Isn’t it obvious that it’s beneficial?

Influences of a Wilderness Experience on Individual Health and Wellbeing: A Case Study on Fraser IslandBelinda WarrenScience Honours Student 2005Supervisors: Dr Anne Neller Assoc. Prof. Ron Neller

Isn’t it obvious that it’s beneficial? • Environmental Health research is mainly centred on the adverse effects of various environmental exposures • Environmental exposures may have positive health effects • Intuitive, however, • Anecdotal and empirical evidence lacking on actual benefits • Theoretical and empirical evidence lacking on the role environments play in facilitating social connectedness • No evidence on the extent, nature and process of the impact of nature on health or quality of life

The Biophilia Hypothesis • Humans are innately attracted to other living organisms • Four aspects of the Natural World: Animals Plants Landscapes Wilderness • Evidence: Real estate Preservation Knowledge of natural settings increases survival

Health Approach “Although everybody knows what it feels like to be healthy, it is impossible to give a precise definition; health is a subjective experience whose quality can be known intuitively, but can never be exhaustively described or quantified.” (Capra, 1983)

Aim “To Characterise the influences of a wilderness experience on the individual health and wellbeing among tour guests on Fraser Island.”

Research Questions • What are the influences of a wilderness experience on the health and wellbeing of tour guests on Fraser Island? • Is the degree of health benefit derived from a wilderness experience associated with: • Level of pre-existing health and wellbeing status • The length of the wilderness experience • Level of social connectedness experienced among group members

Methodology

Research Approach • Survey • Similar studies used this approach • Appropriate for time-frame and budget • Strengths: • Can measure extent & nature of phenomenon • Comparisons to previous studies possible • Survey can be replicated • One-day and Three-day Tour Groups (n = 216) • Cluster Sampling

Questionnaire Design • General Themes were: • Motivations and Purpose • Perceptions of Experience • Subjective Wellbeing • Self-reported health status • Demographics • Face-to-face interviews • Brief and non-structured • More detailed perspective

Data Collection Methods • Instrument: self-administered questionnaire • cost effective • closed and open-ended • effective for sensitive data • groups surveyed in a relatively short time • Limitations • varying literacy and language skills • questionnaires limit the ‘depth’ of responses

Data Analysis • Quantitative Analysis • Descriptive Analyses to summarise data • Pearson’s Chi Square to compare 2 tour groups • Mann-Whitney Tests on non-parametric data • Factor analysis: data reduction • Pre-defined instruments as per instructions • Analysis of Qualitative Data • Responses collapsed into common categories

Demographics and Characteristics of Experience One-day Group Three-day Group Equal Male and Female Older/Couples Younger/ Singles ¾ English Speaking Domestic International 83% First Trip Positive Perceptions: Higher Educational Qualifications Lower Educational Qualifications Scenery, Awe & Wonder Learning, Conservation Lakes, Relaxation Residence: House Residence: Unit/Flat Visitor Numbers more than expected Visitor Numbers about as expected

Motivations for Visiting • • Top factors: • Relaxation • Nature • Personal • 4. Away • 5. Practical • 6. Culture Median (and mean) Scores of Motivational Items for Visitation to Fraser Island for One-day and Three-day Tour Groups 1 = not important; 5 = very important

Influences on Health and Wellbeing Influences of a Wilderness Experience on Health and Wellbeing for One-day and Three-day Tour Groups on Fraser Island

Changes in Health and Wellbeing > 50 - Positive change Self-reported changes for Fraser Island One-day and Three-day Tour Respondents

Physical and Mental Health (r = -0.231, p = .002, n = 185) Association between Physical Health and Compatibility for all Tour Guests Association between Mental Health and Compatibility for all Tour Guests (r = 0.210, p = .004, n = 185)

Personal Wellbeing Associations • Those who rated highly on the Personal Wellbeing Index indicated more positive change in their health and wellbeing (r = 0.199, p = .016, n = 147) Association between Personal Wellbeing and Negative Emotion for all Tour Guests (r = -0.159, p = .042, n = 166)

Social Connectedness Associations • Social Connectedness • Trust • Reciprocity • Diversity …..is significantly associated with…… • Perceived Restorativeness Scale • Being Away (rs = .171, p = .020, n = 185) • Compatibility (rs = .161, p = .029, n = 184) • Fascination (rs = .208, p = .004, n = 186) • Coherence (rs = .234, p = .001, n = 184)

Length of stay: • No significant correlations • Interviews: • Stated how their mood had changed • Suggestions – eg. more time, info booklet

Limitations • Language and literacy skills of the respondents • Honesty from respondents, although anonymous self-completion • Data only provides a snapshot; seasonal variations • Survey may not have been adequate to capture the complex issues • Case study – only Fraser Island

Summary • To Characterise the influences of a wilderness experience on the individual health and wellbeing among tour guests on Fraser Island • Self-administered Questionnaire & Face-to-face Interviews • The degree of health benefit derived from a wilderness experience… …is associated with: • Level of pre-existing health and wellbeing status • Level of social connectedness experienced among group members …is NOT associated with: • The length of the wilderness experience

Where now? • Recommendations for research: • More empirical research with the tourist population; experimental • Increase sample size • Comparative tours that are much longer in length • Implications for the future: • Contact with parks and nature is affordable, non-elitist and highly accessible • Key stake holders (ie. Tour operators) can promote benefits

Influences of a Wilderness Experience on Individual Health and Wellbeing: A Case Study on Fraser IslandBelinda WarrenScience Honours Student 2005Supervisors: Dr Anne Neller Assoc. Prof. Ron Neller

Attention Restoration Theory • Grounded in cognitive psychology • Focuses on how the interaction with nature is important for effective mental functioning • Directed attention: requires effort; voluntary control; suppress focus towards a competing, more interesting activity; susceptible to fatigue. • Fascination, being away, extent, and compatibility – Perceived Restorativeness Scale

Health Approach • “A complete state of physical, mental and social wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”(WHO, 1948) • “Although everybody knows what it feels like to be healthy, it is impossible to give a precise definition; health is a subjective experience whose quality can be known intuitively, but can never be exhaustively described or quantified.” (Capra, 1983) • Primary Health Care: emphasises social justice, equitable distribution of services, community participation & involvement, prevention, use of a range of sectors to respond to the needs of local populations.

Current Body of Knowledge • Recent research: • Personal/commercial interest in wilderness experiences (wilderness therapy) (Frumkin 2001) • Predominantly Theoretical • US-based • Gaps: • Little Australian research • How long a wilderness experience is • Level of pre-existing health and wellbeing status • Contributing factor: social connectedness

International Tourists • International Tourists • Australians • Australians Target Population Short-term Arrivals • Fishermen • Resort Guests • KBRV • Eurong • Adventurers • Independent Campers • Resort Visitors • Day Trips out of KBRV • Tour Groups • 3 Days • Guided • Walkers/Hikers

Previous Activity and Main Mood Main Mood of Fraser Island Tour Respondents in Previous Four Weeks Previous Activity in Last Four Weeks for One-day and Three-day Fraser Island Tour Respondents

Isn’t it obvious that it’s beneficial?