Rural, low-income mothers identify access to free nature-based recreational opportunities as a major contributor to the health of individual family members and healthy family functioningA study was conducted to determine how rural, low-income mothers use family-based nature activities (FBNA) to promote the health of themselves and their families. Foundational to this study is the understanding (based on previous research) that outdoor leisure activities are uniquely beneficial to families and that nature provides a rich context for promoting the health and well-being of individuals. What has not been addressed as well in previous studies is the potential of outdoor family leisure activities for promoting family cohesiveness more than other types of activities.
For this study, data were collected through in-person interviews with 85 rural low-income mothers. The interviews and the analysis of the results focused on how and why families participate in FBNA, the perceived individual and family health benefits of participation, and how rural living and poverty impact participation from the perspective of rural, low-income mothers. Mothers interviewed for this study were from 19 to 59 years old; nearly half of them were married; and had between one to five children 12 years old or younger. The mothers were not asked directly about their use of FBNA, yet nearly every mother indicated that spending time in nature with their family is something they did to promote physical, psychological, and social health benefits of each family member, as well as the health of the family unit.
While mothers in different rural geographic regions described different types of FBNA, walking and playing in parks were two of the most frequently cited examples. The extent to which families could engage in these and other FBNA activities was impacted by several factors, including geographic location, access to free, public recreational opportunities, and individual family resources (including the proximity of extended family and/or having a spouse or partner living in the home).
Results of this study highlight the importance of free, nature-based recreational opportunities in rural, low-income communities as a contributor to the health of individual family members and a higher quality of life for the entire family.
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