Evaluating Perceptions of the Natural Environment in Relation to Outdoor Activities for a Healthy and Sustainable Life: A Delphi Methodological Approach

In recent years, many studies have been carried out regarding the benefits that nature could bring to people’s well-being. The research presented here applies the Delphi methodology to design a survey aimed at assessing the links between the natural environment, well-being and leisure, enriching the existing body of knowledge. Eighteen experts participated in this study with an integrated approach to sustainability terms. Two rounds of queries were put to the panel of experts between February and July 2021. In the first round, the experts identified the key aspects to be considered when studying the perception of natural environments related to well-being through outdoor activities. In the second query, the experts assessed the importance, relevance and clarity of the questions to be included in the survey. The survey was designed based on the results of these two rounds of queries. This methodology aims to gain a better understanding of the interrelation between people and the natural environment in order to determine the mechanisms by which a relationship with nature can improve people’s health, well-being and sustainable behaviours. The Delphi method could be employed for global research to validate this survey.