The Effects of Surfing and the Natural Environment on the Well-Being of Combat Veterans

“In contrast, psychological well-being involves experiences of psychological growth and the fulfilment of human potential (Ryff, 1989; Ryff & Singer, 1998).”

“Following Ryan and Deci (2001), we understand wellbeing as a multidimensional conceptualization of psychological health consisting of two broad categories: subjective well-being and psychological well-being.”

“In contrast, psychological well-being involves experiences of psychological growth and the fulfilment of human potential (Ryff, 1989; Ryff & Singer, 1998).”

“Moreover, the need for support is reinforced by suggestions that the prevalence of PTSD among U.S. troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan could be as high as 31% (Tanielian & Jaycox, 2008).”

“Our research adds to the emerging literature on naturebased physical activity (e.g., Coon et al., 2011; Mitchell, 2013; Pretty et al., 2005) by showing how benefits to subjective well-being are grounded in the participants’ embodied lived experiences of movement in and through nature.”

“Our research adds to the emerging literature on naturebased physical activity (e.g., Coon et al., 2011; Mitchell, 2013; Pretty et al., 2005) by showing how benefits to subjective well-being are grounded in the participants’ embodied lived experiences of movement in and through nature.”

“One environment that has stimulated researchers’ interest in terms of possibilities for promoting psychological health is the coastal or water environment (e.g., Wheeler, White, Stahl-Timmins, & Depledge, 2012; White et al., 2010).”

“Our findings are also pertinent to the large and growing literature on PTSD and alternative treatments for veterans experiencing it (e.g., Bisson et al., 2007; Cukor, Spitalnick, Difede, Rizzo, & Rothbaum, 2009).”

“Bury’s (1991) notion of adaptation to chronic illness might be usefully applied here.”

“In a DNA, as described by Frank (2010, 2012), the analyst examines stories not as mere products of telling, but as “actors” that do things for and to people.”

“Viewed phenomenologically, respite involved a shift in intentionality that disrupted the persistent ruminations that researchers have deemed responsible for preserving and maintaining PTSD (Cann et al., 2011; Michael, Halligan, Clark, & Ehlers, 2007).”

“For example, researchers have suggested that contact with nature can replenish depleted cognitive attention (Hartig & Staats, 2006) and help cultivate general feelings of vitality and well-being (Cervinka, Röderer, & Hefler, 2011; Ryan et al., 2010).”

“In the United Kingdom, researchers have indicated that the rate of PTSD among combat-deployed troops is around 6.9% (Fear et al., 2010); however, given the widely reported influence of stigma in restricting service members, both active and retired, from seeking treatment for PTSD (e.g., Green,…”

“That veterans took to surfing in this way is perhaps not surprising, given that throwing themselves into a physical challenge was a response embedded within their military past and in their embodied history of actions and interactions in that context (Crossley, 2011).”

“Whereas the potential for physical activity to influence well-being has been well established (e.g., Biddle & Mutrie, 2008), there is a paucity of empirical evidence concerning the additional effects of physical activity undertaken in the natural environment (Coon et al., 2011).”

“Our research adds to the emerging literature on naturebased physical activity (e.g., Coon et al., 2011; Mitchell, 2013; Pretty et al., 2005) by showing how benefits to subjective well-being are grounded in the participants’ embodied lived experiences of movement in and through nature.”

“For example, researchers have suggested that contact with nature can replenish depleted cognitive attention (Hartig & Staats, 2006) and help cultivate general feelings of vitality and well-being (Cervinka, Röderer, & Hefler, 2011; Ryan et al., 2010).”

“A narrative approach involves studying the stories people tell of their life and experiences (Smith & Sparkes, 2009).”

“, and that people in coastal communities tend to enjoy better overall health than people who live further inland (Wheeler et al., 2012).”

“Forms of health work mentioned by the veterans (in addition to going surfing) included going for walks, relaxing and playing guitar, practicing mindful meditation (Keng, Smoski, & Robins, 2011), and being in nature (Cervinka et al., 2011).”

“Furthermore, in DNA stories are understood as artful representations of people’s lives (Frank, 2012).”

“Research conducted with combat veterans has revealed that PTSD is associated with diminished well-being, poorer mental and physical health functioning, and increased risk of suicide (e.g., Jakupcak et al., 2009; Vasterling et al., 2008).”

“In each of these encounters, Caddick encouraged participants to tell stories about how they had lived their life over time, providing us with detailed insight into their personal and social lives (Smith & Caddick, 2012; Sparkes & Smith, 2014).”

“…that physical activity can support and enhance people’s psychological health and wellbeing (e.g., Biddle & Mutrie, 2008; Carless & Douglas, 2010; Reed & Buck, 2009), researchers have begun to explore the psychological effects of physical activity in natural environments such as parks,…”

“According to Merleau-Ponty, sensory perception is tied to bodily movement, “and all bodily movement is accompanied by intentionality which lies at the core of perception” (Hockey & Allen-Collinson, 2007; p. 117).”

“We also extend previous knowledge in the (collective) area of physical activity, combat veterans, and PTSD (see Caddick & Smith, 2014) by highlighting how nature-based physical activity can influence the well-being of combat veterans.”

“Being officially diagnosed with PTSD was not a requirement for inclusion in our study given that PTSD is a contested category of disorder and could arguably be viewed as the medicalization of veterans’ suffering (Summerfield, 2004).”

“For example, narratives can act by getting people to care about their health and by calling on them to adopt certain healthpromoting practices (Smith, 2013).”

“In surfing, there is an intertwining (Finlay, 2006; Merleau-Ponty, 1962) of the body with the natural world that results in embodied and sensory pleasures through the multisensorial stimulation of being active in nature.”

“Bringing physical activity into the picture, the recent conceptual notion of the “blue gym” (Depledge & Bird, 2009) could provide a way of combining physical activity with aquatic environments to influence well-being.”

“participants’ military careers (Green et al., 2010).”

“Research conducted with combat veterans has revealed that PTSD is associated with diminished well-being, poorer mental and physical health functioning, and increased risk of suicide (e.g., Jakupcak et al., 2009; Vasterling et al., 2008).”

“One way out of this dilemma (identified by the veterans themselves) might be to engage in what McCoy (2005) referred to as health work to bolster well-being in between surfing sessions.”

“Furthermore, like physical activity in general, our findings indicate that surfing might need to be practiced regularly to build and maintain well-being and to prevent veterans from spiraling toward chaos (Frank, 2013; Smith & Sparkes, 2011).”

“That is, going surfing enabled the participants to experience time in the present and keep the traumatic memories of the past from entering their thoughts and narrative consciousness (Sparkes & Smith, 2009).”

“Accompanying the medical model is a powerful narrative that acts to shape and constrain people’s stories about (and experiences of) mental health problems (Carless & Douglas, 2010).”

“Accompanying the medical model is a powerful narrative that acts to shape and constrain people’s stories about (and experiences of) mental health problems (Carless & Douglas, 2010).”

“exercise / physical activity; health and well-being; masculinity; narrative inquiry; phenomenology; posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) kayaking and fishing in lakes and rivers, or simply walking along the coast (Smith & Sparkes, 2012).”

“These included feeling ‘emotionally low’ during or post-intervention as identified by participants suffering from PTSD in a surf therapy programme (Caddick et al., 2015), by some survivors of breast cancer in DBR (Sabiston et al.”

“A study by Caddick et al. highlights how participation in team sports provides social support and a sense of belonging, which are particularly beneficial for those with PTSD [110].”