Effects of Adaptive Outdoor Recreation on Sense of Community within Individuals with Disabilities

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.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Department dc:contributor.department

Recreation and Leisure Studies

Grantor dc:publisher

East Carolina University

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Harris, Ray

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• David Loy

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Kindal Shores
• Edwin Gomez

• Recreation

Language dc:language.iso

English

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10342/14722

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:thescholarship.ecu.edu:10342/14722