Benefits of Outdoor Sports for Society. A Systematic Literature Review and Reflections on Evidence

Abstract

The combination of physical activity and being in nature is recognized as providing a range of significant benefits. The objective of this literature review was to compile an overview of the social benefits and costs associated with outdoor sports within the academic literature and to reflect on the quality of underlying evidence that supports the relationship. A systematic review was carried out with seven partners from different European countries, including Bulgaria, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. From a total of 17,560 studies identified, 133 studies were selected with relevant data extracted to standardized forms. The selected studies have been analyzed with qualitative research methods. A meta-analysis could not be conducted due to the heterogeneity of the study designs and outcome measures. As a result, the review gives an overview of the social impacts associated with outdoor sports which have been clustered to six broad categories: physical health, mental health and wellbeing, education and lifelong learning, active citizenship, crime reduction, and anti-social behavior, as well as additional benefits. The review furthermore revealed gaps in the evidence base which are especially notable in the long-term effects that outdoor sports can have on personal and social development.

Immediate Impact of the COVID-19 Confinement on Physical Activity Levels in Spanish Adults

“…owing to these restrictions, physical activity (PA) levels can be dramatically affected since Spanish citizens are recommended to telework and do PA at home instead of training in either sports facilities or outdoors [4][5][6]. Time spent outdoors has been associated with higher levels of PA, higher physical fitness, and lower sedentary behavior, whereas outdoor sports have been linked to a wide-range of health benefits; thus, Spanish citizens without access to open spaces or green areas might experience a decline in their PA levels [7,8].…”

Association of Overall Screen Time and Outdoor Activity with Emotional and Behavioral Health Problems

“…The mechanism between PA and EBHPs attributed to PA may improve monoamines (norepinephrine and serotonin) by increasing neurotransmitter activity and increasing or moderately activating the limbic system and decreasing cortisol levels [61], indicating that PA can improve mental health outcomes for all children, in a similar way, PA and OA are supplement each other, adolescents who spending more time outside is associated with higher physical activity levels, which in turn increase the probability of improvement mental health [26]. OA can encourage opportunities for school connectedness and intra-and interpersonal development for young people, highlight the importance of fostering school connectedness and interpersonal communication in supporting healthy adolescent development [48,[62][63], lower isolation and loneliness [64], and increase con dence and social skills [65,66] to improve students' mental health. The special effect of outdoor activity has also been reported with some studies that be associated with positive mood and mental well-beings [62].…”

“…OA can encourage opportunities for school connectedness and intra-and interpersonal development for young people, highlight the importance of fostering school connectedness and interpersonal communication in supporting healthy adolescent development [48,[62][63], lower isolation and loneliness [64], and increase con dence and social skills [65,66] to improve students' mental health. The special effect of outdoor activity has also been reported with some studies that be associated with positive mood and mental well-beings [62]. Beyond these, outdoor activity is also used as therapy, which is associated with decreased symptoms of ADHD [67].…”

The Involvement of Recreational Sport Enthusiasm in Regular Sport Activities with Musical Integration

“…The combination of benefits include broad range of physical and mental health outcomes but also for the personal and social development for individuals and groups and for benefits affecting communities as a whole [62]. Abu saw the benefits of recreational sports in terms of motivation and psychology and its success in the academic and curriculum aspects.…”