An Outdoor Hobby How To Motivate

An Outdoor Hobby How To Motivate

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Outdoor recreation - understanding the drivers of participation: research

From

Minister for Environment and Land Reform

Directorate

Environment and Forestry Directorate

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Arts, culture and sport ,
Environment and climate change

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This report presents findings from research into participation in outdoor recreation among adults in Scotland. The research explores drivers behind the observed increases in participation, as well variations across population groups, with a view to widening participation.
Participants identified a range of motivating factors that acted as drivers of participation in outdoor activities – their reasons for doing the activity – that encouraged them to start or maintain their participation, such as a desire to improve their fitness or spend time with their friends and family.
Alongside these motivations were factors that acted as enablers or barriers to starting or maintaining participation. Rather than being the reason(s) for doing an activity, these were factors that made it easier or more difficult for someone to participate in an activity. These included both individual, internal factors, such as having the knowledge or confidence to do the activity, and external factors, such as being able to access locations at which to do the activity or being able to afford the equipment required. These enabling factors and barriers are explored in detail in Chapter 5 .
This chapter explores the different factors that motivated participants to take part in outdoor activities and the influence of these motivations across different behavioural outcomes – motivating participants to start an activity in the first place and to maintain their participation over the longer term. These motivations rarely existed in isolation but were instead found to build and reinforce other motivations, and participants were typically motivated by more than one factor.
The factors are summarised in Figure 2 below. Most factors motivated participants both to start and to maintain activities. The exception was mental health benefits, which were important in sustaining participation in outdoor recreation, but were not a factor that had encouraged participants to start doing outdoor activities in the first place.
Figure 2: Motivations to starting and sustaining outdoor activities
These motivating factors are described in turn below.
A desire to improve physical health and fitness had a particularly important role in motivating people both to start and to continue taking part in outdoor activities. Participants driven by this goal had chosen to start activities they thought would help them to improve or maintain their overall fitness and stamina, lose weight or be more physically active in general - typically walking (both hill walking and recreational walking more generally), and fitness activities like running or cycling.
"I climbed my first Munro about four years ago... [I started] because I love the Loch Lomond and Glencoe area and it's a good way to stay fit." Female, aged 26-40, urban area
"I started walking [because] I had reached a weight I had never been before, and that was a big trigger." Female, aged 26-40, rural area
Older participants had typically started an activity to help them stay physically mobile and active, which they thought would help to alleviate some of the physical symptoms of ageing.
"I mainly [started cycling] for fitness but a lot of it was to do with menopause and joint pain […] I was trying different things to help it and I found that actually moving was the best thing, keeping your joints moving. So being active is the best thing to cope with many of the symptoms." Female, aged 41-64, urban area
Others with specific health concerns had been motivated to start due to the perceived physical health benefits of an outdoor activity. This was a particularly important motivating factor for participants with long term health conditions ( e.g. diabetes or musculo-skeletal problems) who hoped that regular exercise would help them manage or improve their condition. Being advised by their GP to start exercising was one example of a trigger to begin.
"I was getting weighed and having borderline diabetes issues and the doctors were always saying I need to lose weight and exercise more. But I was never one for enjoying dieting or going to the gym. But I started [hill] walking and cycling and I kind of caught the bug." Male, aged 41-64, urban area
Younger minority ethnic participants of South Asian origin also reported having been motivated to start outdoor activities due to concerns about their long-term health, specifically the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, which they knew was more common in their ethnic group.
"Diabetes is rife within my community. If I am to get that down the line why not make an early start at [preventing] it. If I know about the situation, I can control it at an earlier age than later down the line." Male, aged 26-40, urban area
In terms of the specific activities participants chose to improve their physical health and fitness, younger participants and those looking to achieve a higher degree of fitness improvement and/or weight loss tended to choose more physically demanding fitness activities such as running, cycling or hill walking. Older participants, or those with a disability or long-term health condition, were more likely to have started walking for recreation more often. Walking held particular appeal among this group because it was seen as an accessible and manageable form of exercise for someone of their age and ability that could easily be incorporated into their daily life and which helped them to remain active and mobile, particularly after they retired.
"The longer you keep going and the more mobile you are, the less you will feel crippled – it's to do with joints and muscles. If you're feeling stiff, you can [go for a] walk." Male, aged 65+, rural area
These types of outdoor activities were generally seen as preferable to indoor exercise, especially among participants who said they were 'not a gym person'. These participants reported that they found it more enjoyable and stimulating to take exercise outdoors, rather than indoors on a treadmill or exercise bike.
"I wouldn't go to the gym three or four times a week just for the physical activity. I choose a physical activity that gives me fresh air and views." Female, aged 41-64, urban area
Experiencing the physical health and fitness benefits that they had hoped for when they took up the activity also encouraged participants to maintain their participation. They reported experiencing a number of physical health benefits, including increased energy levels and weight loss, as a result of these activities, which motivated their ongoing participation.
"I'm relatively fit so I don't find [hill walking] too challenging, though occasionally it can be hard, but I always push through because I know it's doing me good, and then after it I always feel energised and better." Female, aged 41-64, urban area
"I did manage to lose weight [walking], almost half a kilo a month." Female, aged 26-40, rural area
Highly active participants tended to say they had maintained an active lifestyle since they were young and, as discussed in the following chapter , saw outdoor activities as part of their personal identity or aligned with their personal values. Among this group, continued participation in activities like running, cycling and hill walking helped them to maintain their fitness levels. High levels of fitness were required for them to pursue physically demanding hobbies or goals such as long distance cycling, Munro bagging or marathon running.
Participants reported experiencing negative effects if they were unable to do an activity as much as they normally would. These included a drop in fitness and energy levels, feelings of lethargy and the development of 'bad habits' more generally, such as reverting to a more sedentary lifestyle or unhealthy eating habits. A desire to avoid these effects helped to motivate regular, ongoing participation.
"If I'm not out [running] as much it's so easy to do things like not watching what you eat, and you get out of that fitness frame of mind." Female, aged 26-40, urban area
Older participants and those with physical health conditions who had started an activity to increase and improve their mobility found that the activity did indeed help them to achieve this, which encouraged them to keep doing it. These participants noted detrimental physical effects such as soreness and having difficulty moving when they did the activity less frequently.
"If for some reason you can't get out, you feel sluggish, your body just feels not at 100 per cent. It's not functioning the way it should." Male, aged 65+, rural area
"If I'm stuck in the house for long periods of time, I feel rubbish. I'll feel more stiff and sore if I don't go [walking] regularly enough." Female, aged 41-64, urban area
One participant of South Asian origin, who had started hill walking in part to manage his diabetes, had been inspired to continue by a member of his walking group who said that regular hill walking had helped him reverse his condition.
"One of the guys was on meds because of his diabetes and by joining our [walking] group he has pretty much eliminated most of his medication." Male, aged 65+, urban area
Mental health benefits experienced through doing outdoor activities were among the most important drivers of ongoing participation. However, despite the importance that participants gave to the mental health benefits, these were not directly mentioned as a reason for starting an activity. These benefits were something participants noticed as a result of doing an activity, rather than being a driver that motivated them to start an activity in the first place.
Participants tended to talk about the mental health benefits of an activity in relation to recreational walking, although cycling and running were also mentioned. These activities were credited with helping participants maintain and improve their mental health and wellbeing, both during and after the activity, allowing them to clear their mind and to relax and unwind, by getting away from the distractions or worries of home or work-life responsibilities.
"The walking definitely sustains me mentally. I feel calmer and able to deal with stress better." Female, aged 41-64, rural area
"I find [walking] calms me and you're getting away from your chores and the TV . You can hear your own thoughts a bit better and you get peace to think about things and the people that are no longer with you." Female, aged 41-64, rural area
These activities helped to improve participants' mood, and could often make them feel happier or more positive by easing any worry, stress or anxiety they were experiencing. They also had the benefit of improving sleep quality, due both to the effects of physical exercise and helping them to relax more.
"[Walking] improves my concentration, and I feel happier and more relaxed. Especially when I go to bed, I can sleep better." Female, aged 26-40, urban area
These benefits were particularly important for participants during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, with outdoor activities often giving them an opportunity for respite from home or work, and in some cases, from worries relating to the pandemic itself.
"As someone who works from home in front of screens, this 40 minute walk is a godsend and freshens up my mood and energises me for my day ahead." Male, aged 26-40, urban area (app diary phase)
"It doesn't take very long for any staleness from sitting about in the house all day or for any of this bad news in the papers to go away. After about ten, fifteen minutes [walking], that's away at the back of your mind, so you feel better quickly." Male, aged 65+, rural area
Other positive mental health benefits were mentioned by participants who took part in activities they found physically demanding – for example, hill walking, running and cycling. These participants talked about experiencing a sense of achievement and fulfilment, or a feeling of positivity or elation, from completing a challenging, physical activity and/or being able to achieve a goal, such as reaching the top of a Munro or completing a run.
"When you come back [from hill walking] you feel fresh and it's like having a high dose of coffee, I think, you're really buzzing." Male, aged 26-40, urban area
"It was a lovely day today, so it felt good getting outside and getting some fresh air. I enjoyed it also because it's a long walk and intense at the start so when you reach the top you also feel some kind of achievement." Female, aged 26-40, urban area (app diary phase)
Just as detrimental physical effects were experienced when participants reduced their outdoor activities, negative impacts on mental health and general wellbeing were also noted. Participants reported feeling more tense, frustrated or bad tempered than usual and, therefore, felt strongly that outdoor activities played an important role in helping them to manage their mental health, which helped motivate ongoing participation. This was particularly true for those with mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression.
"If I can't get out as much, I feel anxious, edgy and cooped up. I just want to get out." Female, aged 41-64, urban area
"It's important, because if I don't [do it as much] I get more irritable. I do get low moods, there has been periods where I have had to go on antidepressants, so as part of my self-care [walking] really is very important." Female, aged 26-40, urban area
Reflecting previous research on the topic, [9] the mental health benefits of outdoor activities could be linked to specific aspects of the outdoor environment. In general, these environments were seen as being 'good for the soul' and more conducive to relaxation and reflection than being indoors or in a busy urban environment.
"I think more than anything else [hill walking] helps clears my head. There will be times when [I am] just contemplating things and working things through, planning for the week after and I get to do that in a very non-stressful way. I think it is more from being outdoors and in the fresh air because I do indoor sports as well and it's not the same." Female, aged 26-40, urban area
Participants typically spoke of the mental health benefits of being outdoors in relation to natural and 'untouched' environments, such as the countryside or the beach. These environments provided opportunities for 'peace and quiet' away from the distractions of home and the busyness of urban environments, such as crowds and traffic. Participants noted that, as a result of being in a more peaceful environment, their mood improved and they felt calmer and more relaxed, both during and after the activity. There was also a belief that being outside in the fresh air and sunshine (weather permitting) invigorated them and made them feel more positive in general.
"I started [hill walking] more because I got fed up going to the gym or doing indoor activity, and I wanted to be outside, getting fresh air. It's my time for peace and quiet, going to the top of a hill and being the only person there. I crave the solitude and it's really helped my mental health." Female, aged 41-64, urban area
Social motivations were a further driver of participation, with participants motivated in this way reporting that one of the main reasons they started an activity was to spend time with family or friends.
One way in which this had happened was by participants who had done certain outdoor activities with their families when they were children restarting similar activities in their adult life once they had a family of their own. These activities were opportunities for families to spend quality time together:
"If the family are going out [together] it is to make memories, to bond, and to have experiences together." Male, aged 26-40, urban area
In another example, one participant of South Asian origin recounted his family's recreational walking trips which had initially started both as a way of getting different members of the family together outside of gatherings such as birthdays and holidays, and as a way of getting their children outdoors and "away from their phones and laptops". However, these trips had r
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An Outdoor Hobby How To Motivate

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