The relationship between social support correlates and feelings of loneliness among male UK recreational anglers

Mike Trott*, Mark Tully, Andy Torrance, Lee Smith, Lindsay Bottoms (Editor), Jonathan Sinclair (Editor), Daniel Muniz Pumares (Editor), Jon Brazier (Editor), Michael Price (Editor)

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

The benefits of access to blue spaces (exposure to aquatic environments) have been well reported. One common activity conducted in these spaces is recreational angling. Studies have shown that several correlates are associated with recreational angling, including a lower incidence of anxiety disorders compared to non-anglers. What is currently unknown is how measures of social support relate to feelings of loneliness in this population. The aim of this study, therefore, is to examine experiences of loneliness and social support in male UK anglers. In total, 1752 participants completed an online survey. The results of this study showed that the higher the number of friends or family that anglers hear from and feel close to, the less likely they are to report a lack of companionship, the less likely they are to report feeling left out, and the less likely they are to report feelings of isolation. Furthermore, more than half of the sample reported hardly ever or never having feelings of loneliness, suggesting that recreational angling does not affect feelings of loneliness.

Original languageEnglish
Article number5997
Number of pages6
JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume20
Issue number11
Early online date30 May 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01 Jun 2023

Keywords

  • loneliness
  • angling
  • friend
  • fishing
  • relative

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