Outdoor recreational activities offer critical benefits to youth development, yet their impacts have been insufficiently synthesized. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of outdoor recreation on children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years. Significant improvements were observed in psychological well-being, social connectivity, and environmental awareness, emphasizing the multidimensional benefits of such activities. Challenges such as urbanization and reduced access to green spaces highlighted the need for prioritizing outdoor engagement to counteract the growing detachment from nature. This study followed PRISMA guidelines and included 21 studies published between 2014 and 2024. A random-effects meta-analysis revealed positive effects on mood, anxiety reduction, interpersonal relationships, and environmental responsibility. However, significant heterogeneity reflected variability in study designs and contexts. The GRADE framework assessed evidence certainty, rating psychological benefits as moderate, social connectivity as high, and environmental awareness as low. Limitations included reliance on self-reported data and exclusion of pandemic-era studies. These findings emphasized the role of outdoor activities in addressing modern challenges such as urbanization and climate change by fostering holistic youth development. Policymakers and educators should be encouraged to integrate outdoor programs into curricula and community initiatives to promote mental health, social cohesion, and environmental stewardship.

Workplace mental health is a critical social issue with significant human and economic costs, making its sustainable management essential for long-term well-being and productivity. Nature-based interventions (NBIs) offer a promising cost-effective approach to enhancing employee creativity and well-being. This paper systematically reviewed NBIs—such as outdoor exercise, green space engagement, and nature-centered activity—and their effects on workplace creativity, subjective well-being, and mental health. Following the PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search of PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Google Scholar yielded 508 studies published from 2017 to 2024. Seven studies met our inclusion criteria, involving real workplace settings, NBIs as primary interventions, and clear comparison groups. Analysis covered study design, sample size, intervention type, and outcomes, focusing on creativity and well-being. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Bias Risk Tool and the ROBIN-I tool. Results were grouped into five themes: mental health metrics, cognition and creativity, rehabilitation and regeneration, job and life satisfaction, and physiological outcomes. Findings highlighted the positive impact of NBIs on mental health and creativity, though results for other outcomes were mixed. Methodological variability and potential bias limited the strength of conclusions. Future research should prioritize large-scale, methodologically rigorous trials aligned with contemporary theories on workplace environments and creativity.

Background/Objectives: Mindfulness has expanded from seated meditation to include embodied practices emphasizing somatic awareness and emotional regulation. Dance offers a creative, accessible pathway to mindfulness, especially in non-clinical settings where movement-based approaches may better support self-regulation, interoception, and well-being. This scoping review investigated empirical studies on dance-based mindfulness interventions targeting non-clinical, amateur and recreational populations. Methods: Six databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, ERIC, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) were searched for peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2025. Eligible studies combined dance with mindfulness and somatic movement practices and were conducted with non-professional participants of all ages in non-clinical settings. Study selection, data extraction, and appraisal followed PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Results: Ten empirical studies met the inclusion criteria, spanning diverse populations from primary school children to older adults. Interventions included Dance/Movement Therapy, ballet with yoga, Sufi-inspired group dance, and school- or community-based mindful movement programs. Reported outcomes included improvements in body awareness, emotional regulation, stress reduction, self-compassion, social connection, and overall well-being. A thematic synthesis identified five domains: (1) psychological and emotional outcomes, (2) embodiment and self-compassion, (3) relational and social benefits, (4) feasibility and acceptability, and (5) sustained and preventive effects. Conclusions: Dance-based mindfulness interventions in recreational contexts show promising psychosomatic and emotional benefits. Although the current empirical base is limited and methodologically diverse, this scoping review provides a necessary foundation for understanding this emerging field. There remains a strong need for interventions that are theoretically grounded, culturally sensitive, and pedagogically integrated, particularly within classroom-based dance educational contexts.

This study aims to segment visitors to a Greek theme park using factors that motivate attendance. Three hundred and twenty-two young and adult visitors of an outdoor recreational theme park, locate...

Active living offers a substantial contribution to the mental and physical health of individuals, as well as to community wellbeing and social cohesion. Outdoor and green environments offer additional benefits and determine people’s involvement in physical exercise. Environmental policies put in place by local governments affect citizens’ adoption of active living and physical exercise. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between citizens’ levels of exercise participation in urban open spaces and the provision of exercise-friendly policies by the local authorities. Three hundred and seventy citizens participated in the present study who took part in walking, bicycling, or jogging/ running during their leisure time in urban open spaces and outdoors. Research participants completed the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ; Shephard, 1997) and Environmentally Friendly Exercise Policy Questionnaire (Kontogianni, 2015), which consisted of three scales: “policy to enhance exercise,” “environmentally friendly exercise facilities,” and “intention to change personal habits.” Participants were divided into three different subgroups according to their time exercise scores: high, middle, and low. The results showed the statistically significant differences between time exercise scores and environmentally friendly exercise policy scales. Citizens with higher exercise time participation expressed significantly higher levels on the environmentally friendly exercise policy scales. Citizens’ physical exercise time in urban open spaces and outdoors seemed to affect the creation of corresponding preferences, beliefs, and intentions towards environmentally friendly policies. City leaders, essential decision-makers, and stakeholders are expected to provide an enabling environment, legitimacy, and leadership that fosters the development and implementation of policies that support physical activity and green active living within urban spaces.

Exploring the cognitive and affective image dimensions involved in the formation of attractive sports destinations is essential to understand how sports activities influence participants’ experiences. This study explores how municipal sports programs and small-scale events shape both the cognitive and affective image of a destination. The research was conducted among 456 adult participants engaged in public sports events and recreation programs in various municipalities across Attica, Greece. Participation was voluntary and based on an open public call. The questionnaire was adapted from (a) scale, which examines the influence of a sports event image on a destination image—it included 17 items measuring the cognitive image destination grouped into four factors: (1) environment, (2) experiences, (3) attractions, and (4) entertainment–infrastructure, as well as 5 items assessing one factor of affective image destination—and (b) a scale for the intention to participate in sports events and exercise programs. The findings provide insights into how community-level sports initiatives contribute to form a favorable destination image, not only through tangible elements like facilities and environment but also through emotional engagement and social connectivity. These results can inform the development of more targeted and impactful local sports programs that enhance participant’s satisfaction and foster long-term community involvement.