Effects of Acculturation and Access on Recreation Participation Among Latinos

Latinos’ utilization of natural environments in urban areas is affected by a myriad of factors, including acculturation levels and access to natural environments. This study examined the differences in access to natural environments and acculturation levels among Latinos residing in two urban communities and explored the determinants of recreation participation in natural environments. Questionnaires were randomly distributed to 392 Latino households. Descriptive statistics, parametric tests, multiple linear regressions, and binary logistic regressions were utilized in the analyses. Significant differences were found between Latinos residing in the two communities in terms of demographics, acculturation, and access to natural environments, which impacted their frequency of participation in various recreational activities. A major finding of this study was that access to natural environments significantly increases the likelihood of recreation participation. Future interventions may need to focus on increasing access to natural environments in Latino communities.