Relationship between Participation in Outdoor Recreation Activities and Academic Performance among University Students

Participation in outdoor recreation activities (ORA’s) has been widely studied for its significant effects on students’ well-being and school life. However, little is known about the effects of students’ participation in ORA’s and their academic performances. This research focuses on assessing the effects of outdoor recreational activities on students’ academic performance. A quantitative approach employing Pearson correlation was used to assess the relationship between outdoor recreational activity participation and student academic outcomes. Data were gathered through simple random sampling, with 78 respondents from Sokoine University of Agriculture participating. The Grade Point Average (GPA) was used as a measure of academic performance, while factors such as type of recreational activity, frequency of participation, and motivation were highlighted. Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between academic performance and participation in ORA’s, indicating participation does not always lead to positive outcomes. The study, however, provided recommendations for educators, policymakers, and other stakeholders interested in developing recreation activities in educational environment settings.