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Benefits of Outdoor Sports in Blue Spaces. The Case of School Nautical Activities in Viana do Castelo

Author

Listed:
  • Míriam Rocher

    (Institut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya (INEFC), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), 08038 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Bruno Silva

    (Escola Superior de Desporto e Lazer de Melgaço, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, 320 Melgaço, Portugal
    Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health and Human Development (CIDESD), 5001–801 Vila Real, Portugal
    Surf Clube de Viana, 4935–161 Viana do Castelo, Portugal)

  • Gonçalo Cruz

    (Surf Clube de Viana, 4935–161 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
    Surfing Viana High Performance Center, 4905–559 Viana do Castelo, Portugal)

  • Renato Bentes

    (Surf Clube de Viana, 4935–161 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
    Surfing Viana High Performance Center, 4905–559 Viana do Castelo, Portugal)

  • Josep Lloret

    (Oceans and Human Health Chair, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Universitat de Girona (UdG), 17003 Girona, Spain)

  • Eduard Inglés

    (Institut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya (INEFC), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), 08038 Barcelona, Spain
    Grup d’Investigació Social i Educativa de l’Activitat Física i l’Esport (GISEAFE, 2017 SGR 1162), Institut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya (INEFC), 08038 Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

Participating in outdoor sports in blue spaces is recognized to produce a range of significant social benefits. This case study empirically analyzes the social benefits associated with the School Nautical Activities project carried out in Viana do Castelo (Portugal) in school-age children and adolescents. It consisted of a 4 year program in which scholars took part in nautical activities (surfing, rowing, sailing, and canoeing) in blue spaces once a week during a semester as a part of their physical education course. The methods used for data collection were as follows: (1) a survey answered by 595 participants in the program and (2) five focus groups (FG): two FGs with participants (seven on each FG), two FGs with their parents (eight participants each), and one FG with the physical education teachers (five participants). Interviews were transcribed and qualitative analysis with NVivo software was developed. Results revealed clear evidence on the social benefits for school-age children and adolescents associated with participation in outdoor activities in blue spaces both in the overall health and in all the following analyzed categories: mental health and well-being, education, active citizenship, social behavior, and environmental awareness. More than 40% state that their overall health is much better now (13.4%) or somewhat better now (29.9%) due to their participation in the program. Thus, this article provides support for the anecdotal recognition of the benefits for school-age children and adolescents from participating in sports in the outdoors and especially in blue spaces.

Suggested Citation

  • Míriam Rocher & Bruno Silva & Gonçalo Cruz & Renato Bentes & Josep Lloret & Eduard Inglés, 2020. "Benefits of Outdoor Sports in Blue Spaces. The Case of School Nautical Activities in Viana do Castelo," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-14, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:22:p:8470-:d:445711
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Barbara Eigenschenk & Andreas Thomann & Mike McClure & Larissa Davies & Maxine Gregory & Ulrich Dettweiler & Eduard Inglés, 2019. "Benefits of Outdoor Sports for Society. A Systematic Literature Review and Reflections on Evidence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-21, March.
    2. Mike Rogerson & Valerie F. Gladwell & Daniel J. Gallagher & Jo L. Barton, 2016. "Influences of Green Outdoors versus Indoors Environmental Settings on Psychological and Social Outcomes of Controlled Exercise," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-16, March.
    3. Michael J. Duncan & Neil D. Clarke & Samantha L. Birch & Jason Tallis & Joanne Hankey & Elizabeth Bryant & Emma L. J. Eyre, 2014. "The Effect of Green Exercise on Blood Pressure, Heart Rate and Mood State in Primary School Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-11, April.
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    2. Vicente Morales-Baños & Francisco José Borrego-Balsalobre & Arturo Díaz-Suárez & José María López-Gullón, 2023. "Levels of Sustainability Awareness in Spanish University Students of Nautical Activities as Future Managers of Sports and Active Tourism Programmes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-22, February.
    3. Galeotti, Fabio & Hopfensitz, Astrid & Mantilla, César, 2024. "Climate change education through the lens of behavioral economics: A systematic review of studies on observed behavior and social norms," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    4. Xindi Zhang & Yixin Zhang & Jun Zhai & Yongfa Wu & Anyuan Mao, 2021. "Waterscapes for Promoting Mental Health in the General Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-15, November.
    5. Piotr Próchniak & Agnieszka Próchniak, 2023. "Adventure Recreation in Blue Spaces and the Wellbeing of Young Polish Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-16, March.

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