Does Physical Activity in Natural Outdoor Environments Improve Wellbeing? A Meta-Analysis
Organizational initiatives and researchers have argued for the importance of the natural outdoor environment (NOE) for promoting wellbeing. The main aim of this meta-analysis was to synthesize the existing literature to examine the effects of physical activity (PA) in the NOE on wellbeing in adults....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Sports |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/10/7/103 |
| _version_ | 1797443703627841536 |
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| author | Caitlin Kelley Diane E. Mack Philip M. Wilson |
| author_facet | Caitlin Kelley Diane E. Mack Philip M. Wilson |
| author_sort | Caitlin Kelley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Organizational initiatives and researchers have argued for the importance of the natural outdoor environment (NOE) for promoting wellbeing. The main aim of this meta-analysis was to synthesize the existing literature to examine the effects of physical activity (PA) in the NOE on wellbeing in adults. The secondary aim was to explore whether wellbeing reported by adults differs as a function of PA context. Electronic databases (PubMed, ProQuest Nursing and Allied Health, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus and Embase) were searched for English peer-reviewed articles published before January 2019. Inclusion criteria were: (1) healthy adults; (2) PA in the NOE; (3) the measurement of wellbeing; and (4) randomized control trials, quasi-experimental designs, matched group designs. To address the secondary aim, PA in the NOE was compared with that performed indoors. Risk of bias was assessed through the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EHPP) Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. Primary studies meeting inclusion criteria for the main (<i>n</i><i><sub>studies</sub></i> = 19) and secondary (<i>n</i><i><sub>studies</sub></i> = 5) aims were analyzed and interpreted. The overall effect size for the main analysis was moderate (<i>d</i> = 0.49, <i>p</i> < 0.001; <i>95% CI</i> = 0.33, 0.66), with the magnitude of effect varying depending on wellbeing dimension. Wellbeing was greater in PA in the NOE subgroup (<i>d</i> = 0.53) when compared with the indoor subgroup (<i>d</i> = 0.28), albeit not statistically significant (<i>p</i> = 0.15). Although physical activity in the NOE was associated with higher wellbeing, there is limited evidence to support that it confers superior benefits to that engaged indoors. Researchers are encouraged to include study designs that measure markers of wellbeing at multiple time points, greater consideration to diverse wellbeing dimensions and justify decisions linked to PA and NOE types. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:01:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8b9ccd748d9d413b82cef20f190f6c19 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4663 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:01:50Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sports |
| spelling | doaj.art-8b9ccd748d9d413b82cef20f190f6c192023-11-30T21:53:42ZengMDPI AGSports2075-46632022-06-0110710310.3390/sports10070103Does Physical Activity in Natural Outdoor Environments Improve Wellbeing? A Meta-AnalysisCaitlin Kelley0Diane E. Mack1Philip M. Wilson2Behavioural Health Sciences Research Lab, Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, CanadaBehavioural Health Sciences Research Lab, Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, CanadaBehavioural Health Sciences Research Lab, Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, CanadaOrganizational initiatives and researchers have argued for the importance of the natural outdoor environment (NOE) for promoting wellbeing. The main aim of this meta-analysis was to synthesize the existing literature to examine the effects of physical activity (PA) in the NOE on wellbeing in adults. The secondary aim was to explore whether wellbeing reported by adults differs as a function of PA context. Electronic databases (PubMed, ProQuest Nursing and Allied Health, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus and Embase) were searched for English peer-reviewed articles published before January 2019. Inclusion criteria were: (1) healthy adults; (2) PA in the NOE; (3) the measurement of wellbeing; and (4) randomized control trials, quasi-experimental designs, matched group designs. To address the secondary aim, PA in the NOE was compared with that performed indoors. Risk of bias was assessed through the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EHPP) Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. Primary studies meeting inclusion criteria for the main (<i>n</i><i><sub>studies</sub></i> = 19) and secondary (<i>n</i><i><sub>studies</sub></i> = 5) aims were analyzed and interpreted. The overall effect size for the main analysis was moderate (<i>d</i> = 0.49, <i>p</i> < 0.001; <i>95% CI</i> = 0.33, 0.66), with the magnitude of effect varying depending on wellbeing dimension. Wellbeing was greater in PA in the NOE subgroup (<i>d</i> = 0.53) when compared with the indoor subgroup (<i>d</i> = 0.28), albeit not statistically significant (<i>p</i> = 0.15). Although physical activity in the NOE was associated with higher wellbeing, there is limited evidence to support that it confers superior benefits to that engaged indoors. Researchers are encouraged to include study designs that measure markers of wellbeing at multiple time points, greater consideration to diverse wellbeing dimensions and justify decisions linked to PA and NOE types.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/10/7/103mental healthgreen exercisehealth promotionnaturerestorationmeta-analysis |
| spellingShingle | Caitlin Kelley Diane E. Mack Philip M. Wilson Does Physical Activity in Natural Outdoor Environments Improve Wellbeing? A Meta-Analysis Sports mental health green exercise health promotion nature restoration meta-analysis |
| title | Does Physical Activity in Natural Outdoor Environments Improve Wellbeing? A Meta-Analysis |
| title_full | Does Physical Activity in Natural Outdoor Environments Improve Wellbeing? A Meta-Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Does Physical Activity in Natural Outdoor Environments Improve Wellbeing? A Meta-Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does Physical Activity in Natural Outdoor Environments Improve Wellbeing? A Meta-Analysis |
| title_short | Does Physical Activity in Natural Outdoor Environments Improve Wellbeing? A Meta-Analysis |
| title_sort | does physical activity in natural outdoor environments improve wellbeing a meta analysis |
| topic | mental health green exercise health promotion nature restoration meta-analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/10/7/103 |
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