Outdoor recreation played a key factor in improving people’s mental health during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a survey led by Oregon State University researchers and published this spring by a major scientific journal.
“Our findings suggest we need to fundamentally reframe how we think about public recreation spaces,” said Sharon Shen, OSU College of Forestry assistant professor. “They’re not amenities or luxuries — they’re essential health infrastructure, just like hospitals or pharmacies.”
In early 2021, researchers surveyed 503 adults whose age, gender and race represented that of the national population. The survey included open-ended questions about the types of recreational activities people participated in during the pandemic, as well as questions about whether the pandemic affected how often they recreated.
People who reduced their outdoor recreation during the pandemic reported higher stress and depressive symptoms. People who spent more time walking, jogging, gardening or relaxing outdoors experienced better overall well-being…