Time, money and lack of partner prevent the outdoor activities of the Swedes
During the winter sports holiday, sportlovet, Swedes get active outdoors. A survey conducted by the research programme Friluftsliv i förändring (Changing outdoor habits) shows that 46 % of the Swedes want to increase their time spent outdoors. However, factors like lack of time, money, or a partner prevent Swedes from spending time outdoors.
Outdoor activities are popular during the winter sports holiday in Sweden. According to a survey of the outdoor activities of the Swedes conducted by the research programme Friluftsliv i förändring, 46 % of the Swedes wish to spend more time doing one or more out of 43 optional activities. Especially younger people want to spend more time outdoors, but a number of circumstances can be obstacles when it comes to actually doing so.
Lack of time is a common obstacle, both in our everyday lives, and also during our spare time, such as for instance the winter sports holiday. During longer holiday periods the cost is also a reason for not choosing certain outdoor activities, such as downhill skiing, says Peter Fredman, professor at Mid Sweden University and Head of the research programme Friluftsliv i förändring.
Other obstacles when it comes to engaging in outdoor activities to the extent one likes are the family situation, lack of suitable locations or a partner. Typical female obstacles include lack of partner and not enough courage, while men more often consider high costs to be obstacles.
– There are a lot of indications for a great interest in outdoor activities, but more and more poople need help to realize it. Here, leasure organisations, companies and above all the allmansrätten, the Swedish custom that supports free movement of people through public lands, plays a great part, says Peter Fredman.
The most common outdoor activities are relatively simple and ordinary, such as walks, to wander about in woods and fields, swimming and cycling. More than 70 % of all Swedes can be said to engage in these activities on a regular basis.
Typical female activities include Nordic walking and horse riding, while hunting, snowmobile tours , diving and fishing are typical male activities. Younger people engage in different types of so-called board sports, orienteering and running to a larger extent. Older people tend to prefer walks in woods and fields, Nordic walking, ski touring, bird watching and other types of nature study.
You will find more information on Friluftsliv i förändring here: www.friluftsforskning.se