Exploring Relationships Between Recreation Specialization, Restorative Environments and Mountain Hikers’ Flow Experience
Abstract
This study explored the relationships between the perception of restorative natural environments, specialization in mountain hiking and flow experience. On-site interviews were conducted at mountain huts in the Salzkammergut, Austria, in 2009. The analysis of 369 hikers suggests that a relationship exists among recreation specialization, the perception of restorative environments and flow. With increasing specialization, people are more likely to experience flow. The restorative quality dimensions of “being away,” “fascination” and “compatibility” with the mountainous landscape were positive predictors of flow experience.
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The restorative environmental perceptions of climbers positively influence their flow experiences.
“Studies on the flow experiences of climbers in the Austrian region have confirmed that the restorative environmental perceptions of climbers positively influence their flow experiences [7].”
From Restorative environmental perception’s influence on post-tour behavior of desert off-road self-driving tourists: the mediating role of flow experience (2023) · cites this paper as [7]
Restorative environmental perception affects visitors' flow experiences.
“Restorative environmental perception affects visitors' flow experiences [7] and post-tour behaviors [1], but it is unclear how restorative environmental perception affects visitors' flow experiences and post-tour behaviors during desert off-road self-driving tours.”
From Restorative environmental perception’s influence on post-tour behavior of desert off-road self-driving tourists: the mediating role of flow experience (2023) · cites this paper as [7]
The coherence dimension had no significant effect on mountaineering activities.
“Wöran and Arnberger [7] confirmed that the coherence dimension had no significant effect on mountaineering activities”
From Restorative environmental perception’s influence on post-tour behavior of desert off-road self-driving tourists: the mediating role of flow experience (2023) · cites this paper as [7]
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- Authors
- Wöran, B., & Arnberger, A.
- Affiliations
- BOKU University (AT)
- ORCID
- Arnberger, Arne
- Venue
- Leisure Sciences
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2012-03
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 95-114
- ISSN
- 0149-0400 (ISSN-L)
- 1521-0588
- OpenAlex
- W2159125774
- Cited by
- 124
- References
- 60
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 4.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Leisure Sciences (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Recreation, Leisure, Wilderness Management
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Flow Experience in Various Fields
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Urban Green Space and Health
- Keywords
- recreation specialization, restorative environments, flow experience, mountain hiking, mountain huts, being away, fascination, compatibility, Salzkammergut
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