Parkinson Colby, Shen Xiangyou, MacDonald Megan, Logan Samuel W, Gorrell Lydia, Lindberg Kreg
Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America.
Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
PLoS One. 2025 Apr 17;20(4):e0321278. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0321278. eCollection 2025.
Outdoor recreation provided a crucial way to maintain physical activity, reduce stress, and preserve a sense of normalcy during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study assessed the relationship between outdoor recreation and mental health in the context of COVID-19. Cross-sectional online survey data were collected in early 2021 from a sample (n = 503) representative of the U.S. adult population in age, gender, and race. We observed prevalent engagement in near-home outdoor activities, widespread reductions in outdoor engagement relative to the pre-COVID period, and significant age, financial, and racial differences in engagement patterns. Regression models suggested that reduced outdoor recreation was associated with higher levels of perceived stress and depressive symptoms, whereas more frequent outdoor activities predicted better well-being. The health implications of adaptive engagement versus cumulative exposure during times of significant disruptions are discussed, along with the need to address structural inequities in accessing outdoor recreation as a health behavior.
在新冠疫情期间，户外休闲活动为维持身体活动、减轻压力和保持正常感提供了关键途径。本研究评估了新冠疫情背景下户外休闲与心理健康之间的关系。2021年初收集了横断面在线调查数据，样本（n = 503）在年龄、性别和种族方面代表了美国成年人口。我们观察到近家户外活动的普遍参与情况，与新冠疫情前相比，户外参与普遍减少，且参与模式存在显著的年龄、经济和种族差异。回归模型表明，户外休闲活动减少与感知压力和抑郁症状水平较高有关，而更频繁的户外活动预示着更好的幸福感。文中讨论了在重大干扰时期适应性参与与累积暴露对健康的影响，以及解决在将户外休闲作为一种健康行为的获取方面存在的结构性不平等的必要性。
