Honors College Thesis
 

The COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on outdoor recreation

Public Deposited

Downloadable Content

Download PDF
https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/honors_college_theses/p8418w600

Descriptions

Attribute NameValues
Creator
Abstract
  • In the spring of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic began. This prompted quarantines, mask mandates, and stopped many businesses and services. This study asked the question of what people decided to do in terms of their recreation habits in response to the pandemic. We took a sample of Oregon State University members and surveyed them as to how their outdoor recreation habits changed during the pandemic in terms of activity type, length of activity, location, and other recreation habits. We then collated this data into general trends to see how the study sample engaged with outdoor recreation over the first two years of the pandemic. Our results indicate that there was an overall increase in outdoor recreation in reference to initial, pre-pandemic levels, as well as a general respect for pandemic guidelines, where people recreated in smaller groups, wore masks, and or social distanced. This research hopes to assist policymakers and recreation area managers in predicting the effects of similar pandemic-like events on recreation rates, so they may adequately prepare. This will allow people to recreate safely and comfortably, and as outdoor recreation has been shown to improve mental health, stay positive during a time of uncertainty and stress.
  • Keywords: Recreation, Outdoor areas, COVID-19 pandemic, mental health, exercise
Contributor
Resource Type
Date Issued
Degree Level
Degree Name
Degree Field
Degree Grantor
Commencement Year
Advisor
Committee Member
Non-Academic Affiliation
Rights Statement
Publisher
Peer Reviewed
Language

Relationships

Parents:

This work has no parents.

In Collection:

Items

Thumbnail Title Date Uploaded Visibility Actions
file details Thesis_Jensen_AD_Comments.docx.pdf 2023-06-11 Public Download
file details JensenDavis2023.pdf 2023-06-13 Public Download