Exercise Promotion in Saudi Arabia: Understanding Personal, Environmental, and Social Determinants of Physical Activity Participation and Well-Being

Abstract

Physical activity promotion has received increasing attention globally due to the considerable benefits of regular activity for population health and well-being. In Saudi Arabia, government strategy explicitly aims to increase physical activity participation among residents. This study assessed the barriers to physical activity among the general Saudi population including any age and gender differences and examined the contribution of contextual factors and nature relatedness to health and well-being. A representative sample of 1046 Saudi adults (aged 18 years and above) completed an online survey that included four validated scales: the International Physical Activity Questionnaire—short form, the Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale, the World Health Organization Five Well-Being Index and the Nature Relatedness Scale. Analyses indicated that young Saudi adults perceived more barriers than middle-aged and older adults, but few gender differences were observed. Furthermore, exercising outdoors, with other people and via sport predicted higher levels of mental well-being, as did nature relatedness. Therefore, developing a comprehensive strategy package that includes the development of outdoor environments for all age groups across regions and fostering a connection with nature may be particularly effective to improve the health and well-being of Saudi adults.

Interactions with Nature, Good for the Mind and Body: A Narrative Review

“…Cross-sectional research suggests that exercising in nature enhances the benefits of physical activity. Individuals who exercise outdoors have greater wellbeing [ 254 , 255 , 256 , 257 ], general health [ 255 , 258 ], positive affect [ 257 ], happiness [ 259 ], stress management [ 258 ], and quality of life [ 259 ]; and lower depression [ 260 , 261 , 262 ], anxiety [ 261 , 262 , 263 ], somatic anxiety (the physical manifestations of anxiety, such as abdominal pain, rapid or irregular heartbeat, fatigue, or insomnia) [ 256 ], stress [ 259 ], heart rate [ 264 ], and triglycerides [ 264 ]. Greater duration of engagement in outdoor physical activity has been associated with greater quality of life and subjective happiness but not anxiety among cancer survivors [ 24 ].…”

Impact of forestry on environment and human health: an evidence-based investigation

“…Cooperate health requires clear health management from companies for employees' physical and mental health maintenance. Feeling good increases productivity and sufficient creativity relaxation and is targeted at implementation, leading to a competitive advantage over other companies ( 39 , 40 ).…”

“…Know-how about the human body and its associated health keeps increasing. Scientific and empirical knowledge lead to a new understanding of medicine and thus promote new perspectives and treatment methods (37,38).…”