Sense of Coherence and Connectedness to Nature as Predictors of Motivation for Practicing Karate

Abstract

Background: Physical activity yields exceptionally positive results when it takes place out in the open air, in contact with nature. Both contact with nature and practicing sport constitute a certain kind of philosophy of life and living by its rules plays a vital role in positive mental health―understood as maintaining a high sense of coherence. Martial arts are examples of sports that are rooted in a philosophy. The goal of this study was to explore the links between a sense of coherence and connectedness to nature in the context of motivations for practicing karate. Methods: A total of 127 practitioners of karate were examined using the Inventory of Physical Activity Objectives (IPAO), the Sense of Coherence Questionnaire, and the Connectedness to Nature Scale. Results: The most important objective for women training karate was a fit, shapely body, and for men the most important objective was physical fitness. Connectedness to nature had the strongest positive relationship with the measure of physical fitness (in both genders). A sense of comprehensibility increased men’s motivational conflict, whereas, in women, this IPAO dimension was positively related to feeling emotionally connected to the natural world. Connectedness to nature was related to motivational conflict positively in women and negatively in men. Feeling emotionally connected to the natural world correlated with a sense of comprehensibility, a sense of manageability, and a sense of meaningfulness. Sense of comprehensibility and sense of meaningfulness tended to increase with age. Conclusions: Understanding both the natural environment and the utility of setting sport-related goals led to increasing one’s efforts on the way to both successes and defeats, and, most of all, overcoming one’s weaknesses.

A Scoping Review of Nature, Land, and Environmental Connectedness and Relatedness

“…Connectedness and relatedness scales were tested on a wide range of participants ranging from twenty participants [ 34 ] to 20,697 participants [ 9 ]. Scales were tested in a wide range of countries: Australia [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 ], Austria [ 43 ], Canada [ 4 , 7 , 9 , 34 , 36 , 42 , 44 , 45 , 46 ], China [ 47 ], Finland [ 48 ], Germany [ 49 ], Greece [ 50 , 51 ], New Zealand [ 36 ], Poland [ 52 ], Scotland [ 33 , 53 , 54 ], South Africa [ 33 , 54 ], Sweden [ 55 ], Switzerland [ 32 ], United Kingdom [ 31 , 36 , 42 , 56 , 57 , 58 ], and the United States [ 3 , 30 , 36 , 38 , 42 , 59 , 60 , 61 ]. The majority of nature connectedness scales were tested in college student populations [ 3 , 4 ,…”

Nature Exposure and Positive Body Image: A Cross–Sectional Study Examining the Mediating Roles of Physical Activity, Autonomous Motivation, Connectedness to Nature, and Perceived Restorativeness

“…Although physical activity in nature is experienced to be more restorative compared to indoor physical activities [57], less is known about the associations between the connectedness to nature and physical activity. One recent study demonstrated that connectedness to nature was associated with the physical fitness goals for exercising [58]. There is some evidence that outdoor exercisers report greater relatedness to nature experience [59].…”

The Process of Constructing a Health Tourism Destination Index

“…German and Japanese studies on health tourism destinations have indicated that walking and a healthy diet can reduce blood pressure [38]. Traditional martial arts, qigong, and the concept of eating conform to the “four seasons” approach and enhance the body’s adaptability and immunity [39,40]. Chinese medicine tourism is beneficial for the treatment of chronic diseases, which is achieved through various changes in exercise and diet [14].…”