Recreation Participation Research Articles

Encouraging Safe Behaviour among Malaysian Outdoor Recreation Participants

The focus of the management of outdoor activities is keeping participants safe. Developing safety management practices (SMPs) encourages participants' safe behaviour (SB) and prevents accidents. The study examined the relationship between SMPs and SB among outdoor participants. Two hundred and fifty outdoor participants were respondents. The Vinodkumar and Bhasi questionnaire was administered to the participants. The majority of respondents, 49.4% (n=126), participated in outdoor activities once or twice a week. Results showed a moderate relationship between SMPs and SB (r (255) = 0.697, p<0.001). The study recommends that outdoor activities management should implement policies to promote safety to prevent accidents.

Who Started, Stopped, and Continued Participating in Outdoor Recreation during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States? Results from a National Panel Study

The COVID-19 pandemic has been proposed as a catalyst for many U.S. residents to re-engage in outdoor recreation or engage in outdoor recreation for the first time. This manuscript describes the results of a representative U.S. national panel study aimed at better understanding the socio-demographic profile (gender, ethnicity, community type, income, and age) of those participants new to outdoor recreation since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In doing so, we address how these new outdoor recreationists differ from (1) those who frequently participated in outdoor recreation prior to the pandemic and continue to participate in outdoor recreation, (2) those who did not frequently participate in outdoor recreation prior to the pandemic and remain un-engaged, and (3) those who frequently participated in outdoor recreation prior to the pandemic but stopped their frequent participation following the onset of the pandemic. Results from this U.S. national study suggest that 35.8% of respondents indicated that they did not participate regularly in outdoor recreation prior to the pandemic or during the pandemic, 30.4% indicated that they did participate regularly in outdoor recreation prior to the pandemic and continued to do so regularly during the pandemic, and 13.5% indicated that they did participate regularly in outdoor recreation prior to the pandemic, but did not continue to do so during the pandemic. More than 20% of the sample indicated that they were new outdoor recreationists. The majority of respondents in all categories, including those that were new to outdoor recreation amidst the pandemic, identified as being white, however these new outdoor recreationists were also the least ethnically diverse. The previously but no longer outdoor recreationist respondents were significantly more ethnically diverse than the other three groups, and they tended to live in more urbanized settings. Discussion of these results includes implications for outdoor recreation managers, and researchers who seek to better understand who the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced with regard to outdoor recreation participation. Implications regarding social justice, access and equity to public places that facilitate outdoor recreation, and health-related policies are discussed.

Maahanmuuttajataustaisten nuorten luontosuhde ja luonnon virkistyskäyttö

Successful integration of immigrants has been identified as the key for future social and economic well-being in EU. Nature can be used to support integration. Based on survey data collected from students in 7–9th grades in the city of Lahti (n=1,121), we explore immigrants’ and native Finns’ participation in outdoor recreation and their well-being experiences of and relationships with nature. The study applies the framework of integration to discuss how nature supports the integration of immigrant youth in Finland. The results show that nature is an important part of immigrant adolescents’ everyday lives and can support their structural, cultural, interactive and identificational integration. However, there are also some differences between the immigrant and native adolescents. The study results highlight the better inclusion of the youth and multi-cultural nature-relationships in the governance of natural areas and development of nature-based solutions for integration.

University students’ participation in outdoor recreation and the perceived well-being effects of nature

It is increasingly recognized that interacting with nature promotes well-being and health for both adults and children. Less is known about the role of nature in people's everyday lives during emerging adulthood which means the shift from adolescence to young adulthood. This study examines university students' participation in outdoor recreation and the perceived well-being effects of nature. The qualitative data consists of thematic writings (N = 47) produced by environmental students at the University of Helsinki, Finland, in 2020. The findings show that most students have negotiated time and other constraints and maintained active participation in outdoor recreation. The findings highlight that nature can have an important role in students' well-being during a life stage loaded with stress factors, and especially in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nature provides opportunities not only for physical activity but also for emotional and cognitive renewal, strengthening social relationships, and relieving the negative physiological effects of various stressors. Nature helps students in reflecting on their lives and even gaining a stronger sense of self. Natural settings provide a venue for students' socially shared experiences but also support retreat behaviors by enabling ‘being away’ and providing freedom from the pressures of student life. To prevent decline in connection with nature, special efforts should be made to support young adults' interaction with nature and gaining well-being benefits. Encouraging outdoor recreation at all life stages is needed to foster a lifelong nature connection and well-being experiences. The study highlights the importance of hearing young adults' voices in decision-making and land-use planning to provide diverse opportunities for outdoor recreation and nature-based tourism. The findings stress the value of urban green spaces in supporting students' well-being in their everyday lives. To provide a sense of extent and ‘being away’ from daily routines and requirements within the city, it is important to preserve slightly managed natural settings that generate opportunities to explore nature and receive multisensory and embodied experiences. Emphasis on multisensory experiences, such as hearing bird song and breathing fresh air, also stresses the importance of taking natural elements into account in all urban planning. Promoting easy access to both urban green spaces and more distant natural settings is important for young adults. Organizing outdoor activities may also help students in familiarizing themselves with green spaces and socializing with peers.

Promoting the Participation of Children and Adolescents With Disabilities in Sports, Recreation, and Physical Activity.

The benefits of physical activity are likely universal for all children, including children and adolescents with disabilities (CWD). The participation of CWD in physical activity, including adaptive or therapeutic sports and recreation, promotes inclusion, minimizes deconditioning, optimizes physical functioning, improves mental health as well as academic achievement, and enhances overall well-being. Despite these benefits, CWD face barriers to participation and have lower levels of fitness, reduced rates of participation, and a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity compared with typically developing peers. Pediatricians and caregivers may overestimate the risks or overlook the benefits of physical activity in CWD, which further limits participation. Preparticipation evaluations often include assessment of health status, functional capacity, individual activity preferences, availability of appropriate programs, and safety precautions. Given the complexity, the preparticipation evaluation for CWD may not occur in the context of a single office visit but rather over a period of time with input from the child's multidisciplinary team (physicians, coaches, physical education teachers, school nurses, adaptive recreation specialists, physical and occupational therapists, and others). Some CWD may desire to participate in organized sports to experience the challenge of competition, and others may prefer recreational activities for enjoyment. To reach the goal of inclusion in appropriate physical activities for all children with disabilities, child, family, financial, and societal barriers to participation need to be identified and addressed. Health care providers can facilitate participation by encouraging physical activity among CWD and their families during visits. Health care providers can create "physical activity prescriptions" for CWD on the basis of the child's preferred activities, functional status, need for adaptation of the activity and the recreational opportunities available in the community. This clinical report discusses the importance of participation in sports, recreation, and physical activity for CWD and offers practical suggestions to health care providers.

Facilitating recreation programs and services for low-income citizens: practitioners’ challenges and strategies

ABSTRACT Rationale Recreation practitioners in the public and non-profit sectors are key in supporting community residents’ well-being through the facilitation of recreation programs and services; however, practitioners are working under the influence of neoliberalism governance, which challenges practitioners’ ability to support low-income citizens’ participation in recreation. Through the lens of neoliberalism, this paper aims to explore practitioners’ challenges and strategies towards implementing recreation programs and services targeted at low-income citizens and discusses the implications it has on recreation programs and services for low-income citizens. Method Semi-structured phone interviews were conducted with 18 practitioners who design and implement recreation programs and access provisions for low-income citizens. Findings Practitioners faced multiple constraints while employing a variety of solutions to deliver provisions to low-income citizens, including (1) Limited resources: doing more with less, (2) Spreading the word, and (3) Enhancing program access through program relocation, and (4) Reducing program costs. Implications Facilitating access to and participation in recreation for low-income citizens is complex and requires multiple practitioner-led solutions that consider the broader structural factors of living in poverty. Research contribution This study provides insight into the challenges practitioners experienced as they employed different strategies to support low-income citizens’ participation in recreation, and more particularly, provides an understanding of how such strategies and challenges impact recreation programs and services for low-income citizens.

Editorial - A crisis in social care: time for rethinking?

The post Brexit “points based” immigration system does not list “care worker” as an eligible occupation on the “skilled worker” route;therefore, from January 2021, care workers cannot immigrate to take up these roles, and the pay for such workers falls well below the necessary salary threshold [1]. Relatively less attention has been paid to the crisis in support provided to older people in their own homes and to younger people with physical health conditions and impairments and learning disabilities, and relatively no attention has been paid to the social care needs of people with mental health challenges. (Wall, 2021, p. 2) The 2014 Care Act [4] imposes on local authorities a duty to promote an individual’s well-being, where well-being is defined in terms of nine principles [5]: personal dignity (including treatment of the individual with respect);physical and mental health and emotional well-being;protection from abuse and neglect;control by the individual over day-to-day life (including over care and support provided to the individual and the way in which it is provided);participation in work, education, training or recreation;social and economic well-being;domestic, family and personal relationships;suitability of living accommodation;and the individual’s contribution to society. (Crowther, 2019, p. 56) This vision very much resonates with recovery-focused transformation in the mental health sphere: a focus on the person in the context of their life and community where treatment and support are seen not as an end in themselves but as a means to enable people to live the lives they want to lead (see, Repper and Perkins, 2003, 2012).

Covid-19 and outdoor recreation management: Increased participation, connection to nature, and a look to climate adaptation.

Outdoor recreation management perspectives were investigated based on the general perception of increased public outdoor recreation participation during the Covid-19 pandemic and supported by survey research at local, regional, and national levels in Sweden. There is an interest in how outdoor recreation professionals perceived outdoor recreation by the public during the pandemic and whether professionals could identify specific implications from the Covid-19/outdoor recreation experience. Climate adaptation literature supports the idea that current global challenge coupled with projections for ongoing challenge requires a pro-active approach; this turn to climate adaptation for potential consideration or guidance is based on characteristics that the Covid-19 pandemic shares with climate change. Outdoor recreational professionals' review of a recent public survey and subsequent semi-structured interviews with this group were conducted to obtain outdoor recreation professionals' detailed perceptions on survey outcomes. Results show that the professionals confirm a rapid and significant increase in outdoor recreation participation. Further, professionals identified critical trends in the increase of new or inexperienced outdoor recreation participants. A positive and proactive list of implications emerged as themes of the interviews. A review and synthesis of the themes support the national goals for outdoor recreation in Sweden. Further, results indicate a current opportunity for outdoor recreation to address concerns for diminishing nature experience and support connectedness to nature. The connectedness to nature outcome further strengthens the comparison with climate adaptation strategy given the potential relationship between connectedness to nature and pro-environmental behavior.

The economic benefits of recreation in Canada

AbstractCanadians spend approximately 2.2% of the country's gross domestic product on outdoor recreation, but we do not yet know the economic benefits people receive from participating in these activities. I provide the first ever comprehensive assessment of the economic benefits of outdoor recreation in Canada. I use a nationally representative survey of recreational behaviour on over 24,000 Canadians to estimate a Kuhn–Tucker demand model that accounts for substitution between activities and satiation in demand. The results demonstrate that participation in outdoor recreation provides Canadians with $98 billion in annual economic benefits, which is well over twice as large as reported expenditures. I also reveal substantial heterogeneity in recreation benefits across activities and regions in Canada.

Association between built environment and physical activity in Latin American countries: a multicentre cross-sectional study

ObjectiveTo assess the association between the physical activity level and the built environment by accessibility, microinfrastructure and security in Latin America (LA).DesignWe conducted a multicentre cross-sectional study to collect physical...

Boxing-related fatalities in Australia: a retrospective analysis of news media reports

Introduction: Although participation in sport and active recreation is widely encouraged for its health and social benefits, there is a risk of adverse events, including serious injuries and death. Catastrophic injuries and deaths in boxing often attract considerable media attention and public debate. This study aimed to quantify and describe boxing-related fatalities in Australia.

Participation in recreational activities varies with socioeconomic position and is associated with self-rated health and well-being

Recreational activities may promote and maintain health and well-being, but empirical evidence is limited. The aim of this study was to explore socioeconomic variations in participation in recreational activities in the local community and to examine associations with health and well-being in the general population.Participants ≥ 16 years from the Danish Capital Region Health Survey, conducted in 2017 (N = 55,185, response rate 52.6%) were included. Participation in community-based recreational activities, self-rated health, quality of life, and health status was assessed by questionnaire. Socioeconomic variables (educational level, occupational and marital status) were obtained from national registers. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine associations.Less than half of the population participated in community-based recreational activities. Individuals with a higher educational level were 55% more likely to participate in recreational activities compared to those with a lower educational level (OR = 1.55, CI:1.45–1.66). Individuals with a low educational level who participated in recreational activities, were more likely to have an excellent/good quality of life (OR = 2.03 (95% CI:1.86–2.21)) and an excellent/very good self-rated health (OR = 1.61 (95% CI:1.51–1.71)), than those who did not participate in recreational activities.Regardless of educational level, recreational activity participation was associated with better self-rated health and quality of life. Thus, to counter-balance social inequality in health, a focus on participation in recreational activities is important when planning community public health interventions.

Physical activity and active recreation before and during COVID-19: The Our Life at Home study

ObjectivesTo examine the effects of COVID-19 related ‘lockdown restrictions’ on Australian's (5–75 years) physical activity recommendation achievement and active recreation participation. DesignCross-sectional online survey with self and proxy-report items (where the participant was a parent). MethodsAdults (n = 1360) and adolescents (n = 1292) reported the frequency they performed 30- or 60-min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), muscle-strengthening exercises, and participation in 11 active recreation behaviours in February 2020 (pre-COVID-19) and in April/May (during lockdown restrictions). Parents also proxy-reported activity for their child (n = 147, 5–12 years). Mixed effects logistic regressions or a logistic regression (with robust sandwich estimation for variance) assessed recall differences pre- and during lockdown, and interaction by sex. ResultsCompared to February, in April/May children were less likely to meet MVPA recommendations (OR = 0.27, 95%CI = 0.12–0.64); adolescents males, but not females, were less likely to meet MVPA (OR = 0.71, 95%CI 0.43, 1.17) and both recommendations (OR = 0.12, 95%CI = 0.02, 0.79); and adults were more likely to meet MVPA (OR = 1.26, 95%CI = 1.01, 1.57) but less likely to meet muscle-strengthening exercise recommendations (OR = 0.76, 9%CI = 0.65, 0.89). Across age groups more participants reported walking, muscle strengthening exercises at home, and yoga/Pilates/stretching at home, and fewer performed informal sport practice and play, and recreational activities. ConclusionsLockdown restrictions had different effects on physical activity and active recreation among age groups and by sex. Physical activity promotion strategies that target children and adolescents, at home physical activity options, active neighbourhoods, and (re)engagement in informal sport and recreational activities post-COVID-19 are critical for (re)engaging Australians in health-enhancing behaviours.

Effect of recreational exercise and fitness on left ventricular torsion and wall mechanics study (FIT-TWIST/Health)

Abstract Background Left ventricular (LV) remodeling is associated with elite athletics. This study aimed to assess the effects of recreational exercise on LV remodeling and mechanics in healthy adults. Methods A prospective cross-sectional study evaluated 38 healthy adult recreational exercise participants with a Bruce protocol treadmill exercise stress test, and 2D and speckle-tracking echocardiography. Fitness level was stratified by the achieved age- and sex-predicted metabolic equivalents (METS) as average/good (group A, N=20; METS=13.9) and high (group B, N=18; METS=18.2) groups. Results Mean age was 33 years, and 58% were female. Participants in Group B used more multi-modality (67 vs 20%; p=0.008) or running (50% vs 15%; p=0.04) exercise regimens, and had larger LV mass (66 vs 56 g/m2; p=0.05) and left atrial volume indices (28 vs 22 ml/m2; p=0.02), when compared with group A. However, all LV strain and torsion mechanics were similar between groups (Figure). Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed independent associations between global longitudinal strain (GLS) and transmitral E-wave (β=−0.57), maximum systolic blood pressure (β=0.32), and LV end-diastolic volume index (β=0.32) (model r=0.72; p<0.001). No correlation between METS achieved and LV parameters was observed. Conclusion Recreational exercise and fitness are associated with healthy LV geometry and mechanics in adults. Early diastolic LV filling, LV chamber size, and peak exercise blood pressure are correlated with GLS. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Private grant(s) and/or Sponsorship. Main funding source(s): Florida Heart Research Foundation

Understanding the economic activity generated by recreational fishing in South Africa provides insights on the role of recreational fisheries for social development

AbstractWhile the economic activity associated with recreational fishing is well assessed in the developed world, substantially less is known in developing countries. South Africa is a unique microcosm for applying economic evaluation frameworks as its dualist economy shares characteristics of both the developed and developing world. Understanding participation levels and the role of dualism in economic activity linked to recreational fisheries is a crucial step towards leveraging the sector for economic development. A total of 1320 face‐to‐face and online questionnaires were used to estimate annual economic spend by recreational fishers, and the economic activity associated with this spend was modelled using Social Accounting Matrix analysis. Recreational fishing participation estimates totalled 1,327,633, which contributed ZAR 32.6 billion (US$2.2 billion) per year to economic activity and sustained 94,070 full‐time jobs. However, less than 10% of the economic activity benefitted lower income households, suggesting that the “first” and “second” economies of this dualist economy are disconnected. This is likely similar in other developing nations with international tourism‐driven recreational fisheries. To reduce this disconnect, changes in tourism policies to focus on local development, the identification of recreational fisheries tourism hotspots and the development of local education, skills and appropriate infrastructure through public–private partnerships will be necessary.

TESTING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERCEIVED CONSTRAINTS AND RECREATIONAL SPORT PARTICIPATION LEVELS IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT IN GREECE

The purpose of this study was to test the relationship between perceived constraints and recreational sport participation in an urban environment. The data were collected from an on-site survey in the city of Thessaloniki, Greece, with a sample of one thousand individuals, participants in recreational sport activities. The Leisure Constraints Questionnaire was used to measure sport related constraints, following the hierarchical model of leisure constraints. The results indicated that the Lack of Interest, Psychological Factors, Lack of Knowledge and Previous Experience had statistically signicant differences among participants and non-participants. All these dimensions can be categorized within the psychological constraints, which is in line with the hierarchical model of leisure constraints. These results propose that these constraints should be targeted by sport policy makers in their effort to promote recreational sports in a more effective way among citizens.

Yayımla veya Yok Ol Rekreasyon Yönetimi Araştırmaları Nereye Gidiyor Bibliyometrik Bir Değerlendirme

Bibliometric studies have recently been become quite popular to draw a holistic picture of a selected subject. This current study aims to shed light on the department of recreation management postgraduate dissertations which is an emerging scientific field. In order to achieve this aim, 134 postgraduate dissertations registered in the Council of Higher Education National Thesis Center were bibliometrically analyzed under the following parameters: publishing year, type of dissertation, research field and subject, university, research method, scale type used in research, validity and reliability state of the research, and finally analysis technique being used in the study. Based on the analysis performed with SPSS, there is sort of a linear increase in published dissertation years and most of them are maters. Results also demonstrated thatrecreation management department studies are concentrated mostly on recreative activities and recreation participation. In addition, it was determined that the research fields of dissertations were heavily in sports and tourism. Formerly Gazi University and currently Ankara Haci Bayram Veli University is where studies are mostly published. Finally, it is worth noting postgraduate dissertations published in recreation management were conducted through quantitative research methods; although, most of them haven't applied any validity assessments during evaluating data. Also, another remarkable finding that researchers were applied parametric tests even though a number of them seem not to even bother performing normality of test. As a matter of fact, that recreation management studies are still on the edge of becoming apparent, there is lots of work to achieve.

Agreement between methods and terminology used to assess the kinematics of the Nordic hamstring exercise

ABSTRACT The Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) is employed as a component of preventative training programmes to minimise hamstring strain injury risk. Variation in the methods and terminology used to assess the NHE makes comparison between studies difficult. We aimed to compare the utility of kinetic and kinematic metrics by comparing several collected concurrently. 18 male recreational rugby union participants completed 3 bilateral NHE repetitions on a hamstring device equipped with in-line strain gauge load cells, integrated with a 3-dimensional motion tracking system. Mean break-point angle occurred after the angle at first acceleration (121.5 ± 10.4° vs. 119.2 ± 7.1°) whereas break-torque angle (BTA) occurred later in the NHE action (126.0 ± 9.8°) showing highest correlation to the angle at greatest acceleration (123.9 ± 7.9°, r = 0.85). Future research should consider movement quality as the angular velocity of the knee joint at BTA demonstrated large variation (range = 3.6–93.4 deg·s1), with high intrasubject variability of relative trunk-to-thigh angle at peak-torque (range = 0.4–44.7°). This study proposes standardisation of methods and terminology used to define the NHE. Measuring BTA is recommended to represent the point at which hamstring muscle failure occurs, specific to the proposed injury mechanism during high-speed running.

Increasing the longitudinal bending stiffness of runners’ habitual shoes: An appropriate choice for improving running performance?

This study analysed the effects of increasing the longitudinal bending stiffness (LBS) of runners’ habitual shoes on the metabolic energetic demand, lower limb muscle activation and stride spatiotemporal parameters during a prolonged running session through classical group investigation, as well as a more individualised approach. Eleven recreational male participants ran overground for 40 min at 95% of their ventilatory anaerobic threshold with their own shoes or their shoes with higher LBS (stiff carbon plate inserted under insole). The net energetic cost of running, lower leg muscle activation and spatiotemporal parameters were measured during the prolonged running. The variables of interest were analysed for 1 min in seven time intervals. There were no main effects of LBS or interaction effects with running duration on the group averaged variables. Overall, the participant-specific metabolic effects induced by an increased shoe LBS were not beneficial. Beneficial metabolic effects were more likely to occur when the increased LBS induced a decrease or no change in the ground contact time relative to their habitual shoes, as well as for taller runners. Increasing the LBS in runners’ habitual shoes did not induce systematic metabolic effects for all the runners and may not be beneficial for performance purposes if the runners’ shoe habits were too disrupted.

Sitting on the Sidelines: Disparities in Social, Recreational, and Community Participation Among Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Participation in extracurricular activities and community involvement during secondary school is important for the healthy social, emotional, mental, and physical development of adolescents, especially those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The current study utilized three waves of data (2016, 2017, and 2018) from the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) to examine disparities in extracurricular participation among 12- to 17-year old adolescents with ASD. Across the three waves, data demonstrate clear sociodemographic disparities among adolescents with ASD. These disparities were more evident in adolescents with caregivers that had less education and lower household income, as well as males. These disparities suggest a continued need for targeted interventions to promote engagement among adolescents with ASD to narrow this social disparity gap.