Psychological Wellbeing, Travel Distance, Living Circle and Region

The literature on psychological wellbeing has progressed rapidly in the past few decades. However, few studies have focused on understanding the factors influencing psychological wellbeing in the context of outdoor recreation.... [ view full abstract ]

The literature on psychological wellbeing has progressed rapidly in the past few decades. However, few studies have focused on understanding the factors influencing psychological wellbeing in the context of outdoor recreation. The purpose of this study was to explore differences in the psychological wellbeing of visitors from different travel distances, living circles and regions, using campers in Taiwan as an example.

In 2013 and 2014, campers to the Wuling National Forest Recreation Area and Xitou Nature Education Area in Taiwan were surveyed in two settings on-site. One was quite remote and the other closer to urban areas, to better represent diverse outdoor recreation locations. The researchers stayed at the Wuling and Xitou campgrounds and asked campers encountered to take a 15-minute survey. Overall, 797 campers were approached and 771 campers responded to the surveys, resulting in a 97% response rate and 701 valid surveys.

In this study, psychological wellbeing served as the dependent variable. Eighteen items developed by Ryff (1995) measured psychological wellbeing. Exploratory factor analyses were used to reduce the data and find possible factors from the psychological well-being items. Eventually, 4 factors were identified for the psychological well-being measures. Validity and reliability analysis showed the factors derived possessed acceptable measurement criteria. Travel distance, living circle and region served as the independent variables. We asked hikers' residential zip code and, accordingly, calculated campers' travel distance and 4 living circles. Four regions were divided based on the classification by the Taiwan Construction and Planning Agency.

The testing of psychological wellbeing differences showed 3 out of 4, 2 out of 4 and 1 out of 4 psychological wellbeing factors differed with living circles, regions and travel distance, respectively. Campers who travelled shorter distance and were members of a closer living circle to the campground had higher level of psychological wellbeing. With regard to outdoor recreation management, managers may enhance their services through promoting psychological wellbeing to their clienteles. For example, managers may attempt to improve the psychological wellbeing of campers who travelled longer distance and who were from farther living circles to the campground. Suggestions for future research were also provided.