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. 2021 Mar 3;18(5):2506.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18052506.

Outdoor Activity Participation Improves Adolescents' Mental Health and Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic

S Brent Jackson  1 , Kathryn T Stevenson  2 , Lincoln R Larson  2 , M Nils Peterson  1 , Erin Seekamp  2
Affiliations

Outdoor Activity Participation Improves Adolescents' Mental Health and Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic

S Brent Jackson et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

COVID-19 is reshaping human interactions with the natural environment, potentially generating profound consequences for health and well-being. To assess the effects of COVID-19 on the outdoor recreation participation and subjective well-being of adolescents, as well as how participation in outdoor activities may mitigate declines in subjective well-being, we used a Qualtrics XM panel to conduct a nationally representative survey of youth ages 10-18 across the United States (n = 624) between 30 April and 15 June 2020. Survey questions focused on frequency of participation in outdoor activities before and during the pandemic, as well as changes in subjective well-being. Paired t-tests revealed decreases in both outdoor recreation participation (64% reported declines) and subjective well-being (52% reported declines). A regression model examining correlates of changes in subjective well-being (R2 = 0.42) revealed strong associations with changes in outdoor play (B = 0.44, p < 0.001) and nature-based (B = 0.21, p = 0.016) activities. Adolescents' from all backgrounds who participated in these activities during the pandemic reported smaller declines in subjective well-being. Results highlight the critical role that time outdoors and time in nature play in bolstering adolescents' resilience to stressors such as the COVID-19 pandemic and underscore the need to facilitate outdoor recreation opportunities for youth during times of crisis.

Keywords: COVID-19; adolescents; mental health; outdoor activities; resilience; subjective well-being.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Changes in outdoor activity participation rates (by type of outdoor activity) pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic for adolescents in the United States (n = 624). Mean activity scores ranged from 0 (never participate) to 2 (often participate).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Changes in subjective well-being scores by changes in rates of outdoor play activity (a), nature-based activity (b), and outdoor family activity (c) participation pre and post COVID-19 pandemic for adolescents in the United States (n = 624). Mean activity scores ranged from 0 (at no time) to 3 (all of the time).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Changes in subjective well-being scores by changes in rates of outdoor play activity (a), nature-based activity (b), and outdoor family activity (c) participation pre and post COVID-19 pandemic for adolescents in the United States (n = 624). Mean activity scores ranged from 0 (at no time) to 3 (all of the time).
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