simultaneously be effective in protecting sharks. However, the human fear of sharks may affect the level of interest in shark tourism. The present study investigated the effect of viewing images/videos of aggressive sharks on people’s interest in shark tourism. For this purpose, Participants were asked to rate their preference for the type of outdoor recreation, action mode, and encounter activity in shark tourism, level of trust in shark tourism, and covariates related to cost, distance travelled, waiting time, and desired number of shark visits in each tour. The experimental treatments of the study included viewing a picture/film (or animation) of an aggressive shark display (ASD) and a peaceful shark display (PSD). Our results indicated that viewing images or videos of aggressive sharks may negatively affect tourists’ interest levels in shark tourism, particularly in activities including physical contact. Also, the exposed individuals had less confidence in the safety of shark tourism and opted for lower tour charges. Nevertheless, prior information can mitigate the detrimental influence of the aforementioned aspect on attitude.

ANALYSIS OF MOVEMENT DATA FROM GPS-MONITORED LIVESTOCK GUARDIAN DOGS (LGDS) AT TWO SHEEPFOLDS IN THE NORTH-WESTERN MARAMURES LAND, ROMANIA USING THE KERNEL DENSITY ESTIMATION METHOD. IMPLICATIONS FOR OUTDOOR TOURISM

The Carpathians and other mountainous regions around the world are renowned for their specific landscapes shaped by pastoralism, a millennia-old traditional and sustainable economic system. In Romania, this traditional occupation has an established place within the Romanian culture. In an environment where large predators are present, the livestock owners and shepherds have traditionally relied, and still do, on livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) to protect the flock against carnivores or theft, therefore, the dogs are perceived as an integral component of the traditional pastoral system. However, from late April until the end of September, many outdoor recreational activities like hiking, mountain trail running, or biking overlap with the pastoral calendar, creating a potential for conflict between two, very different categories of landscape users, with recurring incidents happening over the years. In this study, a winter GPS monitoring campaign was proposed, between November 2023 and January 2024 that used GPS professional collars to track the movements of two livestock guardian dogs stationed at two sheepfolds located at their winter bases in the hills at the foot of Ignis Mountains (part of the Romanian northern Carpathians) from northwestern Maramureș Land, Romania. The campaign generated point-based spatiotemporal data processed and analyzed in M. Excel and QGIS using Kernel density estimation as the main method to generate metrics and identify potential clusters of LGD activity in their usual environment. The results highlight high observational clusters near the winter folds but also lower observational clusters in areas situated hundreds of meters distance around the main compound, in certain locations. Although temporally limited, the results have the potential to help the understanding of the animal's preferred zone of habitation and substantiate future win-win cohabitation solutions that minimize conflictual encounters between the shepherds and their guardian dogs on one side, as primary land users, and outdoor recreationists as other landscape users.

Global variation in the preferred temperature for recreational outdoor activity

The impacts of climate change will depend on how human societies adapt to higher temperatures. In this study we report empirical evidence suggesting that people living in warmer places prefer a higher temperature for their recreational outdoor activities. To arrive at this conclusion we examine a novel global dataset of mobile phone usage in parks in more than 2500 locations across 77 countries. We examine this dataset with econometric methods to identify the relationship between outdoor recreation and temperature from daily variation in weather. Overall we find that for every increase in annual mean temperature by 1 degree Celsius, the preferred daily mean temperature for outdoor activity increases by about 0.5 degrees Celsius. We explain how these results can be interpreted as evidence for partial adaptation. We also illustrate how ignoring adaptation can bias projections of future responses to climate change.

Evidence-Based Practice in Adaptive Snow Sports: A Brief Report

Adaptive outdoor recreation experiences are widely accepted as a means to rehabilitation and community inclusion; however, therapeutic recreation specialists, have been limited in their ability to document benefits of outdoor recreation activities due to a lack of available instruments. This study reports on the development and implementation of the Progress Report assessment tool, designed to capture functional outcomes of an adaptive snow sports program in the Rocky Mountains. Instrument design, validation, and pilot testing are reviewed. Findings indicate positive changes in participant functional skills observed during snow sports lessons and a positive relationship between number of lessons and one’s ability for the respective snow sports activity. Considerations for adaptation and application of the Progress Report, and implications for future research, are discussed.

Changing perspectives of international second home tourists towards recreational activities in Türkiye

Study Objective: This study aims to empirically analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on changes in international second residence tourists' perspective on recreational activities and their recreational experiences.Methodology/approach: An empirical qualitative perspective was adopted in the study. Online surveys were sent to a total of 500 international second residence tourists in Alanya/Turkey. Analyzes were made on the 430 response data returned.Orginality/value: Recreational areas are extremely important in the destination selection of international second home tourists’. There is a gap in studies focusing on changes in their recreational experiences during the pandemic. For the sustainability of the demand for second homes in the destination, it is necessary to follow the changes experienced during the pandemic process and to make provision for negativities. The study compares the purposes of participating in recreational activities of international second home tourists before the pandemic and during the pandemic period. It also comparatively analyzes the level of participation in indoor, outdoor and virtual recreational activities before the pandemic and during the pandemic period.Main results: Study results confirmed that the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the recreational activities in which second residence tourists participated.While the pandemic has reduced the interest in indoor activities, it has also increased the interest in outdoor and virtual activities significantly. Theoretical/methodological contributions: The pandemic process has not yet been fully clarified. Thus, the black swan theory remains valid for the Pandemic Process. The results of this study provide an understanding of the effects of COVID-19 specific to the experiences of international second residence tourists. The results of this study will guide the ongoing studies on second homes. Social/management contributions: In the new normal process, the demand for recreation areas has increased. Thus, carrying capacity problems arose. As a result, the destination satisfaction of international second home tourists may decrease and may decide to leave the destination. Locals who cannot use recreational areas may feel displaced. It must be taken into account that the pandemic has brought xenophobia to the agenda. Local governments should definitely make a new plan for the use of recreational areas in order to prevent possible conflicts between international second home tourists and local people.

Outdoor recreational activities and mental well-being of geriatric people in Bangladesh: structural equation modelling

The mental health well-being of elderly individuals in Bangladesh is often neglected at home and nationally. Non-medical interventions become a crucial mental health solution for the population, with outdoor recreational activities, identified as an influential determinants. This study, conducted in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, aims to explore the relationship between outdoor recreational activities and mental well-being, utilizing the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) approach. Interviewing 514 older adults, the study considered four dimensions: park activities, social involvement, sports participation, and outdoor hobbies and tourism. The final model indicates that all four dimensions significantly and positively impact the mental well-being of elderly individuals, with sports participation showing the greatest positive effect. Together, these dimensions account for 75.12% of the variance in mental well-being. The nature of the relationship suggests that an increase in outdoor recreational activity corresponds to improved mental well-being. This paper reinforces the idea that engagement in outdoor activities contributes to positive mental health outcomes, aligning with the new physical activity guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO) that emphasize the positive relationship between outdoor recreations and life satisfaction. This study strongly recommends people should actively engage in outdoor recreational activities. Additionally, it urges government and private organizations to prioritize the maintenance of public open spaces as essential contributors to the mental well-being of the older population.

Outdoor Recreation and Environmental Conservation

Purpose: The general objective of this study was to examine different types of outdoor recreation activities and their impact on environmental conservation efforts.
 Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library.
 Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to technology and traditional arts in modern sporting events. The study provided a comprehensive analysis of the complex relationship between outdoor recreation and conservation efforts. It concluded that while outdoor recreation offered various benefits, including economic contributions and fostering a connection to nature, it also posed challenges such as habitat degradation and natural resource depletion. Collaborative efforts among stakeholders, including policymakers and the public, were highlighted as crucial for achieving a balance between recreational use and conservation objectives. Additionally, education and outreach played a vital role in promoting environmental awareness and encouraging sustainable behaviors among outdoor recreationists. Overall, the study underscored the importance of integrating principles of sustainability and stewardship into outdoor recreation practices to ensure the long-term health of natural landscapes.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Social-Ecological Systems theory, Environmental Psychology model and Ecological Modernization theory may be used to anchor future studies on outdoor recreation and environmental conservation contributed significantly to theory, practice, and policy by elucidating the complex interactions between outdoor recreation and conservation. It provided insights into theoretical frameworks such as Social-Ecological Systems theory and Environmental Psychology, informing evidence-based management strategies and policy interventions. Recommendations included integrating outdoor recreation into policy agendas, prioritizing stakeholder collaboration, and investing in educational initiatives. Research priorities emphasized longitudinal studies, interdisciplinary collaborations, and comparative research to address complex socio-ecological challenges. These contributions aimed to promote the sustainable coexistence of outdoor recreation and environmental conservation, fostering a culture of stewardship and ensuring the long-term well-being of natural landscapes and communities.