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5. Which are the main impacts of outdoor sport activities at community level?
At community level, the main impacts of outdoor sport activities consist in:
• Sport as “a social glue” that contributes to increasing both bonding and bridging social capital (Taylor, Davies, Wells, Gilbertson, Tayleur, 2015). Several studies (Sherry and Strybosch, 2012; Spaaij, 2012; Bloom et al., 2005; Burnet, 2009; etc) have indeed found positive relations between sport/physical activity and greater social connectedness, networking, social interaction – largely among a fairly homogeneous population (i.e. bonding capital) as well as between sport and greater awareness and better understanding of others, greater social inclusion/connectedness and mixing across heterogeneous population groups (i.e. bridging capital). Furthermore, these studies have shown a positive correlation between sport and greater ties between people in dissimilar social situations, enabling individuals and groups to access formal institutions (i.e. linking capital).
• Increased levels of bonding, bridging and linking capital contribute to increasing community social cohesion in the long run through the: increased formation and maintenance of networks; increased integration into social settings; improvement in peer relations; increased motivation for personal and social development and cross-cultural exchanges. In the long period, the above-mentioned effects result into reduced social tensions and increased collective action and community involvement.4. Which are the main impacts of outdoor sport activities at individual level?
At individual level, the main impacts of outdoor sport activities consist in:
• Health (physical and mental) impacts: multiple studies point out, how physical activity is positively associated with both physical and mental well-being. People who are active have a lower the risk of serious health related problems, such as cardiovascular disease, overweight/obesity and other.
• Cognitive improvement and well-being: the contribution of physical activity to mental well- being is also widely recognized especially to reduction of stress, improvement of sleep, boosting of self-confidence and self-esteem and increasing enthusiasm, increased emotional skills, reciprocity, and relationships, increased self and group identity. It also benefits cognitive functions and reduces the risk of depression and dementia. Furthermore, it fosters the development of cognitive skills including executive/planning, attention, simultaneous and successive tasks; self-esteem, self-efficacy, self-regulation, locus of control; social competence; identification with and attitudes towards school and school-related values.3. Which are the areas of social life you believe social impacts or potential changes are much more deployed?
The areas of social life where social impacts or potential changes are much more deployed include:
• Lifestyles (how they live, how they play or interact daily)
• Health and well-being (physical, social, psychological)
• Education (development of cognitive skills, educational behavior)
• Social cohesion (social capital)2. To which main questions an analysis of the local impact of outdoor sport activities can provide an answer?
This analysis of the local impacts of outdoor activities can address the following issues:
• Do outdoor sports increase people’s health, wellbeing and cognitive capacities?
• Do outdoor sports contribute to foster bonding and bridging within the community?
• Are people who play outdoor sports more involved in the community?
• Do outdoor sports foster the reduction of social tensions within the community?1. How local impact generated by outdoor sport activities can be identified and evaluated?
Local impact can be identified and measured through the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) process; the process is made up by different steps that aim at analysing, monitoring and managing the intended and unintended social consequences, both positive and negative, of planned interventions. This methodology is based on a proactive stance to development and better development outcomes; the aim is not just the identification or amelioration of negative or unintended outcomes but rather assisting communities and other stakeholders to identify development goals, and ensuring that positive outcomes are maximized. Furthermore, this methodology builds on local knowledge and utilises participatory processes to analyse the concerns of interested and affected parties. The evaluation develops following four main steps; however, for the analysis of direct and indirect social impacts we can focus mainly on the second and third steps namely:
• Understand the issue: Understand proposed project; clarify roles and responsibilities; social area of influence; community profiling; inform communities; inclusive preparatory processes; scope issue; assemble baseline data.
• Predict, analyse and assess the likely impact pathways: social changes and impacts; indirect impacts; cumulative impacts; affected party responses; significance of changes; projects alternatives.
• Develop and implement strategies: address negative impacts; enhance benefit and opportunities; support communities with change; establish a grievance mechanism; negotiate impacts and benefit agreement; develop social impact management plan; establish partnership to implement social impact management plan; implement ongoing social performance plan.
• Design and implement monitoring programs: indicators to monitor change; participatory monitoring plan; implement adaptive management; evaluation and periodic review. -
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