{"id":{"repo_id":"ecu","oai_identifier":"oai:thescholarship.ecu.edu:10342/14722"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/ecu/oai:thescholarship.ecu.edu:10342/14722","repository":{"repo_id":"ecu","name":"East Carolina University","base_url":"https://thescholarship.ecu.edu/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Effects of Adaptive Outdoor Recreation on Sense of Community within Individuals with Disabilities","abstract":"A sense of community (SOC) can be defined as a sense of belonging, commitment, and trust within group Membership (McMillan & Chavis, 1986), which is often fulfilled in many contexts, such as geographic (Zhang et al., 2022), online (Uçar et al., 2024), among individuals with disabilities (Ville et al., 2003), and surrounding specific recreation activities (Legg et al., 2017). While some studies have assessed how populations with disabilities experience SOC (Gur & Bina, 2022; Townley & Kloos, 2009; Ville et al., 2003), few have assessed possible connections and barriers to sense of belonging in those with disabilities. One possible bridge to this sense of community is adaptive recreation, which modifies an activity to accommodate participation by those with disabilities (Rogers et al., 2016; Tow et al., 2020; Williams et al., 2004). Perceived SOC may affect social inclusion, mental well-being, and belonging among the general population (McMillan & Chavis, 1986). However, these essential indicators are often lacking among individuals with disabilities, thus limiting opportunities for meaningful social connections and engagement in recreational settings (Bedini, 2000). Limited opportunities for recreational engagement can often lead to social isolation, lack of inclusion, and detriments to mental health among those with disabilities (Townley & Kloos, 2009). Examining the perceived sense of community in this population in a recreation context, specifically outdoor recreation (Rogers et al., 2016), and the communities that form around the activity, can help better understand the experience of individuals with disabilities. Therefore, this study aimed to examine adaptive outdoor recreation and SOC to better understand the social connections that empower people with disabilities. Applied implications will also be provided to extend results for researchers and outdoor recreation practitioners. While this study did not find any support for a positive relationship between participation in adaptive outdoor recreation and total SOC, there was support for various relationships between specific activities and SOC components. Research and practitioner recommendations are provided.","abstract_html":"A sense of community (SOC) can be defined as a sense of belonging, commitment, and trust within group Membership (McMillan & Chavis, 1986), which is often fulfilled in many contexts, such as geographic (Zhang et al., 2022), online (Uçar et al., 2024), among individuals with disabilities (Ville et al., 2003), and surrounding specific recreation activities (Legg et al., 2017). While some studies have assessed how populations with disabilities experience SOC (Gur & Bina, 2022; Townley & Kloos, 2009; Ville et al., 2003), few have assessed possible connections and barriers to sense of belonging in those with disabilities. One possible bridge to this sense of community is adaptive recreation, which modifies an activity to accommodate participation by those with disabilities (Rogers et al., 2016; Tow et al., 2020; Williams et al., 2004). Perceived SOC may affect social inclusion, mental well-being, and belonging among the general population (McMillan & Chavis, 1986). However, these essential indicators are often lacking among individuals with disabilities, thus limiting opportunities for meaningful social connections and engagement in recreational settings (Bedini, 2000). Limited opportunities for recreational engagement can often lead to social isolation, lack of inclusion, and detriments to mental health among those with disabilities (Townley & Kloos, 2009). Examining the perceived sense of community in this population in a recreation context, specifically outdoor recreation (Rogers et al., 2016), and the communities that form around the activity, can help better understand the experience of individuals with disabilities. Therefore, this study aimed to examine adaptive outdoor recreation and SOC to better understand the social connections that empower people with disabilities. Applied implications will also be provided to extend results for researchers and outdoor recreation practitioners. While this study did not find any support for a positive relationship between participation in adaptive outdoor recreation and total SOC, there was support for various relationships between specific activities and SOC components. Research and practitioner recommendations are provided.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Harris, Ray"],"institution":"East Carolina University","degree_name":"M.S.","degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":"Recreation and Leisure Studies","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["David Loy"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":["Kindal Shores","Edwin Gomez"],"year":2026,"date_issued":"2026-05","date_published":"2026-05","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:13:39Z","subjects":["Recreation"],"languages":["English"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/10342/14722","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["David Loy"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Kindal Shores","Edwin Gomez"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Recreation and Leisure Studies"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Harris, Ray"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2026-06-16T19:26:23Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2026-05"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["East Carolina University"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Master's Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["M.S."]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["East Carolina University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Recreation"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["English"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/10342/14722"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["A sense of community (SOC) can be defined as a sense of belonging, commitment, and trust within group Membership (McMillan & Chavis, 1986), which is often fulfilled in many contexts, such as geographic (Zhang et al., 2022), online (Uçar et al., 2024), among individuals with disabilities (Ville et al., 2003), and surrounding specific recreation activities (Legg et al., 2017). While some studies have assessed how populations with disabilities experience SOC (Gur & Bina, 2022; Townley & Kloos, 2009; Ville et al., 2003), few have assessed possible connections and barriers to sense of belonging in those with disabilities. One possible bridge to this sense of community is adaptive recreation, which modifies an activity to accommodate participation by those with disabilities (Rogers et al., 2016; Tow et al., 2020; Williams et al., 2004). Perceived SOC may affect social inclusion, mental well-being, and belonging among the general population (McMillan & Chavis, 1986). However, these essential indicators are often lacking among individuals with disabilities, thus limiting opportunities for meaningful social connections and engagement in recreational settings (Bedini, 2000). Limited opportunities for recreational engagement can often lead to social isolation, lack of inclusion, and detriments to mental health among those with disabilities (Townley & Kloos, 2009). Examining the perceived sense of community in this population in a recreation context, specifically outdoor recreation (Rogers et al., 2016), and the communities that form around the activity, can help better understand the experience of individuals with disabilities. Therefore, this study aimed to examine adaptive outdoor recreation and SOC to better understand the social connections that empower people with disabilities. Applied implications will also be provided to extend results for researchers and outdoor recreation practitioners. While this study did not find any support for a positive relationship between participation in adaptive outdoor recreation and total SOC, there was support for various relationships between specific activities and SOC components. Research and practitioner recommendations are provided."]},{"key":"dc:format.mimetype","label":"Dc Format Mimetype","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Effects of Adaptive Outdoor Recreation on Sense of Community within Individuals with Disabilities"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["David Loy"],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Kindal Shores","Edwin Gomez"],"dc:contributor.department":["Recreation and Leisure Studies"],"dc:creator":["Harris, Ray"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2026-06-16T19:26:23Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2026-05"],"dc:description.abstract":["A sense of community (SOC) can be defined as a sense of belonging, commitment, and trust within group Membership (McMillan & Chavis, 1986), which is often fulfilled in many contexts, such as geographic (Zhang et al., 2022), online (Uçar et al., 2024), among individuals with disabilities (Ville et al., 2003), and surrounding specific recreation activities (Legg et al., 2017). While some studies have assessed how populations with disabilities experience SOC (Gur & Bina, 2022; Townley & Kloos, 2009; Ville et al., 2003), few have assessed possible connections and barriers to sense of belonging in those with disabilities. One possible bridge to this sense of community is adaptive recreation, which modifies an activity to accommodate participation by those with disabilities (Rogers et al., 2016; Tow et al., 2020; Williams et al., 2004). Perceived SOC may affect social inclusion, mental well-being, and belonging among the general population (McMillan & Chavis, 1986). However, these essential indicators are often lacking among individuals with disabilities, thus limiting opportunities for meaningful social connections and engagement in recreational settings (Bedini, 2000). Limited opportunities for recreational engagement can often lead to social isolation, lack of inclusion, and detriments to mental health among those with disabilities (Townley & Kloos, 2009). Examining the perceived sense of community in this population in a recreation context, specifically outdoor recreation (Rogers et al., 2016), and the communities that form around the activity, can help better understand the experience of individuals with disabilities. Therefore, this study aimed to examine adaptive outdoor recreation and SOC to better understand the social connections that empower people with disabilities. Applied implications will also be provided to extend results for researchers and outdoor recreation practitioners. While this study did not find any support for a positive relationship between participation in adaptive outdoor recreation and total SOC, there was support for various relationships between specific activities and SOC components. Research and practitioner recommendations are provided."],"dc:format.mimetype":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/10342/14722"],"dc:language.iso":["English"],"dc:publisher":["East Carolina University"],"dc:subject":["Recreation"],"dc:title":["Effects of Adaptive Outdoor Recreation on Sense of Community within Individuals with Disabilities"],"dc:type":["Master's Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["M.S."],"thesis:institution_name":["East Carolina University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:13:39Z"}