Personality, Outdoor Recreation, and Expected Consequences

Results of exploratory research on relationships between personality characteristics (measured by Jackson's Personality Research Form), choice of recreation activities engaged in actively, frequency of participation in those activities, and the desired consequences (i.e., satisfying experiences) expected from that participation are reported. Ss were test groups of 50 recreationists per activity engaging in one of nine different activities when interviewed on-site. Ss were classified by sex into active and nonactive participants in each of the activities. Participation was measured using respondents' recall of total days of having engaged at least once in specified activities during the preceding 12 months. The results are tentative because of small sample sizes. The indicate that (1) personality probably influences the choice of a recreation activity in which a person engages the most frequently (direct associations were weak, and further research is needed), (2) personality characteristics are significantly related to the amount of participation in a preferred activity once that choice has been made, (3) the personality profile of both male and female active recreationists differs from national norms, and (4) personality disposition influences the relative importance of different consequences that are desired and expected from specific activities.