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Behavioral Sciences
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Role of Recreation and Outdoor Activities in Promoting Mental Health...
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Role of Recreation and Outdoor Activities in Promoting Mental Health and Positive Behaviors in People of All Ages

A special issue of Behavioral Sciences (ISSN 2076-328X). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Psychology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 March 2025) | Viewed by 6280

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Alan Ewert

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
Interests: adventure education; motivations for risk recreation; human health; natural resource management; integrated natural resource management; resilience
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Alison Voight

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Former Director of Therapeutic Outdoor Programs, Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
Interests: outdoor leadership; adventure therapy; outdoor programming; therapeutic processes

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recreational activities in outdoor environments are of great interest to people of all ages—from children to older adults—across all countries. There is a rather large body of global literature that has contributed to a better understanding of how recreation and outdoor play activities improve mental health, provide a sense of psychological well-being, and encourage positive health-promoting behaviors regardless of an individual’s lifespan status.  

This Special Issue, ‘Role of Recreation and Outdoor Activities in Promoting Mental Health and Positive Behaviors in People of all Ages,’ invites submissions of papers that broaden our understanding of how mental health, positive behaviors, and well-being can be enhanced through outdoor activities from a variety of perspectives: age (child through older adult); type of engagement (such as passive or active); intent (recreation, therapeutic, or community); outcomes (particularly related to mental, psychological, spiritual, or emotional health); theoretical or empirical research (quantitative, qualitative, or multiple methods).

Prof. Dr. Alan Ewert
Dr. Alison Voight
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Behavioral Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • mental health
  • lifespan
  • outdoor recreation
  • outdoor play
  • therapeutic
  • well-being
  • behavior

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 621 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Transformational Role of Regular Nature-Based Adventure Activity Engagement in Mental Health and Long-Term Eudaimonic Well-Being
by Gill Pomfret, Manuel Sand, Carola May and Jelena Farkić
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(4), 418; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15040418 - 25 Mar 2025
Viewed by 622
Abstract
This article investigates the transformative impacts of regular nature-based adventure activity engagement and its long-lasting effects on eudaimonic well-being (EWB), specifically mental health. Although extant research highlights a wide range of well-being and mental health benefits from participation in such pursuits, less is [...] Read more.
This article investigates the transformative impacts of regular nature-based adventure activity engagement and its long-lasting effects on eudaimonic well-being (EWB), specifically mental health. Although extant research highlights a wide range of well-being and mental health benefits from participation in such pursuits, less is known about experienced outdoor adventure enthusiasts for whom adventure is a fundamental and transformational part of their lives. The study builds on an existing conceptual framework that synthesizes pertinent research concepts on nature-based activity engagement and subjective well-being benefits. It presents key findings from 40 semi-structured in-depth online interviews with respondents from the UK, Germany, and Serbia. Interview data were collated and analyzed using a thematic framework approach. The findings highlight the importance of outdoor adventure activity engagement for respondents’ mental and physical health and long-term well-being. Regular activity participation can be transformational in reducing feelings of ill-being and enhancing EWB. It can improve self-efficacy and identity development and promote the fulfilment of psychological needs, facilitated by key transformational catalyzers. Continually entering a liminal state, experiencing emotions, and overcoming challenges and risks during engagement are crucial to “successful” long-lasting transformation. Further research should continue to explore adventure’s transformational and EWB benefits to develop long-term data. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Recreation and Outdoor Activities in Promoting Mental Health and Positive Behaviors in People of All Ages)
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11 pages, 240 KiB  
Article
We Are Not Alone: Examining the Impact of a Teen Diabetes Day Camp
by Heidi Blaylock, Eddie Hill, Carter Leuba, Christina Aguilar and Carla Cox
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(3), 370; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15030370 - 15 Mar 2025
Viewed by 504
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic disease that influences all health aspects. The self-determination theory (SDT) suggests that three psychological needs of competence, autonomy, and relatedness are necessary for motivation to engage in healthy behaviors. Through medical specialty camps, these needs can [...] Read more.
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic disease that influences all health aspects. The self-determination theory (SDT) suggests that three psychological needs of competence, autonomy, and relatedness are necessary for motivation to engage in healthy behaviors. Through medical specialty camps, these needs can be met by educating campers on how to manage T1D and realize they are not alone. The volunteer-based, five-day, inaugural tween–teen camp for youth with T1D was held on the campus of a university. The entire camp experience was engineered around the three basic needs described by the SDT. These needs were promoted by physical and educational activities and meeting friends. The Basic Psychological Needs and Frustration Scale was administered as a pre-, post-, and follow-up test. Two of the four measures were significant, the autonomy pretest (M = 3.93; SD = 0.75) to posttest (M = 4.49; SD = 0.56), with t(25) = −6.258; p ≤ 0.001) and relatedness pretest (M = 4.31; SD = 0.79) to posttest (M = 4.53; SD = 0.49), with t(25) = −2.168; p = 0.040; however, mean scores declined at the 3-month follow-up. Campers’ blood glucose levels were collected through an online platform that allowed staff to monitor blood glucose levels, with the week’s average being 150 mg/dL, and almost 71% remaining in the TIR. The results can be helpful for practitioners who want to use the SDT to structure and examine the effectiveness of medical specialty camps for youth with T1D. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Recreation and Outdoor Activities in Promoting Mental Health and Positive Behaviors in People of All Ages)
15 pages, 854 KiB  
Article
Does Caregiver Engagement Predict Outcomes of Adolescent Wilderness Therapy?
by Joanna E. Bettmann, Naomi Martinez Gutierrez, Annelise Jolley and Laura Mills
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(1), 54; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15010054 - 8 Jan 2025
Viewed by 716
Abstract
Existing research shows some links between wilderness therapy outcomes and familial functioning. However, wilderness therapy programs do not agree on what kind of caregiver involvement is required to improve adolescent program outcomes, nor has research examined different types of family engagement and their [...] Read more.
Existing research shows some links between wilderness therapy outcomes and familial functioning. However, wilderness therapy programs do not agree on what kind of caregiver involvement is required to improve adolescent program outcomes, nor has research examined different types of family engagement and their impact on adolescent treatment outcomes. Thus, the present study explored the research question: Does caregiver engagement in adolescent wilderness therapy foster improved outcomes? The study sample consisted of 4067 adolescent wilderness therapy clients from 12 different wilderness therapy programs. Using standardized measures and multilevel structural equation modeling, the authors found that caregiver program participation significantly predicted adolescent mental health outcomes of the program, suggesting that the more caregivers were involved in family interventions during the program, the more likely their adolescent child was to improve in the program. The study also found that greater caregiver effort predicted greater mean change in adolescent mental health outcomes of wilderness therapy. This study suggests the importance of enhancing familial interventions in adolescents’ wilderness therapy programs in order to improve adolescent outcomes. Given findings from this study, wilderness therapy programs should consider expanding the ways that they involve families in treatment in order to optimize adolescent outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Recreation and Outdoor Activities in Promoting Mental Health and Positive Behaviors in People of All Ages)
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17 pages, 273 KiB  
Article
Supporting Young Children’s Self-Regulation Through Nature-Based Practices in Preschool
by Julie Ernst and Hannah Stelley
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(11), 1013; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14111013 - 31 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1828
Abstract
Self-regulation is a crucial skill in early childhood, due to its influence on school readiness and success, as well as its foundational role in promoting wellbeing across the lifespan. Additionally, self-regulation is malleable, particularly during early childhood. This study investigated the impact of [...] Read more.
Self-regulation is a crucial skill in early childhood, due to its influence on school readiness and success, as well as its foundational role in promoting wellbeing across the lifespan. Additionally, self-regulation is malleable, particularly during early childhood. This study investigated the impact of nature-based practices on preschoolers’ self-regulation. The Preschool Self-Regulation Assessment (PSRA) and PSRA Assessor Report were administered to 115 children from nine preschool programs at the beginning and end of the school year. While further research is needed, results suggest the potential for nature-based practices to support SR, in particular hot executive function, and particularly in children from lower socio-economic backgrounds in public preschool. This study contributes to the literature regarding effective practices for supporting self-regulation development in young children and adds to the growing body of research surrounding the impact of nature play on child development and school readiness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Recreation and Outdoor Activities in Promoting Mental Health and Positive Behaviors in People of All Ages)
13 pages, 778 KiB  
Article
Nature-Based Therapeutic Intervention for Individuals with Post-Concussion Symptoms
by Sus Sola Corazon, Lisbeth Jul Olsen, Natasha Kæreby, Dorthe Varning Poulsen, Ulrik Sidenius, Stine Bekke-Hansen and Linda Marschner
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(7), 594; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14070594 - 12 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1540
Abstract
This study investigated the efficacy of a 10-session nature-based therapeutic intervention for people with post-concussion symptoms. The intervention involved physical and vestibular exercises, sensory training, relaxation, and psychoeducation, all of which were integrated with the natural environment in a forest therapy garden. This [...] Read more.
This study investigated the efficacy of a 10-session nature-based therapeutic intervention for people with post-concussion symptoms. The intervention involved physical and vestibular exercises, sensory training, relaxation, and psychoeducation, all of which were integrated with the natural environment in a forest therapy garden. This study was designed with a passive control period followed by the intervention (n = 30). The Mental Fatigue Scale (MFS) was the primary outcome measure. The secondary outcome measures were the Warwick–Edinburg Mental Wellbeing Scale and the short version of the Quality of Life after Brain Injury. A Likert scale was used to examine the mental strain of the sessions themselves. The MFS (primary outcome) exhibited a significant decrease with a medium-sized effect from before to after the intervention. The secondary outcomes exhibited significant increases from the beginning to the end of the intervention. All outcomes were sustained at follow-up ten weeks later. No significant difference was found from the control period. This study indicates that the described nature-based intervention is a feasible treatment for reducing prolonged post-concussion symptoms. However, it should be studied more in-depth to understand the impact of the natural environment and to validate the results on a larger representative population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Recreation and Outdoor Activities in Promoting Mental Health and Positive Behaviors in People of All Ages)
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