IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v14y2017i4p377-d94955.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Why Do People Exercise in Natural Environments? Norwegian Adults’ Motives for Nature-, Gym-, and Sports-Based Exercise

Author

Listed:
  • Giovanna Calogiuri

    (Department of Dental Care and Public Health, Faculty of Public Health, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Hamarveien 112, Elverum 2411, Norway)

  • Lewis R. Elliott

    (European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, Cornwall TR1 3HD, UK
    Psychology Applied to Health (PAtH), College House, University of Exeter Medical School, St Luke’s Campus, Exeter, Devon EX1 2LU, UK)

Abstract

Exercise in natural environments (“green exercise”) confers numerous health benefits, but little is known about why people engage in green exercise. This study examined the importance of nature experiences as a motive for physical activity and the motivational profile of people who engage in green exercise compared to gym- and sports-based exercise. Physical activity motives and typical times spent in different domains of physical activity were reported by 2168 Norwegian adults in a survey. Experiencing nature was generally rated as the second-most important physical activity motive, exceeded only by convenience motives, and it was especially important for older adults and those who engage in greater amounts of instrumental physical activity. Green exercisers reported stronger motives concerning convenience and experiencing nature, whereas gym- or sports-based exercisers reported stronger motives for physical health and sociability. The motives associated with different leisure-time exercise domains may assist in understanding optimal promotion of green exercise.

Suggested Citation

  • Giovanna Calogiuri & Lewis R. Elliott, 2017. "Why Do People Exercise in Natural Environments? Norwegian Adults’ Motives for Nature-, Gym-, and Sports-Based Exercise," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-15, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:4:p:377-:d:94955
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/14/4/377/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/14/4/377/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Giovanna Calogiuri, 2016. "Natural Environments and Childhood Experiences Promoting Physical Activity, Examining the Mediational Effects of Feelings about Nature and Social Networks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-21, April.
    2. Giovanna Calogiuri & Grete G. Patil & Geir Aamodt, 2016. "Is Green Exercise for All? A Descriptive Study of Green Exercise Habits and Promoting Factors in Adult Norwegians," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-18, November.
    3. Mathew P. White & Sabine Pahl & Katherine J. Ashbullby & Francesca Burton & Michael H. Depledge, 2015. "The Effects of Exercising in Different Natural Environments on Psycho-Physiological Outcomes in Post-Menopausal Women: A Simulation Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-25, September.
    4. Eli Paddle & Jason Gilliland, 2016. "Orange Is the New Green: Exploring the Restorative Capacity of Seasonal Foliage in Schoolyard Trees," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-18, May.
    5. Elliott, Lewis R. & White, Mathew P. & Taylor, Adrian H. & Herbert, Stephen, 2015. "Energy expenditure on recreational visits to different natural environments," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 53-60.
    6. Martin Dallimer & Zoe G. Davies & Katherine N. Irvine & Lorraine Maltby & Philip H. Warren & Kevin J. Gaston & Paul R. Armsworth, 2014. "What Personal and Environmental Factors Determine Frequency of Urban Greenspace Use?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-16, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Yiwei Bai & Yihang Bai & Ruoyu Wang & Tianren Yang & Xinyao Song & Bo Bai, 2023. "Exploring Associations between the Built Environment and Cycling Behaviour around Urban Greenways from a Human-Scale Perspective," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-19, March.
    2. Migle Baceviciene & Rasa Jankauskiene & Viren Swami, 2021. "Nature Exposure and Positive Body Image: A Cross–Sectional Study Examining the Mediating Roles of Physical Activity, Autonomous Motivation, Connectedness to Nature, and Perceived Restorativeness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-16, November.
    3. Marlene Rosager Lund Pedersen & Thomas Viskum Gjelstrup Bredahl & Karsten Elmose-Østerlund & Anne Faber Hansen, 2022. "Motives and Barriers Related to Physical Activity within Different Types of Built Environments: Implications for Health Promotion," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-12, July.
    4. Dongchun Tang & Weicong Cai & Wenda Yang & Yang Gao & Liping Li, 2019. "Gender-Specific Risk Factors of Physical Activity-Related Injuries among Middle School Students in Southern China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-13, July.
    5. Liping Liao & Minzhe Du, 2022. "Associations between Greenspaces and Individual Health: A Longitudinal Study in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-15, October.
    6. Matthew Fraser & Sarah-Anne Munoz & Sandra MacRury, 2019. "What Motivates Participants to Adhere to Green Exercise?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-20, May.
    7. Wei-Ta Fang & Eric Ng & Mei-Chuan Chang, 2017. "Physical Outdoor Activity versus Indoor Activity: Their Influence on Environmental Behaviors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-12, July.
    8. Claudia Fongar & Geir Aamodt & Thomas B. Randrup & Ingjerd Solfjeld, 2019. "Does Perceived Green Space Quality Matter? Linking Norwegian Adult Perspectives on Perceived Quality to Motivation and Frequency of Visits," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-16, July.
    9. Kaowen Grace Chang & Hungju Chien, 2017. "The Influences of Landscape Features on Visitation of Hospital Green Spaces—A Choice Experiment Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-15, July.
    10. Jorge Rojo-Ramos & Antonio Castillo-Paredes & María Mendoza-Muñoz & José Carmelo Adsuar & Irene Polo-Campos & Santiago Gomez-Paniagua & Carmen Galán-Arroyo, 2023. "Children’s Influence on Their Parents’ Satisfaction with Physical Activity in Nature: An Exploratory Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-10, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Giovanna Calogiuri & Grete G. Patil & Geir Aamodt, 2016. "Is Green Exercise for All? A Descriptive Study of Green Exercise Habits and Promoting Factors in Adult Norwegians," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-18, November.
    2. Claudia Fongar & Geir Aamodt & Thomas B. Randrup & Ingjerd Solfjeld, 2019. "Does Perceived Green Space Quality Matter? Linking Norwegian Adult Perspectives on Perceived Quality to Motivation and Frequency of Visits," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-16, July.
    3. Ziliang Jin & Jiangping Wang & Xu Liu & Xu Han & Jiaojiao Qi & Jingyong Wang, 2022. "Stress Recovery Effects of Viewing Simulated Urban Parks: Landscape Types, Depressive Symptoms, and Gender Differences," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-23, December.
    4. Lars Even Egner & Stefan Sütterlin & Giovanna Calogiuri, 2020. "Proposing a Framework for the Restorative Effects of Nature through Conditioning: Conditioned Restoration Theory," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-18, September.
    5. Jorge H. Amorim & Magnuz Engardt & Christer Johansson & Isabel Ribeiro & Magnus Sannebro, 2021. "Regulating and Cultural Ecosystem Services of Urban Green Infrastructure in the Nordic Countries: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-19, January.
    6. Yuhong Tian & Fenghua Liu & Chi Yung Jim & Tiantian Wang & Jingya Luan & Mengxuan Yan, 2022. "Effects of Self-Rated Health Status on Residents’ Social-Benefit Perceptions of Urban Green Space," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-19, August.
    7. Matthew H. E. M. Browning & Alessandro Rigolon, 2019. "School Green Space and Its Impact on Academic Performance: A Systematic Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-22, February.
    8. Yujie Chen & Yuan Yuan & Yuquan Zhou, 2022. "Exploring the Association between Neighborhood Blue Space and Self-Rated Health among Elderly Adults: Evidence from Guangzhou, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-17, December.
    9. Juuli-Mari Kokkonen & Henna Vepsäläinen & Anna Abdollahi & Hanna Paasio & Samuli Ranta & Maijaliisa Erkkola & Eva Roos & Carola Ray, 2021. "Associations between Parent–Child Nature Visits and Sleep, Physical Activity and Weight Status among Finnish 3–6-Year-Olds," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-11, November.
    10. Obinna Justice Ubani & Micheal Oloyede Alabi & Emmanuel Ndukwe Chiemelu & Andrew Okosun & Chinwe Sam-Amobi, 2023. "Influence of Spatial Accessibility and Environmental Quality on Youths’ Visit to Green Open Spaces (GOS) in Akure, Nigeria," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-21, September.
    11. Jonathan P. Reeves & Conor H. D. John & Kevin A. Wood & Phoebe R. Maund, 2021. "A Qualitative Analysis of UK Wetland Visitor Centres as a Health Resource," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-25, August.
    12. Denise Dillon & Sean T. H. Lee & Eunice W. L. Tai, 2024. "Flourishing or Frightening? Feelings about Natural and Built Green Spaces in Singapore," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(3), pages 1-19, March.
    13. Myriam Preuß & Mark Nieuwenhuijsen & Sandra Marquez & Marta Cirach & Payam Dadvand & Margarita Triguero-Mas & Christopher Gidlow & Regina Grazuleviciene & Hanneke Kruize & Wilma Zijlema, 2019. "Low Childhood Nature Exposure is Associated with Worse Mental Health in Adulthood," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-18, May.
    14. Lili Song & Moyu Wu & Yingying Wu & Xiaoyun Xu & Changfei Xie, 2023. "Research on the Evaluation of Cultural Ecosystem Services in Zhengzhou Urban Parks Based on Public Perceptions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-21, August.
    15. Tongwen Wang & Ya Li & Haidong Li & Shuaijun Chen & Hongkai Li & Yunxing Zhang, 2022. "Research on the Vitality Evaluation of Parks and Squares in Medium-Sized Chinese Cities from the Perspective of Urban Functional Areas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-23, November.
    16. Craig R. Williams & Sophie M. Burnell & Michelle Rogers & Emily J. Flies & Katherine L. Baldock, 2021. "Nature-Based Citizen Science as a Mechanism to Improve Human Health in Urban Areas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-13, December.
    17. Sigbjørn Litleskare & Tadhg E. MacIntyre & Giovanna Calogiuri, 2020. "Enable, Reconnect and Augment: A New ERA of Virtual Nature Research and Application," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-19, March.
    18. Kathleen L. Wolf & Sharon T. Lam & Jennifer K. McKeen & Gregory R.A. Richardson & Matilda van den Bosch & Adrina C. Bardekjian, 2020. "Urban Trees and Human Health: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-30, June.
    19. Samantha Keaulana & Melissa Kahili-Heede & Lorinda Riley & Mei Linn N. Park & Kuaiwi Laka Makua & Jetney Kahaulahilahi Vegas & Mapuana C. K. Antonio, 2021. "A Scoping Review of Nature, Land, and Environmental Connectedness and Relatedness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-30, May.
    20. Ian Lahart & Patricia Darcy & Christopher Gidlow & Giovanna Calogiuri, 2019. "The Effects of Green Exercise on Physical and Mental Wellbeing: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-26, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:4:p:377-:d:94955. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.