Recreational Contexts Research Articles

Determination of Arylcyclohexylamines in Biological Specimens: Sensors and Sample Pre-Treatment Approaches.

Arylcyclohexylamine (ACH) compounds represent a predominant faction within new psychoactive substances. Due to their powerful dissociative effects, they are used in recreational contexts but also in situations of drug-facilitated sexual assault, and therefore, they are a constant target of analysis by forensic experts. In recent years, their consumption has been notably high, especially the use of ketamine, presenting daily challenges for laboratories in the determination of this and other ACH analogues. This review comprises the recent strategies that forensic specialists use to identify and quantify ACH compounds in the laboratory with more traditional analytical techniques and technology, and on the point-of-care testing via sensor technology. The study focuses on analogues of phencyclidine (PCP), ketamine, and eticyclidine, highlighting the consistent need for higher sensitivity in the analysis of various samples collected from real cases and simulations of possible matrices. The review also emphasises the ongoing research to develop more sensitive, quicker, and more capable sensors.

Contributions of Reading Support from Teachers, Parents, and Friends to Reading Related Variables in Academic and Recreational Contexts

AbstractReading skills are considered an important lever for success in school and active participation in society. They are positively associated with reading motivation, reading self‐concept, reading frequency, and behavioral engagement in reading (e.g., time, effort), variables that tend to decline as students move from elementary to secondary school. Few studies have yet compared the contributions of reading support from teachers, parents, and friends to each of these variables among students of different age groups. In this multicohort correlational study, students (n = 1246) in grades 4, 6, 8, and 10 completed a questionnaire measuring the reading support they perceived receiving from three social agents (teacher, parents, and friends) as well as variables related to reading in academic and recreational contexts. The data collected were used to evaluate the construct relevance and predictive validity of the questionnaire. The results suggest that: (1) Reading support can be conceptualized in nine dimensions defined according to the source that provides it (e.g., teachers) and the type to which it corresponds (e.g., relatedness support); (2) secondary school students overall consider that they receive less reading support than do elementary school students; (3) reading support from teacher has unique contributions to certain variables measured in the academic context without, however, having as many positive contributions as parents in this context; (4) reading support provided by parents and friends is important in both reading contexts, particularly in the recreational context. Methodological, theoretical, and practical implications are discussed.

Medical Students’ Views on Cannabis Use in Recreational Contexts Are Related to Their Own Consumption Intention

Health professionals are regarded as important sources of information and guidance for healthy living. Knowing health determinants and risks, and invested with credibility in society, many struggle with their own human limits to apply these principles. A cross-sectional study was conducted among advanced medical students to assess their attitude towards recreational cannabis consumption, intention to use it, and their opinion of its legal status. Secondary objectives were to explore the relation of these primary outcomes to: (a) potentially addictive habits (such as smoking and drinking); (b) individuals’ disturbances in self-organization (DSOs), defined in the ICD-11 as pervasive chronic effects of traumatic experiences or stressful events. An anonymous online questionnaire active in November 2022 collected data from 171 medical students, of which almost 56% were in favor of recreational cannabis legalization. In a logistic regression analysis, each additional point of own consumption intention (on a scale from 1 to 5) was found to increase the odds of a positive opinion of legalization by three times, when controlling for gender, age, smoking, drinking, onset age of smoking, and DSO: OR = 2.918, 95%CI (1.893–4.497). In conclusion, health professionals’ personal beliefs and practices regarding substance use have a significant subjective component.

Adults’ pro-environmental behaviours and childhood experiences: the mediating role of nature connectedness, psychological ownership, and environmental knowledge

ABSTRACT Despite childhood experiences’ significant role in the pro-environmental behaviour of adults, this issue has insufficiently been addressed within the tourism and recreation context. The current study investigates how childhood nature-based recreation experiences (CHNREs) affect adults’ pro-environmental behaviours (PEBs) in nature-based recreation through connectedness to nature, psychological ownership, and environmental knowledge. It also explores the mediating role of psychological ownership in the relationship between connectedness to nature and environmental knowledge with adults’ PEBs in nature-based recreation. The study’s population included young domestic Iranian visitors to natural sites, and 503 online questionnaires were analyzed employing structural equation modelling AMOS-SEM. The findings showed a significant positive influence of childhood experience on adult PEBs and supported the mediating role of the two variables: connectedness to nature and environmental knowledge. Despite the significant positive impact of environmental knowledge and connectedness to nature on psychological ownership, the mediating role of this variable in the relationship between environmental knowledge and connectedness to nature with PEBs was not supported.

“We Try [to] Take the Barriers Away For You to Come in”: Active Recreation Contexts as Leisure Facilitators

Active recreation spaces provide important contexts for physical activity that can contribute to positive physical and mental health outcomes. However, individuals often face constraints which can limit their participation in active recreation. Although some constraints can be negotiated at the individual level, organizations may also take actions to facilitate participation. Extensive research has examined individual constraints to active recreation and constraint negotiation strategies, but there is a lack of research on how recreation agencies and organizations work to facilitate participation in active recreation. Recognizing this gap, we sought to understand facilitators of physically active recreation at the contextual level, with a larger goal of identifying the organizational facilitators that recreation providers use to encourage participation. This qualitative study of recreation providers included semi-structured focus groups conducted online with staff and program leaders at recreation organizations providing physically active programming in a college town in the northeastern United States. Focus groups were transcribed verbatim, coded both deductively and inductively using thematic analysis, and validated with qualitative techniques (e.g., consensus across coders). Results aligned with four themes: philosophy/culture, staff/volunteers, marketing, and program actions. These themes illustrate the actions taken by providers to encourage and support participation across various levels of their organizational operations. Our data provide evidence of specific facilitation strategies used by recreation providers, aligning with constraints and constraint negotiation strategies identified in previous research, as well as with business practices not typically viewed through this lens. The present study highlights the need for better integration of individual- and organizational-level research. By better understanding constraints faced by current and potential participants, providers can be more intentional in aligning their practices with the facilitation of participation. Recreation providers can use the facilitation strategies identified in this study to support constraint negotiation and better enable engagement in active recreation.

Structure-activity relationships for locomotor stimulant effects and monoamine transporter interactions of substituted amphetamines and cathinones

Substitutions to the phenethylamine structure give rise to numerous amphetamines and cathinones, contributing to an ever-growing number of abused novel psychoactive substances. Understanding how various substitutions affect the pharmacology of phenethylamines may help lawmakers and scientists predict the effects of newly emerging drugs. Here, we established structure-activity relationships for locomotor stimulant and monoamine transporter effects of 12 phenethylamines with combinations of para-chloro, β-keto, N-methyl, or N-ethyl additions. Automated photobeam analysis was used to evaluate effects of drugs on ambulatory activity in mice, whereas in vitro assays were used to determine activities at transporters for dopamine (DAT), norepinephrine (NET), and 5-HT (SERT) in rat brain synaptosomes. In mouse studies, all compounds stimulated locomotion, except for 4-chloro-N-ethylcathinone. Amphetamines were more potent stimulants than their β-keto counterparts, while para-chloro amphetamines tended to be more efficacious than unsubstituted amphetamines. Para-chloro compounds also produced lethality at doses on the ascending limbs of their locomotor dose-effect functions. The in vitro assays showed that all compounds inhibited uptake at DAT, NET, and SERT, with most compounds also acting as substrates (i.e., releasers) at these sites. Unsubstituted compounds displayed better potency at DAT and NET relative to SERT. Para-chloro substitution or increased N-alkyl chain length augmented relative potency at SERT, while combined para-chloro and N-ethyl substitutions reduced releasing effects at NET and DAT. These results demonstrate orderly SAR for locomotor stimulant effects, monoamine transporter activities, and lethality induced by phenethylamines. Importantly, 4-chloro compounds produce toxicity in mice that suggests serious risk to humans using these drugs in recreational contexts.

Initial Development and Validation of the Campus Recreation Constraints and Negotiations Questionnaire

Despite the known benefits of campus recreation participation, many students do not engage with the programs and services offered on college campuses. College students report factors that constrain leisure time physical activity within the context of campus recreation. Examining the constraints and negotiation strategies of college students specific to the use of campus recreation facilities and programs is understudied and lacks validated instruments. The purpose of this study was to develop and report initial validity and reliability of the Campus Recreation Constraints and Negotiation Questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used to evaluate two independent scales. Psychometric properties including construct validity, internal structure, and reliability are reported from two different samples of college students. Practical implications for campus recreation programming and marketing efforts are discussed.

Leisure Activity Type and Sustainable Health Status in Late Adolescents

The concept of sustainable health encompasses not solely the holistic physical welfare of individuals, but also their mental wellbeing and their harboring of optimistic outlooks for the future. Integral to this construct is the interplay between the individual and their environment. The primary objective of this study is to examine the association between sustainable health status and leisure activities among adolescents, particularly during the challenging transition period of late adolescence into adulthood. A total of 398 adolescents aged between 18-24 participated in the study. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were employed to investigate the associations among six distinct categories of leisure activities and three dependent variables (life satisfaction, optimism, and health perception). Upon controlling for covariates, the findings demonstrated significant positive associations between outdoor and social activities and all three outcome variables. Physical activities exhibited positive correlations with health perception and life satisfaction. Moreover, significant positive associations were found between life satisfaction and volunteer activities, optimism and cultural activities, as well as health perception and home-centered activities. These findings indicate that fostering positive social interactions within recreational contexts and promoting engagement in physical activities can be pivotal in fostering sustainable health outcomes among adolescents.

A scoping review of observed benefits of Developmental Transformations (DvT)

Developmental Transformations (DvT), a practice involving interactive, improvisational play in pairs or groups, has gained international appeal as a therapeutic intervention for different populations in a variety of health, care and recreational contexts. However, a rigorous review of the benefits of DvT has not been conducted. The purpose of this study was to review extant literature for the observed benefits of DvT, identify gaps in the literature and make recommendations concerning future research including identifying possible areas for outcome measurement for preliminary studies. The authors, who each completed training in this approach, conducted a scoping review of English-language, published, peer-reviewed and grey DvT literature through 2021. From an initial 745 records retrieved through databases and a manual search, 51 publications met criteria, which, when analysed using in-vivo and pattern coding, resulted in a total of seventeen categories of observed benefits ascribed to DvT. These included six general categories – relational, emotional, social, cognitive, behavioural and physical benefits – and eleven complex categories of benefits to participants across the lifespan. In addition to benefits for participants, benefits of DvT were also observed and reported for facilitators, therapists, teachers and supervisors engaged in this practice. This review revealed inconsistencies regarding the reporting of practitioner training, frequency, format, population, intended goals, assessment measures and outcomes. Future studies with increased experimental rigor, standardized outcome measures and consistent reporting are recommended.

Evaluating a Model of Flow and Clutch Optimal Psychological States in Adventure Recreation

Adventure recreation is a growing form of leisure associated with optimal psychological states reported to involve intensely pleasant emotions, optimal functioning, and a sense of achievement or fulfillment. However, much of the research on this topic has primarily focused on singular optimal state models (e.g. flow, peak experience), which have often been developed and refined in traditional sport contexts. This study investigated the potential utility of a multiple optimal state model (i.e. flow and clutch) for understanding optimal psychological states experienced across a range of adventure recreation activities (e.g. rockclimbing, snowboarding, white-water kayaking). Data were collected with 20 participants (mean age = 35.7 years, SD = 10.7) via the Scanlan Collaborative Interview Method. While flow and clutch states were reported to both involve an immersive, present moment focus, flow states were characterized by expanded attentional focus, connection to nature, effortlessness, and intuitive, pleasurable movements, whereas clutch states were characterized by a narrow focus on achieving a difficult outcome and deliberate thinking about bodily movements, followed by a sense of achievement. The findings are used to propose an expanded model of flow and clutch states that identifies the unique antecedents, characteristics, and consequences of flow and clutch optimal states in adventure recreation contexts.

Using Animal Movement Theory to Inform Visitor Movement Research: Integrating Movement Ecology and Hierarchical Habitat Selection for Outdoor Recreation Contexts

Visitor movement research in outdoor recreation contexts generates information about recreation activity type, timing, and distribution. Much of this work is descriptive or exploratory, limiting the extent to which findings can be used for movement prediction. This is problematic for practitioners seeking to use information on visitor movement to proactively inform management decisions. Using theory to inform visitor movement research can overcome these limitations, increasing the utility of research to make predictions. Drawing from animal ecology, we present an integrated movement ecology and hierarchical habitat selection framework as a theory-based approach for studying visitor movement. We operationalize framework constructs for visitor movement, identify human dimensions literature congruent with this approach, and provide examples to illustrate application. Using the proposed framework will strengthen visitor movement research by providing theory to guide variable identification, identifying relationships for hypothesis testing, increasing the generalizability of findings, and moving the field toward movement prediction.

An effective method for measuring text legibility in XR devices reveals clear differences between three devices

Reading is a crucial aspect of the extended reality (XR) experience across various professional and recreational contexts. Legibility, which is defined as the ease with which a character can be recognized, is an essential determinant of readability. As legibility on a specific device cannot be deduced from technical specifications alone, an efficient perceptual method for measuring legibility is needed to measure the legibility of text presented in XR. In this study, we present a method for comparing the legibility limits of XR devices, where single letter legibility is measured with fast and precise psychophysical methods. We applied the method to compare the legibility in three commercial XR headsets (Varjo VR-2, HTC Vive Pro Eye, Oculus Quest 2) in experiments with human observers. Our results show that the single letter legibility methods presented here provide an effect size approximately ten times higher compared to the widely used method of reading speed. This allows for the use of fewer observers and the detection of smaller differences, making it a more efficient and effective approach for comparing the legibility limits of XR devices.

“There is just more love in it”: a qualitative study of youth voice and relatedness in U.S. youth circus programs

ABSTRACT Recreational youth circus programs are a unique context for positive youth development. Anecdotal evidence suggests that young people feel heard in these programs, and research in other recreation settings shows that participation in decision making helps youth connect with others. The present study therefore examined how youth voice is supported at five youth circus programs across the United States through program observations and qualitative interviews with participants (N = 17, ages 12–18) and staff (N = 13). Thematic analysis revealed that both youth and staff felt their circus programs listen to youth members, although actual options for engagement varied. Furthermore, the love and acceptance of the circus community was omnipresent in the interviews; a feeling of belonging/relatedness even for individuals who felt excluded elsewhere. This study shows that youth circus can foster belonging and inclusion, and raises questions about the differences between perceived and actual opportunities for youth voice in recreation contexts.

Epistemological beliefs and values as predictors of preservice science teachers' environmental moral reasoning

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to test predictability of environmental moral reasoning patterns of preservice science teachers (PSTs) by their epistemological beliefs and values. Four environmental moral dilemma scenarios that reflect different environmental moral dilemma situations taking place in four outdoor recreation contexts (i.e., hiking, picnicking, fishing, camping) were used to trigger and examine environmental moral reasoning of PSTs. Centers of moral concerns (i.e., ecocentric, anthropocentric, egocentric) and underlying reasons of environmental moral considerations (e.g., aesthetical concerns, justice issues) were used to investigate PSTs' environmental moral reasoning patterns. Data were collected from 1524 PSTs enrolled in six universities located in Central Anatolia region of Türkiye. A path model was proposed to test relationships of PSTs' epistemological beliefs and values to their environmental moral reasoning for each environmental moral dilemma scenario. Results indicated good‐fit between study data and the path model tested for each environmental moral reasoning scenario. Variances in environmental moral reasoning scores that were explained by the path models had small to medium effect size values of 0.06 to 0.26. Statistical significance and direction of the tested relationships showed changes depending on the moral dilemma scenario context and focus of environmental moral reasoning. Nevertheless, path analyses consistently revealed positively significant relationships between environmental moral reasoning categories and epistemological beliefs in omniscient authority and self‐transcendence and tradition values. Implications for science education policy and practice are discussed.

Detection of fentanyl, synthetic opioids, and ketamine in hair specimens from purposive samples of American and Italian populations.

With the current crisis related to the diffusion of fentanyl and other novel opioids in several countries and populations, new and effective approaches are needed to better elucidate the phenomenon. In this context, hair testing offers a unique perspective in the investigation of drug consumption, producing useful information in terms of exposure to psychoactive substances. In this research, we applied targeted ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) analytical methods to detect novel synthetic and prescription opioids and other common controlled psychoactive drugs in the keratin matrix. A total of 120 hair samples were analyzed from the United States (US) and Italy, segmented when longer than 6 cm, and then analyzed. In the 60 samples (83 segments in total) analyzed from a purposive sample of data collected in the US, fentanyl was detected in 14 cases (16.9%), with no detection of nitazens or brorphine. We also detected fentanyl metabolites, despropionyl-p-fluorofentanyl, and prescription opioids. In the 60 samples collected in Italy (91 segments in total), ketamine was the most prevalent compound detected (in 41 cases; 45.1%), with ketamine demonstrating a strong correlation with detection of amphetamines and MDMA, likely due to co-use of these substances in recreational contexts. Several common drugs were also detected but no exposure to fentanyl or its analogs were detected. Results of this retrospective exploration of drug use add to increasing evidence that hair testing can serve as a useful adjunct to epidemiology studies that seek to determine biologically confirmed use and exposure in high-risk populations.

Psychedelics: preclinical insights provide directions for future research.

Recently, psychedelics have emerged as promising therapeutics for numerous neuropsychiatric disorders. While their potential in the clinic has yet to be fully elucidated, understanding their molecular and biological mechanisms is imperative as these compounds are becoming widely used both in therapeutic and recreational contexts. This review examines the current understanding of basic biology, pharmacology, and structural biology in an attempt to reveal both the knowns and unknowns within the field.

Vaccine hesitancy, parental concerns, and COVID-19 in a digital leisure context: Implications for out-of-school time

Due to the increasing prevalence of parental vaccine hesitancy or refusal, it is important to understand parental motives for vaccine hesitancy. This study examines social media conversations and commentaries regarding concerns about parenting, vaccine hesitancy, and the COVID-19 pandemic within an in-person leisure and recreation context: out-of-school time (OST) programs. A generative, probabilistic Bayesian machine learning model was used to analyze 31,925 tweets and group them into seven categories: Government, Feelings, School, Public Health, Christmas, Risk and Safety, and Families. As a result, recommendations for research and practice are discussed in connection to both OST programs and digital leisure, including a diverse range of vaccine hesitancy motivations related to children and parents, communication management strategies for OST professionals, and the impact of the politization of leisure in a digital leisure context.

Profiles of Teenage Athletes' Exposure to Violence in Sport: An Analysis of Their Sport Practice, Athletic Behaviors, and Mental Health.

Violence in sport is a major social issue generating great interest in research over the last 10 years. Studies to date highlight various forms and manifestations of violence in the lives of teenagers practicing individual or team sports, in competitive and recreational contexts. Although allegations of sexual violence involving coaches most often reach media attention, psychological and physical violence involving teammates, parents, and coaches are also prevalent. While profiles of offenders in the sport context have contributed to a better understanding of the issue, similar profiles need to be elaborated for young victims to delineate varying degrees of risk, adaptation, and needs. Latent class analyses were conducted to empirically identify different patterns of exposure to violence in sport from a sample of 1057 athletes aged 14-17 years. Teenagers participated in an online survey assessing their experiences of violence using the Violence Toward Athletes Questionnaire. Results highlighted three different profiles of victimization in the sport context: (a) a non-victimized profile constituting only 37% of the sample; (b) a profile representing 52% of the sample that is mainly exposed to psychological violence by teammates, coaches, and parents; and (c) a "poly-victimized" profile, representing 10% of the sample, that is exposed to all forms of violence at the hands of various perpetrators (teammates, coaches, and parents). The identified profiles were compared according to different indicators of sport practice, athletic behaviors, and mental health. This study delineates the influence of single and multiple forms of violence and its compound consequences on mental health and sport-related behaviors, thus portraying various degrees of need for tailored prevention and intervention measures.

The Tower Building Task: A Behavioral Tool to Evaluate Recreational Risk-Taking.

Risk-taking is a fundamental aspect of life spanning diverse contexts. Despite many tests being readily available, the behavioral assessment of risk propensity in recreational contexts, where decisions are not necessarily motivated by monetary gains or losses, is not well represented. As the tower building task (TBT) shares features of recreational activities, we evaluated whether it could assess risk-taking in this type of scenario. In the TBT, participants use standard-size wooden blocks to build the tallest tower they can within a 10 min period. In the current study we (i) examined methodological modifications to the task to either promote or reduce risky behavior and (ii) tested possible associations between the TBT scores and those of two commonly used risk-taking evaluations: The Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) and the Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS). We found that limiting the number of permitted collapses decreased the willingness to take risks, whereas challenging participants to exceed a “record” height increased risk-taking. TBT scores of one of the conditions correlated with scores of the BART and the SSS, particularly with the subscale addressing recreational activities. These findings suggest that the TBT offers a potentially useful means of evaluating risk-taking behaviors akin to those of the recreational domain.

Southeastern U.S. CrossFit Coaches’ Legal Consciousness Regarding COVID-19 Restrictions

This study investigated the legal consciousness of CrossFit coaches in Georgia and Florida, in the United States, regarding government-mandated COVID-19 restrictions. Legal consciousness can create a framework that allows us to understand how coaches’ behaviors may be consistent with, or different from, those that the law predicts. The researcher conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with a diverse sample. The uncompensated interviews lasted from 15 to 45 minutes and asked for the coaches’ thoughts on restrictions placed on gyms due to the pandemic. Utilizing this socio-legal theory as a lens, the study primarily found conformity to the law. However, there were examples of engagement with and resistance to the law. Coaches’ legal consciousness varied by ownership status, race, age, and political views. The findings support the idea that people make connections from their past experiences to shape their understanding of the law. This inter-disciplinary study contributes to the scant literature on legal consciousness applied to a sport and recreation context.