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. 2019 Mar 15;16(6):937.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph16060937.

Benefits of Outdoor Sports for Society. A Systematic Literature Review and Reflections on Evidence

Barbara Eigenschenk  1 , Andreas Thomann  2 , Mike McClure  3 , Larissa Davies  4 , Maxine Gregory  5 , Ulrich Dettweiler  6 , Eduard Inglés  7
Affiliations

Benefits of Outdoor Sports for Society. A Systematic Literature Review and Reflections on Evidence

Barbara Eigenschenk et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

The combination of physical activity and being in nature is recognized as providing a range of significant benefits. The objective of this literature review was to compile an overview of the social benefits and costs associated with outdoor sports within the academic literature and to reflect on the quality of underlying evidence that supports the relationship. A systematic review was carried out with seven partners from different European countries, including Bulgaria, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. From a total of 17,560 studies identified, 133 studies were selected with relevant data extracted to standardized forms. The selected studies have been analyzed with qualitative research methods. A meta-analysis could not be conducted due to the heterogeneity of the study designs and outcome measures. As a result, the review gives an overview of the social impacts associated with outdoor sports which have been clustered to six broad categories: physical health, mental health and wellbeing, education and lifelong learning, active citizenship, crime reduction, and anti-social behavior, as well as additional benefits. The review furthermore revealed gaps in the evidence base which are especially notable in the long-term effects that outdoor sports can have on personal and social development.

Keywords: health enhancing physical activity; outdoor education; outdoor recreation; outdoor sports; social benefits and costs or social impacts.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Figure 1
Research and selection process.
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