Perceived Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Playing Golf: A Qualitative Content Analysis Study
Golf is a very popular outdoor sport played worldwide by people from various socio-economic backgrounds. During the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns and quarantine restrictions led to closures of indoor and outdoor sport facilities and thus also affected the access to golf courses. This study aimed at e...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Hygiene |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-947X/3/1/6 |
| _version_ | 1797611414436708352 |
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| author | David Jungwirth Susanne Gahbauer Daniela Haluza |
| author_facet | David Jungwirth Susanne Gahbauer Daniela Haluza |
| author_sort | David Jungwirth |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Golf is a very popular outdoor sport played worldwide by people from various socio-economic backgrounds. During the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns and quarantine restrictions led to closures of indoor and outdoor sport facilities and thus also affected the access to golf courses. This study aimed at elucidating perceptions of golfers regarding the impact of the crisis on their sport. We surveyed a sample of golfers in German-speaking countries (primarily Austria and Germany) from March to June 2021. A content analysis on golfers’ responses (<i>n</i> = 923) to an open-ended question on their feelings and engagement in alternative ways of physical activity in light of closed sport facilities was performed. More than 23% of the comments concerned negative feelings on how the pandemic impacted the surveyed golfers, especially due to reluctance to accept the closure of outdoor sports facilities. Almost all participants stated to perform alternative outdoor sports, mostly hiking, biking, walking, and running. In times of a pandemic, public spaces should be designed to allow for safe physical activity to maintain a mentally and physically fit population. In this context, policy makers should provide hygiene concepts that allow for minimal disturbance of sport routines, especially in regard to outdoor sports such as golf. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:28:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e5b20f3e37ed480abc8a369eb4f09701 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-947X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:28:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Hygiene |
| spelling | doaj.art-e5b20f3e37ed480abc8a369eb4f097012023-11-17T11:26:10ZengMDPI AGHygiene2673-947X2023-02-0131455610.3390/hygiene3010006Perceived Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Playing Golf: A Qualitative Content Analysis StudyDavid Jungwirth0Susanne Gahbauer1Daniela Haluza2Center for Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, AustriaCenter for Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, AustriaCenter for Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, AustriaGolf is a very popular outdoor sport played worldwide by people from various socio-economic backgrounds. During the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns and quarantine restrictions led to closures of indoor and outdoor sport facilities and thus also affected the access to golf courses. This study aimed at elucidating perceptions of golfers regarding the impact of the crisis on their sport. We surveyed a sample of golfers in German-speaking countries (primarily Austria and Germany) from March to June 2021. A content analysis on golfers’ responses (<i>n</i> = 923) to an open-ended question on their feelings and engagement in alternative ways of physical activity in light of closed sport facilities was performed. More than 23% of the comments concerned negative feelings on how the pandemic impacted the surveyed golfers, especially due to reluctance to accept the closure of outdoor sports facilities. Almost all participants stated to perform alternative outdoor sports, mostly hiking, biking, walking, and running. In times of a pandemic, public spaces should be designed to allow for safe physical activity to maintain a mentally and physically fit population. In this context, policy makers should provide hygiene concepts that allow for minimal disturbance of sport routines, especially in regard to outdoor sports such as golf.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-947X/3/1/6health promotionexercisepublic healthpandemicnature contactcontent analysis |
| spellingShingle | David Jungwirth Susanne Gahbauer Daniela Haluza Perceived Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Playing Golf: A Qualitative Content Analysis Study Hygiene health promotion exercise public health pandemic nature contact content analysis |
| title | Perceived Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Playing Golf: A Qualitative Content Analysis Study |
| title_full | Perceived Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Playing Golf: A Qualitative Content Analysis Study |
| title_fullStr | Perceived Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Playing Golf: A Qualitative Content Analysis Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceived Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Playing Golf: A Qualitative Content Analysis Study |
| title_short | Perceived Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Playing Golf: A Qualitative Content Analysis Study |
| title_sort | perceived impact of the covid 19 pandemic on playing golf a qualitative content analysis study |
| topic | health promotion exercise public health pandemic nature contact content analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-947X/3/1/6 |
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