IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v16y2019i10p1832-d233715.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

What Motivates Participants to Adhere to Green Exercise?

Author

Listed:
  • Matthew Fraser

    (Rural Health and Wellbeing, University of the Highlands and Islands, Inverness IV2 3JH, UK)

  • Sarah-Anne Munoz

    (Rural Health and Wellbeing, University of the Highlands and Islands, Inverness IV2 3JH, UK)

  • Sandra MacRury

    (Rural Health and Wellbeing, University of the Highlands and Islands, Inverness IV2 3JH, UK)

Abstract

There is a lack of research into green exercise which investigates and compares motivational drivers between the different types of outdoor activities. The current paper addressed this gap by classifying and comparing three types of green exercise: (i) Recreational physical activity, (ii) competitive sport, and (iii) outdoor adventure sport. Using a mixed methodological approach, the present study investigated the motivations for adhering to green exercise and directly compared the differences between these three forms of green exercise. Online questionnaires and face-to-face interviews were used to collect data. The results demonstrated that within all types of green exercise, enjoyment was the greatest motivator. Based on analysis of the qualitative materials, extrinsic motivators such as the environment, family, and friends were highlighted as key factors in beginning and continuing their activity. However, intrinsic motivators were also emphasised as more important in adherence to green exercise. Furthermore, as seen in other research, numerous psychological benefits were reported over time. The results of the study may act as a starting point in understanding how we may increase public engagement in green exercise by prompting participants to select a form of green exercise that best suits them based on their motivational profile.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:10:p:1832-:d:233715
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/10/1832/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/10/1832/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mireia Gascon & Margarita Triguero-Mas & David Martínez & Payam Dadvand & Joan Forns & Antoni Plasència & Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen, 2015. "Mental Health Benefits of Long-Term Exposure to Residential Green and Blue Spaces: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-26, 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. Ke-Tsung Han & Po-Ching Wang, 2018. "Empirical Examinations of Effects of Three-Level Green Exercise on Engagement with Nature and Physical Activity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-15, February.
    4. 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.
    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. Fei Qin & Yiqing Song & George P Nassis & Lina Zhao & Yanan Dong & Cuicui Zhao & Yiwei Feng & Jiexiu Zhao, 2020. "Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Emotional Well-Being during the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-16, July.
    2. Yolanda Campos-Uscanga & Hannia Reyes-Rincón & Eduardo Pineda & Santiago Gibert-Isern & Saraí Ramirez-Colina & Vianey Argüelles-Nava, 2022. "Running in Natural Spaces: Gender Analysis of Its Relationship with Emotional Intelligence, Psychological Well-Being, and Physical Activity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-10, May.

    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. Konrad Reuß & Christopher Huth, 2024. "Redefining Urban Recreation: A Demand Analysis for Urban Year-Round Green Exercise," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(11), pages 1-10, 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. Qiang Wen & Haiqiang Liu & Jinyuan Chen & Huiyao Ye & Zeyu Pan, 2023. "Evaluation of Satisfaction with the Built Environment of University Buildings under the Epidemic and Its Impact on Student Anxiety," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-23, February.
    4. Hyun Jin Lee & Dong Kun Lee, 2019. "Do Sociodemographic Factors and Urban Green Space Affect Mental Health Outcomes Among the Urban Elderly Population?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-13, March.
    5. Alhassan A. S & LeBrasseur R., 2024. "Urban Green Space as A Climate Change Adaptation Strategy in The Tamale Metropolis, Ghana," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(3), pages 2552-2573, March.
    6. Susanne Boers & Karin Hagoort & Floortje Scheepers & Marco Helbich, 2018. "Does Residential Green and Blue Space Promote Recovery in Psychotic Disorders? A Cross-Sectional Study in the Province of Utrecht, The Netherlands," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-8, October.
    7. Phi-Yen Nguyen & Thomas Astell-Burt & Hania Rahimi-Ardabili & Xiaoqi Feng, 2021. "Green Space Quality and Health: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-38, October.
    8. Ashley D. Tegart & Nadine Schuurman & Stella R. Harden, 2025. "Runnability: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(1), pages 1-34, January.
    9. Lisa Dandolo & Klaus Telkmann & Christina Hartig & Sophie Horstmann & Sara Pedron & Lars Schwettmann & Peter Selsam & Alexandra Schneider & Gabriele Bolte & on behalf of the INGER Study Group, 2023. "Do Multiple Sex/Gender Dimensions Play a Role in the Association of Green Space and Self-Rated Health? Model-Based Recursive Partitioning Results from the KORA INGER Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(7), pages 1-23, March.
    10. Katrina A. Lambert & Gayan Bowatte & Rachel Tham & Caroline J. Lodge & Luke A. Prendergast & Joachim Heinrich & Michael J. Abramson & Shyamali C. Dharmage & Bircan Erbas, 2018. "Greenspace and Atopic Sensitization in Children and Adolescents—A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-12, November.
    11. Hanna Weimann & Jonas Björk & Carita Håkansson, 2019. "Experiences of the Urban Green Local Environment as a Factor for Well-Being among Adults: An Exploratory Qualitative Study in Southern Sweden," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-14, July.
    12. Sheona McHale & Alice Pearsons & Lis Neubeck & Coral L. Hanson, 2020. "Green Health Partnerships in Scotland; Pathways for Social Prescribing and Physical Activity Referral," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-13, September.
    13. Hania Rahimi-Ardabili & Thomas Astell-Burt & Phi-Yen Nguyen & Juan Zhang & Yu Jiang & Guang-Hui Dong & Xiaoqi Feng, 2021. "Green Space and Health in Mainland China: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-22, September.
    14. Nicole V. DeVille & Linda Powers Tomasso & Olivia P. Stoddard & Grete E. Wilt & Teresa H. Horton & Kathleen L. Wolf & Eric Brymer & Peter H. Kahn & Peter James, 2021. "Time Spent in Nature Is Associated with Increased Pro-Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-18, July.
    15. Xiaoxia Li & Guozhu Xia & Tao Lin & Zhonglin Xu & Yao Wang, 2022. "Construction of Urban Green Space Network in Kashgar City, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-19, October.
    16. Andreia Teixeira & Ronaldo Gabriel & José Martinho & Irene Oliveira & Mário Santos & Graça Pinto & Helena Moreira, 2023. "Distance to Natural Environments, Physical Activity, Sleep, and Body Composition in Women: An Exploratory Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-20, February.
    17. Jordi Honey-Rosés & Oscar Zapata, 2023. "Green Spaces with Fewer People Improve Self-Reported Affective Experience and Mood," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-10, January.
    18. Yijun Zhang & Suzanne Mavoa & Jinfeng Zhao & Deborah Raphael & Melody Smith, 2020. "The Association between Green Space and Adolescents’ Mental Well-Being: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-26, September.
    19. 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.
    20. Agnieszka Olszewska-Guizzo & Angelia Sia & Anna Fogel & Roger Ho, 2020. "Can Exposure to Certain Urban Green Spaces Trigger Frontal Alpha Asymmetry in the Brain?—Preliminary Findings from a Passive Task EEG Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-10, January.

    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:16:y:2019:i:10:p:1832-:d:233715. 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.