Leisure Activities and Recreation Facilities in Nigeria: Implications …
59
to measure willingness to engage in leisure activities, Ajzen and Driver (1991) found
that consequential positive impact on health behaviour is a major reason for people
to recreate. In 2019, applying the same TPB but on a different sample population,
Li, Hsu and Lin also reported a similar outcome from their research. Laird et al.
(2018) proved that the social support theory could show that participation in physical activities improved overall physical and mental performance of participants.
From the perspective of preventive health, researchers have been able to use some
theories to predict people’s willingness to participate in LTPA (Beville 2010). The
Health Belief Model developed by Becker in 1974 was based on using probability and
the consequence grid to predict health-promoting behaviours of humans (Corcoran
2007, p. 15–17). However, the efficacy of the model to predict and influence physical activity behaviour has been queried (Hosseini et al. 2017; Sas-Nowosielski et al.
2013).
From the perspective of cognitive behaviour, the Social Cognitive Theory has
been found to be useful. Lee et al. (2018) demonstrated the usefulness of the theory
to implement effective physical activity programmes, while Winters et al. (2003)
and White et al. (2012) measured and explained physical activity behaviour successfully using the theory’s framework. Beville (2010) noted that health behaviour theories and models would continue to provide veritable frameworks for the study of
LPTA. Social Cognitive Theory has been applied in built environment literature too.
Built environment refers to the part of the environment that is made or developed
by man. In a community, this will cover the house and road designs, lay-bys and
walkways, gardens and green parks, streetlights, drainage system, and leisure and
recreation facilities. The summation of findings is that the built environment influences the health-promoting behaviour (National Institute of Health 2008). Yu et al.
(2020) and Gomes et al. (2016) provided significant scientific evidence that strongly
correlated built environment with LTPA. Ashraf et al. (2017), guided by Kim and
Kaplan’s theory of 2004, established that the SOC was linked to the built environment
in communities with residents apparently more willing to uphold common values.
Similarly, Farahani and Lozanovska (2014) proved the strong relationship between
the built environment and the SOC and showed that a buoyant social life was an
added benefit. Evidently, the built environment impacts on many domestic choices
made daily, including the degree of physical activities in which people engage in the
community and the level of community ties that is experienced. Clearly, there are
attendant community health implications for the built environment.
5 Addressing the Nigeria Situation
The SDoH receive little attention from policy-makers in Nigeria (Rispel et al. 2009,
cited by Kusimo 2015). Unfortunately, the Nigeria situation is worsened by the
deplorable health indices and the high health inequity it has. Adewole and Osungbade
(2016), Anekoson (2013), Muhammad et al. (2017), and Ibama et al. (2015) have
all painted the gloomy picture of the current state of health. Hence, attainment of
59
to measure willingness to engage in leisure activities, Ajzen and Driver (1991) found
that consequential positive impact on health behaviour is a major reason for people
to recreate. In 2019, applying the same TPB but on a different sample population,
Li, Hsu and Lin also reported a similar outcome from their research. Laird et al.
(2018) proved that the social support theory could show that participation in physical activities improved overall physical and mental performance of participants.
From the perspective of preventive health, researchers have been able to use some
theories to predict people’s willingness to participate in LTPA (Beville 2010). The
Health Belief Model developed by Becker in 1974 was based on using probability and
the consequence grid to predict health-promoting behaviours of humans (Corcoran
2007, p. 15–17). However, the efficacy of the model to predict and influence physical activity behaviour has been queried (Hosseini et al. 2017; Sas-Nowosielski et al.
2013).
From the perspective of cognitive behaviour, the Social Cognitive Theory has
been found to be useful. Lee et al. (2018) demonstrated the usefulness of the theory
to implement effective physical activity programmes, while Winters et al. (2003)
and White et al. (2012) measured and explained physical activity behaviour successfully using the theory’s framework. Beville (2010) noted that health behaviour theories and models would continue to provide veritable frameworks for the study of
LPTA. Social Cognitive Theory has been applied in built environment literature too.
Built environment refers to the part of the environment that is made or developed
by man. In a community, this will cover the house and road designs, lay-bys and
walkways, gardens and green parks, streetlights, drainage system, and leisure and
recreation facilities. The summation of findings is that the built environment influences the health-promoting behaviour (National Institute of Health 2008). Yu et al.
(2020) and Gomes et al. (2016) provided significant scientific evidence that strongly
correlated built environment with LTPA. Ashraf et al. (2017), guided by Kim and
Kaplan’s theory of 2004, established that the SOC was linked to the built environment
in communities with residents apparently more willing to uphold common values.
Similarly, Farahani and Lozanovska (2014) proved the strong relationship between
the built environment and the SOC and showed that a buoyant social life was an
added benefit. Evidently, the built environment impacts on many domestic choices
made daily, including the degree of physical activities in which people engage in the
community and the level of community ties that is experienced. Clearly, there are
attendant community health implications for the built environment.
5 Addressing the Nigeria Situation
The SDoH receive little attention from policy-makers in Nigeria (Rispel et al. 2009,
cited by Kusimo 2015). Unfortunately, the Nigeria situation is worsened by the
deplorable health indices and the high health inequity it has. Adewole and Osungbade
(2016), Anekoson (2013), Muhammad et al. (2017), and Ibama et al. (2015) have
all painted the gloomy picture of the current state of health. Hence, attainment of