Nature-based activities and mental well-being in adults: a study on perceived health outcomes
BackgroundNowadays, nature-based sports activities stand out as an essential factor that positively affects individuals’ psychological well-being beyond supporting their physical health. Physical activities in the natural environment can support individuals’ mental well-being by reducing their stres...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1611830/full |
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| author | Bilal Okudan Ozkan Isik Ozkan Isik Rifat Yagmur Canan Bastik Salkim Laurentiu-Gabriel Talaghir Teodora Mihaela Iconomescu |
| author_facet | Bilal Okudan Ozkan Isik Ozkan Isik Rifat Yagmur Canan Bastik Salkim Laurentiu-Gabriel Talaghir Teodora Mihaela Iconomescu |
| author_sort | Bilal Okudan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundNowadays, nature-based sports activities stand out as an essential factor that positively affects individuals’ psychological well-being beyond supporting their physical health. Physical activities in the natural environment can support individuals’ mental well-being by reducing their stress levels, increasing their life satisfaction, and strengthening their psychological resilience. Accordingly, this study aimed to examine the effect of perceived health outcomes from nature-based sport activities on adults’ mental well-being.MethodA relational screening model was employed with 350 adult participants (183 male, 167 female) engaged in nature-based sports such as skiing, snowboarding, mountaineering, and paragliding in Kocaeli, Türkiye. Participants were selected using a convenience sampling method. Data were collected through a personal information form, the Perceived Health Outcomes of Recreation Scale, and the Mental Well-Being Scale. Both scales demonstrated high reliability in this study (Cronbach’s α = 0.93–0.94 for health outcomes; α = 0.93 for mental well-being). Normality was verified through skewness and kurtosis values. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, correlation, regression, cluster, and univariate analyses conducted using SPSS 23.ResultsIt was determined that there was a positive relationship between perceived health outcomes and mental well-being. In addition, it was observed that perceived health outcomes have a positive effect on mental well-being and predicted mental well-being by approximately 24%. In particular, it was determined that adults who regularly participate in nature-based sports have higher levels of mental well-being in groups with high levels of perceived health outcomes.ConclusionIt can be stated that regular participation in nature sports creates a positive effect on mental well-being by increasing the level of perceived health outcomes. It can be stated that regular participation in nature sports creates a positive effect on mental well-being by increasing the level of perceived health outcomes. Therefore, promoting accessible and inclusive nature-based sports programs in communities, workplaces, and educational settings is recommended to support public mental and physical health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-03f403f99a1941d19b0fe303243c5ced |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-03f403f99a1941d19b0fe303243c5ced2025-08-20T03:32:37ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-06-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.16118301611830Nature-based activities and mental well-being in adults: a study on perceived health outcomesBilal Okudan0Ozkan Isik1Ozkan Isik2Rifat Yagmur3Canan Bastik Salkim4Laurentiu-Gabriel Talaghir5Teodora Mihaela Iconomescu6Independent Researcher, Ankara, TürkiyeFaculty of Sport Sciences, Balikesir University, Balikesir, TürkiyeDirectorate of Sports Sciences Application and Research Center, Balikesir University, Balikesir, TürkiyeFaculty of Sport Sciences, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, TürkiyeFaculty of Sport Sciences, Bursa Uludag University, Bursa, TürkiyeFaculty of Physical Education and Sport, Dunarea de Jos University of Galati, Galați, RomaniaFaculty of Physical Education and Sport, Dunarea de Jos University of Galati, Galați, RomaniaBackgroundNowadays, nature-based sports activities stand out as an essential factor that positively affects individuals’ psychological well-being beyond supporting their physical health. Physical activities in the natural environment can support individuals’ mental well-being by reducing their stress levels, increasing their life satisfaction, and strengthening their psychological resilience. Accordingly, this study aimed to examine the effect of perceived health outcomes from nature-based sport activities on adults’ mental well-being.MethodA relational screening model was employed with 350 adult participants (183 male, 167 female) engaged in nature-based sports such as skiing, snowboarding, mountaineering, and paragliding in Kocaeli, Türkiye. Participants were selected using a convenience sampling method. Data were collected through a personal information form, the Perceived Health Outcomes of Recreation Scale, and the Mental Well-Being Scale. Both scales demonstrated high reliability in this study (Cronbach’s α = 0.93–0.94 for health outcomes; α = 0.93 for mental well-being). Normality was verified through skewness and kurtosis values. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, correlation, regression, cluster, and univariate analyses conducted using SPSS 23.ResultsIt was determined that there was a positive relationship between perceived health outcomes and mental well-being. In addition, it was observed that perceived health outcomes have a positive effect on mental well-being and predicted mental well-being by approximately 24%. In particular, it was determined that adults who regularly participate in nature-based sports have higher levels of mental well-being in groups with high levels of perceived health outcomes.ConclusionIt can be stated that regular participation in nature sports creates a positive effect on mental well-being by increasing the level of perceived health outcomes. It can be stated that regular participation in nature sports creates a positive effect on mental well-being by increasing the level of perceived health outcomes. Therefore, promoting accessible and inclusive nature-based sports programs in communities, workplaces, and educational settings is recommended to support public mental and physical health.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1611830/fullmental well-beingperceived health outcomesnature-based physical activityoutdoor recreationrecreational benefit |
| spellingShingle | Bilal Okudan Ozkan Isik Ozkan Isik Rifat Yagmur Canan Bastik Salkim Laurentiu-Gabriel Talaghir Teodora Mihaela Iconomescu Nature-based activities and mental well-being in adults: a study on perceived health outcomes Frontiers in Public Health mental well-being perceived health outcomes nature-based physical activity outdoor recreation recreational benefit |
| title | Nature-based activities and mental well-being in adults: a study on perceived health outcomes |
| title_full | Nature-based activities and mental well-being in adults: a study on perceived health outcomes |
| title_fullStr | Nature-based activities and mental well-being in adults: a study on perceived health outcomes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nature-based activities and mental well-being in adults: a study on perceived health outcomes |
| title_short | Nature-based activities and mental well-being in adults: a study on perceived health outcomes |
| title_sort | nature based activities and mental well being in adults a study on perceived health outcomes |
| topic | mental well-being perceived health outcomes nature-based physical activity outdoor recreation recreational benefit |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1611830/full |
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