The second  of a suite of reports analysing the SPANS 2023/24 large-scale population survey  data has just been published. It looks at Health and Wellbeing.

Four thematic reports are being compiled summarising the data. Outdoor Recreation came out earlier in 2025. Equality and Diversity and Connection to Nature thematic reports will be published soon.

Important and interesting highlights from the Health and Wellbeing report include:

Health related factors emerge as strong influences on people’s decision to take visits outdoors

• 84% of visits were motivated by health or wellbeing.
• Visits including wildlife watching, taking photos, having a picnic or sightseeing were more likely to be motivated by mental health benefits. Activities like running and cycling were motivated by physical health benefits.

People in Scotland recognise the mental and physical health benefits of outdoor recreation

• Almost all visits to the outdoors lift people’s mood and present an opportunity to exercise.
• 22% of visits seen as having contributed to mental health were initially taken for other reasons such as to enjoy pleasant weather or view wildlife. Similarly, 21% of visits seen as having contributed to physical health were taken for reasons other than exercise, such as walking a dog.

People who take part in outdoor recreation report higher levels of mental wellbeing

• While 23% of the total population are classified as having low mental wellbeing, this increases to 39% amongst those who never take part in outdoor recreation.
• People belonging to minority ethnic groups were more likely to report health benefits overall than white people. Similarly, younger people were more likely to report health benefits than older people.  

Local greenspaces are a vital resource of people’s physical and mental health. But the extent to which they can benefit from it is not experienced equally

• 85% of people agreed strongly or slightly that local greenspaces benefitted their health and wellbeing.
• The extent to which people identified the health benefits of their local greenspaces varied depending on current health status. People in poor health were less likely (74%) to agree that their local greenspaces  benefitted their health and wellbeing than those who rated their health as very good (91%)
• People who were satisfied with the quality of their local greenspace were also much more likely (96%) to agree that it benefitted their health and wellbeing than those who were dissatisfied (51%). 

The full Headline and Technical Reports were published in 2024. We look forward to reviewing the Equality and Diversity and Connection to Nature thematic reports due to be published soon.