Participation in outdoor adventure activities enhances well-being and happiness in middle aged women

Fewer women than men participate in regular physical activity. This difference in level of participation is particularly notable in engagement in adventure activities. This study explores the experiences of a group of women who do participate in outdoor adventure. It examined the phenomenon of adventure in the women’s lives including an exploration of benefits the women experienced as part of their participation.
Fourteen women (mean age 51 years) from a women’s adventure group based in the east of Scotland participated in individual face to face interviews. The interviews were designed to gather each woman’s subjective perspective of her experiences, attitudes, beliefs and perceived benefits of participating in adventure with other women. Data from the interview transcripts was analysed to identify themes.
The themes identified include increased happiness (joy and laughter); enhanced health (stress reduction) and positive self-identity. The study indicates that participation in adventure activities enhances quality of life and well-being in women and that activities with other women resulted in positive life enhancing outcomes. This study suggests that encouraging women to participate in exercise should move away from focus on traditional exercise classes and should include encouraging women to participate in adventurous exercise activities that take place with other women in a natural environment.