Atmospheres, landscapes and nature: Off-road runners' experiences of well-being

Health
Sara MacBride-Stewart

Abstract

This article reflects on the relations between health and natural landscapes. The study explores how the landscape context - its textual and sensory aesthetics - positively shapes experiences and perceptions of the landscape, for those people who seek out natural environments for health. While health promotion is designated along the lines of encouraging choice or improving access to natural environments, this article wants to show how physical activities are intertwined with atmospheres and affects emanating from the natural and human world. An in-depth case-study of trail running across two sites (New Zealand, United Kingdom) is used to analyse the interconnections between health landscapes. It finds that when participants say that landscape 'matters' for health, they are referring to: (1) aesthetics and feelings, (2) flexibility and adaptiveness and (3) exploration and adventure. Avoiding the conclusion that the landscape is merely a resource for health, the analysis confirms that it is the complex of spaces, social practices, along with their physical fleshy selves, minds and emotions, and the particular quality of the earth beneath them, that gives rise to positively perceived health, for both immediate and enduring benefit.

References

Sep 16, 2004·QJM : Monthly Journal of the Association of Physicians·J E SharmanJ S Coombes
Feb 13, 2007·Preventive Medicine·Chit-Ming WongAnthony J Hedley
Aug 30, 2008·Journal of Attention Disorders·Andrea Faber Taylor, Frances E Kuo
Dec 22, 2009·The Science of the Total Environment·Yongsan ZhangKatsumi Hirose
Jul 14, 2010·Social Science & Medicine·Elizabeth A Richardson, Richard Mitchell
Aug 11, 2011·Psychological Science·Elizabeth K Nisbet, John M Zelenski
Jul 28, 2012·Qualitative Health Research·Carolyn M GarciaKatherine Lust
Nov 14, 2013·The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity·Katherine OrdJamie Pearce
Jan 1, 2014·Sociology of Health & Illness·Katherine L Frohlich, Thomas Abel
Mar 22, 2014·Environmental Health : a Global Access Science Source·Abdonas TamosiunasMark J Nieuwenhuijsen
Dec 22, 2014·Environmental Research·Owen McMorrisMichael Jerrett
Feb 2, 2015·Environment International·Margarita Triguero-MasMark J Nieuwenhuijsen
May 21, 2016·Frontiers in Psychology·Laura Menatti, Antonio Casado da Rocha
Oct 25, 2016·Public Health·S MacBride-StewartJ Antell
Oct 27, 2016·Public Health·N J Fox, P Alldred

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.