Self-reported participation in outdoor and nature-based recreation before and during the COVID-19 pandemic supports psychological health and well-being

Beall, Justin M.; Jackson, S. Brent; Casola, William R.; Peterson, M. Nils; Larson, Lincoln R.; Stevenson, Kathryn T.; Seekamp, Erin

doi:10.1016/j.wss.2022.100094

Cited by 22 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 97 publications

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“…In our study, forest visit purpose explained approximately 12% of the variability in SWB. A more inclusive model comprising both natural- and outdoor-based activities explained 35% of the SWB variation (Beall et al 2022 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preferences for woodland activities and forest features as predictors of well-being after forest visits: Evidence from a nationally representative survey in Slovakia

Výbošťok,

Pichlerová,

Lamatungga

et al. 2024

Ambio

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The link between subjective well-being (SWB) and forest visits is increasingly driving the development and preservation of restorative forest environments in numerous countries. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the effect of people's preferences for forest patterns and activities on this connection. Here we investigated whether associations exist between the preferences for certain forest features and activities, and the SWB increase and stress reduction in response to forest visits. A nationwide digital survey was administered to a representative sample of the Slovak population. The recollection-based data obtained from one thousand respondents were analysed through agglomerative clustering and ordinal regression. The analyses revealed that improved SWB and stress reduction were associated with preferences for uneven-aged forests, forest smell, as well as recreational, but not provisioning forest activities. The respective interrelationships explained up to 20% of SWB increase and stress reduction after forest visits. The results suggest that recollection-based study findings can be generalized for real-world forests and that forest management can contribute to the well-being of forest visitors by shaping the diversity of woodlands and their sensory experiences.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preferences for woodland activities and forest features as predictors of well-being after forest visits: Evidence from a nationally representative survey in Slovakia

Výbošťok,

Pichlerová,

Lamatungga

et al. 2024

Ambio

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“…The analysis in “ Pandemic-induced change in the number of forest visits ” section also showed that older people were more likely to reduce NFV in response to COVID-19. Also, Beall et al ( 2022 ) found that those who engaged in more outdoor and nature-based activities prior to the pandemic experienced a smaller decrease in SWB. In contrast, the NFV2 effect on the feelings of anger was probably mitigatory rather than preventive, especially in younger people who tended to visit forests more frequently after the pandemic outbreak.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increased appreciation of forests and their restorative effects during the COVID-19 pandemic

Pichlerová

Výbošťok

Önkal

et al. 2023

Ambio

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Public expectations of forests as high-quality restorative environments that facilitate subjective well-being and stress relief along with numerous health benefits have been rising sharply during recent decades. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic and its accompanying restrictive measures also transformed forests into some of the few places to spend time away from home. The presented study drew on the assumption that the pandemic situation and a rise in the number of forest visits would affect the experience, recognition, and appreciation of the well-being aspects related to spending time in forests. The study goal was to elucidate the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the relationships between forest visits, well-being and stress relief, emotions, perception of nature and forest value and importance, pro-environmental behavior, and societal expectations of the role of forests and forest ecosystem services. A survey using a digital questionnaire was conducted several months after the pandemic outbreak on a representative sample of the Slovak population. The Wilcoxon test and ordinal regression analysis were used to identify significant relationships, e.g., between the recency of anger episodes and the number of forest visits. The results showed that the pandemic strengthened the perception of forests as a high-quality restorative environment and that emotions associated with forest visits played an important role in the perceived importance of forests and their possible overexploitation. The results underscore the urgent need to put demands for forest recreation on par with the forest bioeconomy and to sensitize forest visitors to management and conservation requirements.

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“…depression, stress) and wellbeing (e.g. life satisfaction, happiness) measures ( Beall et al, 2022 ; Brent Jackson et al, 2021 ). Finally, more research using alternative greenspace measures (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urban greenspace and anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: A 20-month follow up of 19,848 participants in England

Mak

Steptoe

et al. 2022

Health & Place

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Self-reported participation in outdoor and nature-based recreation before and during the COVID-19 pandemic supports psychological health and well-being

Cited by 22 publications

References 97 publications

Preferences for woodland activities and forest features as predictors of well-being after forest visits: Evidence from a nationally representative survey in Slovakia

Preferences for woodland activities and forest features as predictors of well-being after forest visits: Evidence from a nationally representative survey in Slovakia

Increased appreciation of forests and their restorative effects during the COVID-19 pandemic

Urban greenspace and anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: A 20-month follow up of 19,848 participants in England

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