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

Míriam Rocher, Bruno Silva, Gonçalo Cruz, Renato Bentes, Josep Lloret and Eduard Inglés
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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
Gonçalo Cruz: Surf Clube de Viana, 4935–161 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Renato Bentes: Surf Clube de Viana, 4935–161 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

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 22, 1-14

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.

Keywords: blue spaces; mental and physical health; outdoor sports; nautical activities; social benefits; health and well-being (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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