Defining contemporary outdoor physical activity: A critical interpretive synthesis

Abstract

Outdoor physical activities (OPAs) are known to provide economic and social benefits across a number of sectors and industries (Buckley, 2007; Carpenter, 2013; Clough et al., 2016). However, the loosely constructed meanings attached to its various typologies create an ambiguity impacting our understanding of OPA as a holistic term. This study aimed to construct a new, unified definition of OPA, as experienced by adult participants, and develop a conceptual model of shared characteristics that provides clarity and informs practice. Through conducting a Critical Interpretive Synthesis (Dixon-Woods et al., 2006) of existing definitions within academic literature (N = 133), three arguments were established. These suggest that all OPAs share characteristics relating to sensation seeking, emphasise the importance of the settings in which they take place, as well as the wellbeing outcomes they offer. A model detailing these arguments is presented and each argument is critically discussed.

Management implications

The management implications of this research are fourfold and can be summarised by the following points.

• 1)Through understanding the three characteristic elements of OPA, leisure, tourism and recreational managers can be better informed as to the allocation of resources for the provision of services to meet the needs of participants.

• 2)Through a greater understanding of OPA, interested parties who are marketing products and services to end users can ensure that the relationships they build are based on the evidenced characteristics described in the MOPAC model.

• 3)A renewed understanding of OPA attributes can improve efficiency in the management of through better informed policy decision making.

• 4)With OPA increasingly being used by healthcare professionals, this research can enable more informed and targeted activities that increase the efficacy of interventions using OPA.