Young people’s experiences of returning to sport and exercise in blue spaces after national lockdown

Abstract:

Background: Supporting children’s emotional recovery from the pandemic has been labeled a public health priority. This is a result of the pandemic having a significant impact on children’s lives. Literature has highlighted loneliness, sadness, and frustration as symptoms associated with lockdowns. Participation in sport and time spent in nature have both been linked to positive health outcomes. A combination of these, through watersports, could be a potential mechanism to counteract poor wellbeing among children after Covid-19 lockdowns. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the impact of returning to watersports post-national lockdown with a specific focus on wellbeing and nature connection. Methods: A sequential mixed methods approach was adopted to understand 11–16-year-olds experience of returning to regular watersports (sailing and windsurfing). Data was collected over a 4-month period commencing after the initial easing of Covid-19 restrictions in the UK. Quantitative data relating to children’s wellbeing, nature connection and physical activity enjoyment was collected. Following this, children and their parents participated in an individual interview to explore their experiences of participating in sport in the natural environment. Results: There were gender differences relating to wellbeing with boys rating their perceived wellbeing higher than girls. Girls scored significantly lower on the wellbeing subscales relating to relationships with friends and acceptance of self and felt from others. Qualitative data suggested that watersports participation enabled children to achieve a sense of accomplishment, belonging and connection with nature. Conclusion: National lockdown had a significant impact on children’s lives and this study provided initial evidence in support of regular sport and exercise in blue spaces as a successful intervention for supporting health-related outcomes over a four-month period. Future research should explore experiences of sport and exercise in blue spaces with a larger and culturally heterogeneous sample.

Source: Manual