An identification of the outdoor leisure involvements of older Black Americans, 1982--1983

The primary purpose of this study was to identify the outdoor leisure involvements of older Black Americans. Using secondary analysis of data from the Nationwide Recreation Survey (1982-1983) variables of age, income, educational level, and gender were used to determine if the outdoor activities of older Blacks differed from those of the general population of older adults. Barriers and constraints to outdoor leisure participation were identified for older Blacks and compared to the general population of older adults. Tested in the null form (there would be no significant differences), hypotheses were generated for the following: differences in outdoor leisure activities between older, Black adults (o.b.a's) and the general population of older adults (g.p.o.a's); differences in outdoor activities between o.b.a's and g.p.o.a's based on income levels; differences in outdoor activities between o.b.a's and g.p.o.a's based upon age categories; differences in outdoor activities for female o.b.a's and female g.p.o.a's; differences in outdoor activities between o.b.a's and g.p.o.a's based upon educational level; differences in outdoor activities between male o.b.a's and male g.p.o.a's; differences in outdoor activities between female o.b.a's and male o.b.a's; and differences in barriers or constraints to outdoor activities between o.b.a's and g.p.o.a's.;The data set used was the 1982-1983 Nationwide Recreation Survey of 6720 respondents age 12 and over. Of that group there were 1,653 adults 60+ who comprised the older adult sample including 136 older Black adults. An activity score was computed for 22 outdoor activities ranging from bicycling to snowmobiling. The activity score consisted of range (how many of the 22 activities were done) and depth (how often the activity was done). This activity score consisting of breadth and depth was used as the dependent variable for analyses.;In general, null hypotheses claiming no significant differences between older Blacks and the rest of the older population were able to be rejected. Differences based upon race were shown when comparing similar income, age, gender, and educational attainment groups.;A significant, yet not unexpected, finding was the extremely low levels of participation in outdoor recreation by older Blacks. Fewer than 25% participated at all and while some of the activities in the survey might be expected to show low participation (snowmobiling or outdoor team sports), leisure service personnel should be interested in exploring further reasons for low level of participation.