Recreation Programs Research Articles

10-Week Ballroom Dance Program Improves Mood and Influences Health-Related Elements in Healthy Middle-Aged Adults.

Introduction: Sedentary lifestyles remain a persistent health issue in Japan. Ballroom dancing has recently gained attention as a potential means of maintaining physical activity, but there are very few reports on Japanese subjects. Exploratory research is therefore needed to investigate the effects of ballroom dancing on the physical and mental health of sedentary middle-aged Japanese adults. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of ballroom dancing on various health-related physical and psychological outcomes in middle-aged adults compared to a control group. Methods: A parallel-group study was carried out. Thirty healthy but inactive middle-aged adults with no previous dance experience were divided into 2 groups: an intervention group which participated in a recreational level ballroom dance program for 10 weeks (60 minutes, once per week) and a control group which had no dance lessons. Subjects completed questionnaires regarding subjective mood changes and daily physical activity. Objective measures of physical fitness, oxidative stress, antioxidant capacity, and autonomic nervous system function were also assessed before (T0) and after 10 weeks (T11) of dance practice. Results: In the subjective questionnaire, the Profile of Mood States 2 (POMS®2) survey, one of the health-related indicators, T-scores of the Total Mood Disturbance (TMD) after the intervention showed a difference (P = .014) between the dance group and the control group. In post hoc tests, increases of autonomic activity and number of days of high-intensity physical activity correlated positively with a reduction in TMD in the dance group. Conclusion: Among inactive middle-aged adults, participation in weekly ballroom dance lessons for 10 weeks improved their psychological mood compared to a control group. The improvement was found to have the positive effects of activating autonomic nervous system activity and increasing high-intensity physical activity. The results suggest that ballroom dancing may be effective in improving exercise habits and physical and mental health.

City-wide cycling network extension and bicycle ridership in São Paulo: A causal analysis

Over the past 15 years, São Paulo, a megacity in Southeastern Brazil, has tackled its enduring mobility challenges by constructing over 500 km of bike routes and supporting various cycling initiatives, including recreational cycling programs, mobility strategies and bikeshare. Despite the generally positive impacts of these initiatives, the absence of robust causal evidence on their benefits can pose serious challenges for future investments in light of the existing social dynamic favoring the use of automobiles. Driven by the need to reduce motorized transport in Brazilian cities, we investigate the causal effects of bicycle routes on ridership between 2007 and 2017, focusing on travellers highly exposed to bike routes developed between 2008 and 2015. Using Difference-in-Differences models alongside Household Travel Surveys conducted before and after the interventions, we observed a modest but positive increase in cycling mode choice probability, ranging from 0.60 % to 1.37 %, among the highly exposed treatment groups. Our findings provide policymakers with valuable insights to support future cycling infrastructure planning and investment, demonstrating their potential net benefits even in car-dependent urban areas. By integrating these results into existing economic appraisal tools, policymakers can further assess additional benefits related to physical activity, health, and emissions reduction.

The effect of a recreational program on improving the elements of balance and sensory-motor perception for people with special needs in integration schools

The effect of a recreational program on improving the elements of balance and sensory-motor perception for people with special needs in integration schools

Abstract 4142792: VA Lipid Optimization Reimagined Quality Improvement Project (VALOR-QI) at the Dallas VA

The Dallas VA is one of the 50 VA sites participating in a national quality improvement initiative called VALOR-QI: VA Lipid Optimization Reimagined Quality Improvement Project. VALOR-QI is a collaborative project between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the American Heart Association (AHA) with the goal of positively impacting veterans’ cardiovascular (CV) health. As part of the program, VA sites work with an AHA QI Consultant to develop and deploy a local quality improvement plan to help overcome site specific barriers preventing veterans from achieving optimal cholesterol levels. We hypothesize that the QI strategies implemented will positively impact lipid levels and ultimately CV outcomes among high-risk patients. We aim to assess potential barriers to achieving LDL-C <70 mg/dL and develop efficient ways to maintain LDL-C goal. Our approach to the VALOR-QI program at Dallas VA is by enrolling patients with established ASCVD and LDL-C > 70 mg/dL from cardiology, vascular, diabetes, lipid, and independent PharmD clinics. These patients are followed by a health coach every 2- 6 months. Medical adherence is enforced by the health coach ensuring timely refills and reminders. Lifestyle modifications are encouraged via educational materials, referral to dieticians, recreation classes, and tobacco cessation. Patients are also encouraged to sign up for patient portal (my HealtheVet) to access electronic medical records and expedite communication with their healthcare team. The health coach provides individualized counseling regarding lipid lowering treatment and acts as liaison between patients and their providers. VALOR-QI was launched at Dallas VA in Jan 2023. As of May 17 th , 2024, an interim analysis showed that out of 132 veterans engaged, 49 (37.1%) achieved target LDL-C, 66 (50%) received educational material, 4 (3.03%) were referred to dieticians, 10 (7.58%) were referred to recreation programs, and 4 (17.4% of active smokers) were interested in quitting. In conclusion, our VALOR-QI strategy at Dallas VA showed encouraging results, but it is premature to make final conclusions. The support of a health coach showed improved medication adherence, health literacy, and lifestyle modification, thus achieving LDL-C target. Major barriers to achieving target LDL-C were health literacy about high cholesterol, challenges in navigating the health care system, and treatment inertia among patients and providers.

Development of the Recreational Sports Programme to Enhance the Emotional Intelligence of Students at Fuzhou Institute of Technology

Background and Aim: Under the influence of the novel coronavirus epidemic, has brought a serious negative impact on the emotional intelligence of college students. To improve the emotional intelligence of college students, a leisure sports program was developed and designed. The objectives of this study are:1) To understand the current situation of college students participating in recreational sports in Fuzhou University of Technology; 2) Develop recreational sports programs to improve the emotional intelligence of Fuzhou University of Technology students; 3) Evaluate the effectiveness of the program. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was administered to 730 college students of Fuzhou Institute of Technology; interviews were conducted with 20 freshmen, 5 sports experts, 5 school physical education teachers, and 5 school leaders; 15 freshmen males, and 15 freshmen females were subjected to an 8-week experiment; the data obtained from the questionnaires and interviews were analyzed using descriptive statistics by using the SPSS software and a sample t-test was conducted on the data from the experiment. Results: 1) Students of Fuzhou Institute of Technology tended to exercise twice a week; The strength tends to be low strength and medium and low strength. Each time is less than 1 hour; The types are yoga, basketball, jogging, and Taichi Chuan. 2) The FITT-SFD recreational sports program was developed. 3) T-tests before and after the experiment showed that the average values of emotional intelligence before and after the experiment were 110.2 and 137.8, and EI was significantly improved. Conclusion: The experimental results show that this program has significant improvement in the dimensions of improving emotional perception, self-emotional management, others' emotional management, and emotional application. The experimental data verify the effectiveness of the research and development of recreational sports programs in improving students' emotional intelligence and provide empirical support for the promotion of research in related fields of emotional intelligence.

Utility and benefits of Camp for Children with Epilepsy: a retrospective

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits of educational and recreational camping programs for children with epilepsy.Method: A retrospective review of data collected from all children attending annual epilepsy camps organized by the Croatian Epilepsy Association and the Zagreb City Office for Health during 8 years was performed. Children included were between 6 and 18 years of age. The staff of the camp includes child neurologists, a psychologist, neurology nurses and trained volunteers. Educationalactivities are designed to improve children’s knowledge of epilepsy, importance of taking medication, academic choices, suggested employment, and regulations regarding driving laws. These issues were discussed in groups or in single sessions, depending on thecase. Other activities included supervised swimming, team sports, fun activities and games, arts and crafts and entertainment such as disco or movie night.Each of the participants filled out three questionnaires 1. General data questionnaire and pre-camp knowledge test; 2. Camp satisfaction questionnaire and post-camp knowledge test; 3. Questionnaire on adaptation to epilepsy in young people.Results: The analyses of surveys and tests showed that only 75% of children in camp knew that they had epilepsy. In 10% of children, friends and distant family members did not know about epilepsy. Comparing the knowledge test before and after the camp, theaverage percentage of correctly solved tasks on the first test is 65%, and on the second 87%. The answers in the questionnaire on adaptation to life with epilepsy are indicators of strong stigma in children with epilepsy.Conclusions: The main accomplishment of the camp was for children to gain confidence that they can reach their full potential in life and to feel equal to their peers in every aspect of life.

Exploring the physical, psychological, and social benefits of adaptive outdoor cycling in persons with stroke using a mixed methods approach

BackgroundStroke is a leading cause of disability world-wide. Community-based adaptive recreation programs may offer a way to enhance quality of life in persons with stroke. ObjectiveExplore the association between community-based adaptive outdoor cycling program participation and physical, psychological, and social outcomes in persons with stroke using both quantitative and qualitative data collection. MethodsMixed methods design, using prospective longitudinal quantitative data collection during a 16-week adaptive outdoor cycling program (Part 1) and a semi-structured interview/focus group (Part 2). Part 1 included baseline, 8- and 16-weeks assessments of physical, psychological, and social outcomes. Repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVA) were used to examine within-group changes and effect sizes were calculated. Part 2’s transcriptions were coded for physical, psychological, and social outcomes. Results30 individuals post-stroke (ages 25-72) were enrolled in Part 1 of the study. ANOVA results showed statistically significant changes in all three areas: physical (resting heart rate, 10-meter walk test), psychological (well-being), and social (satisfaction with social roles) outcomes, all with large effect sizes. All other outcomes showed changes in the expected direction but did not reach statistical significance. Findings from qualitative analyses explained and expanded upon quantitative findings. ConclusionsThe results highlight the importance of exploring the influence of adaptive recreation on not only physical but psychological and social outcomes. Due to the exploratory design of this pilot, future research is warranted.

Sense of Community and Recreation Participation of Latinx Residents on the Bloomingdale Trail: Greenway Use in a Gentrifying Community

The goal of this study was to explore how the recreational use of the Bloomingdale Trail, a greenway located in gentrifying communities in Chicago, IL, was associated with a sense of community among long-term Latinx residents living in subsidized affordable housing units. Using a quantitative-dominant sequential mixed methods research design, we conducted surveys and interviews with long-term Latinx residents of three communities surrounding the Trail. The findings showed that higher recreational program participation on the Bloomingdale Trail was positively associated with visitation, sense of community, and improved perceptions of a sense of community compared to before the Trail opened. Also, higher Trail satisfaction was positively associated with sense of community and improved perceptions of a sense of community compared to before the Trail opened. Qualitative data were used to explain and elaborate on these findings.

Changes in BMI prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic among children: a retrospective cohort study in San Francisco, CA

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic led to dramatic changes in the lives of children that impact cardiometabolic health. Cities and counties had varying policies with respect to school closure, recreational programs, and efforts to mitigate food insecurity and economic distress. Our objective was to evaluate changes in BMI-z score and prevalence of overweight/obesity prior to and during the pandemic among children in San Francisco, CA, where public schools were closed for 18-months.MethodsThis was an electronic medical record-based retrospective cohort study. We included 15,401 children, 4–17 years of age at study onset. Our exposure was time into each of three time periods: (1) March 2018-February 2019; (2) March 2019-February 2020; (3) March 2020-August 2021 (the pandemic period of school closure). Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to assess changes in BMI-z score and overweight/obesity across the three time periods. We assessed for effect modification by age-category, insurance status, and race/ethnicity.ResultsMean BMI-z score increased by 0.06 per year in time period 2, the year prior to the pandemic (p < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.09), and by 0.12 per year during time period 3, the first 18 months of the pandemic (p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.10, 0.13). The proportion of children with overweight/obesity increased by 1.4% points per year during time period 2 (p = 0.012, 95% CI: 0.03, 2.46) and by 4.9% points per year during the first 18 months of the pandemic (p < 0.001, 95% CI: 4.11, 5.67). The effect modification analysis demonstrated that the youngest age group, publicly insured children (versus privately insured), and Black, Latino, and Asian children (versus White children) experienced greater increases in BMI-z score during the pandemic (p < 0.01 for all comparisons). The youngest age group (p = 0.022) and publicly insured children (versus privately insured children) (p < 0.001) also experienced greater increases in the proportion of children with overweight/obesity during the pandemic.ConclusionsAmong children in San Francisco, increases in BMI-z score and overweight/obesity were greater during the pandemic compared to prior changes, with the most pronounced increases among younger and publicly insured children. These findings support the need for more targeted and effective policies for addressing childhood overweight/obesity, especially among these high-risk populations.

Healing Hives: Exploring the Effects of Beekeeping on Veteran Mental Health and Quality of Life

Veterans experience higher risks of suicide and mental health disorders due to the traumas of military service, disabilities, and the difficulties of reassimilation into civilian life. Therapeutic interventions using human-animal interactions have shown promising results in reducing many risk factors affecting veterans’ quality of life. This quality improvement project sought to consider if veterans participating in a recreational therapy program focused on beekeeping and administered by the Department of Veteran Affairs would experience quality of life improvements using a standardized EQ-5D-5L assessment. Our results indicate significant changes in mobility, anxiety/depression, and overall health for veterans participating in beekeeping as a recreational therapy. Implications for practice and future research are presented.

Perception Matters: Attitudes Toward Transgender Inclusion in Campus Recreational Sports

The participation of transgender individuals in sporting spaces continues to receive increased attention in both popular media and in academic scholarship. However, while attention is growing, little is known about the attitudes the general public holds toward transgender sport participation. This is particularly true when it comes to attitudes participants hold toward transgender persons and their participation in recreational sport programming. As such, this study quantitatively explores the attitudes of intramural and club sport participants across the United States toward transgender persons and transgender participation in recreational sport programming. Specifically, results emphasize (a) the general attitudes of recreational sport participants toward transgender persons, (b) the attitudes of recreational sport participants toward the participation of transgender persons in recreational sport programs, (c) differences in attitudes by gender, and (d) differences in attitudes by program area (intramural vs club sport). Discussion of these differences and practical implications for recreational sports are considered.

Social Support and Adherence to Treatment Regimens among Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

Background/Objectives: Following recommended treatment plans is essential to the success of the treatment. In hemodialysis, adherence to the treatment regimen remains a challenge in many healthcare settings. Many factors, including the patient’s level of social support, influence treatment adherence, but few studies have addressed these relationships. Methods: A correlational cross-sectional design was used to assess the relationship between perceived social support and adherence to treatment regimens among patients undergoing hemodialysis. Self-reported surveys were used to collect data. Results: One hundred and twenty-one hemodialysis patients were recruited from two dialysis centers. Overall, 45.5% of participants demonstrated good adherence, 47.9% had moderate adherence, and 6.6% had poor adherence. Specifically, 76% of participants consistently took their prescribed medications, 75% regularly attended hemodialysis sessions, 67.8% adhered to dietary restrictions, and 62% followed fluid-intake guidelines. Perceived social support was reported as highest from family members (89.3%), followed by significant others (62.8%) and friends (49.6%). There were significant correlations between perceived social support and overall adherence to treatments among hemodialysis patients. Conclusions: This study provides evidence for positive relationships between perceived social support and adherence to treatment regimens among hemodialysis patients. It is recommended that professional caregivers intervene with clients and their families, prepare recreational and educational programs for patients undergoing hemodialysis, and inspire other researchers to suggest different social support models and approaches.

Developing community-based physical activity interventions and recreational programming for children in rural and smaller urban centres: a qualitative exploration of service provider and parent experiences

BackgroundChildren’s physical inactivity is a persisting international public health concern. While there is a large body of literature examining physical activity interventions for children, the unique physical activity context of low-density communities in rural areas and smaller urban centres remains largely underexplored. With an influx of families migrating to rural communities and small towns, evaluations of health promotion efforts that support physical activity are needed to ensure they are meeting the needs of the growing populations in these settings. The aim of this community-based research was to explore service providers’ and parents’ perspectives on physical activity opportunities available in their community and recommendations toward the development and implementation of efficacious physical activity programming for children in rural communities and smaller urban centres.MethodsThree in-person community forums with recreation service providers (n = 37 participants) and 1 online community forum with the parents of school-aged children (n = 9 participants) were hosted. An online survey and Mentimeter activity were conducted prior to the community forums to gather participants’ views on the barriers and facilitators to physical activities and suggestions for activity-promoting programs. The service provider and parent discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed following a deductive approach guided by Hseih and Shannon’s (2005) procedure for direct content analysis. A code list developed from the responses to the pre-forum survey and Mentimeter activity was used to guide the analysis and category development.ResultsSeven distinct categories related to the existing physical activity opportunities and recommendations for programs in rural communities and smaller urban centres were identified during the analysis: (1) Recovery from Pandemic-Related Measures, (2) Knowledge and Access to Programs, (3) Availability, (4) Personnel Support, (5) Quality of Programs and Facilities, (6) Expenses and Subsidies, and (7) Inclusivity and Preferences.ConclusionTo improve the health and well-being of children who reside in low-density areas, the results of this study highlight service provider and parent recommendations when developing and implementing community-based physical activity programs and interventions in rural and smaller urban settings, including skill development programs, non-competitive activity options, maximizing existing spaces for activities, and financial support.

241 An All-Island Review of the Gaelic 4 Mothers &amp; Others (G4M&amp;O) Programme in Ireland

Abstract Purpose The Gaelic 4 Mothers &amp; Others (G4M&amp;O) initiative is a fun, non-competitive and recreational programme in Ireland for women to play Ladies Gaelic Football (LGF). The programme is aimed at women over 25 years of age who are not formally playing sport competitively. The initiative was introduced to community sports clubs in Ireland in 2008 by the Ladies’ Gaelic and Football Association (LGFA), and the programme now has over 500 sites across the island. The current study aims to assess the impact and benefits of the G4M&amp;O initiative on; (i) participants, (ii) clubs and (iii) communities across Ireland. The research should inform the development of the G4M&amp;O programme, providing critical insights for the LGFA and Sport Ireland. Project Description As part of this all-island study, a 12-week pre-post longitudinal research design evaluation will be undertaken in 2024, using established qualitative and quantitative research methodologies focusing on: 1) Participants involvement within the club; 2) Participants involvement within the community. A nationally representative sample of participants (N = 300 targeted) will be recruited through the LGFA, which is the main national governing body (NGB) for LGF participation in Ireland. A self-report validated online survey will be used to evaluate the impact of the programme on participants. Focus groups will also be conducted with a sample of participants (N = 40 targeted) across a variety of clubs exploring participants viewpoints and perspectives of the G4M&amp;O programme. Data will be analysed quantitively using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29 and qualitatively using Thematic Analysis (TA). Conclusions This study will contribute to a qualitative and quantitative understanding of the benefits and impact of G4M&amp;O programme in clubs and communities and should inform how the G4M&amp;O initiative can be developed across Ireland over the next 10-years. The study will align to the Irish National Sports Policy 2018-2027, given that increasing physical activity and sports participation are the cornerstones of this new policy. The study may inform further research to develop a model for use in other sports.

Measuring belongingness in outdoor orientation programs

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

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

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

Recreational Therapy Support Group Framework Insights from a Personal Cancer Journey

The need for social support groups that address the quality of life of individuals experiencing illness or disability are lacking (Lyons et al., 1995). At the same time, there has been a call for the development of recreational therapy support programs that has gone unanswered for over two decades (Austin, 2002). Further evidence of the need for a program framework in recreational therapy is evidenced by the growing body of literature calling for leisure-based support programs as an adjunct to traditional approaches (Dawson &amp; Mowatt, 2022; Lock, 2010; Myers et al., 2011; Shannon &amp; Bourque, 2005). Taken together, there is a strong need for the development and empirical testing of a recreational therapy based social support group framework to guide clinical practice. The following health narrative highlights the author’s personal journey with cancer and subsequent insights on social support, social comparisons in illness, spirituality, and post traumatic growth as vital components to social support programming.

Influence of Recreational Activities on Quality of Life in Retirees in Canada

Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze the influence of recreational activities on quality of life in retirees in Canada. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: Recreational activities significantly enhance retirees' quality of life in Canada by improving physical health, reducing loneliness, and increasing life satisfaction. Activities like walking, gardening, and community involvement boost well-being and mental health. Structured programs offered by community centers also contribute to retirees' sense of purpose and belonging. Access to varied recreational options and social networks is essential for maintaining high life quality. Tailoring activities to individual interests and abilities is key to long-term benefits. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Activity theory, self-determination theory (SDT), socioemotional selectivity theory (SST) may be used to anchor future studies on influence of recreational activities on quality of life in retirees in Canada. Practitioners should design and implement customized recreational programs tailored to the specific needs, preferences, and health conditions of retirees. Policymakers should allocate resources and funding to support recreational programs specifically designed for retirees.

The impact of COVID-19 on college student leisure time physical activity, sedentary behavior, and stress at a Hispanic-serving Institution in New York City

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the lives of college students in many ways, especially a decrease in leisure time exercise and an increase in sedentary behavior resulting in an increase in stress, particularly in college students enrolled at a Hispanic-serving Institution in New York City. The objective of this quantitative study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on college students’ physical activity, sedentary behavior, and perceived stress. A questionnaire was administered to 883 college students to collect leisure exercise and sedentary behavior prior to March 2020 and in April 2022, along with the impact of the pandemic on stress in April 2022. Findings indicated that the closures and isolation guidelines during the pandemic negatively impacted Black, Indigenous, and people of color’s (BIPOC) physical activity and sedentary behavior similarly to their White peers. Without the facilities and services that higher education institutions normally provide, such as recreational and fitness programming, college students were left on their own to find ways to maintain their active routines, which resulted in higher levels of stress after 2 years of campus closures. Governmental and higher education leadership should better consider the impact of closing their college campuses and limiting access to essential services on college student health and well-being in future acute health crises, particularly among the most vulnerable populations.

Effective Communication and Group Cohesiveness in the Outdoor Recreation Program Curriculum

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