On-site optimal experiences and their relationship to off-site benefits

This paper examines: (a) the quantity of optimal experiences got during the on-site phase of outdoor recreation; (b) the quantity of benefits gotten o ff-site, during the recollection phase of outdoor recreation; and (c) the r elationship between (a) and (b). Optimal experiences-a psychological state considered to be special, meaningful, and/or out-of-the-ordinary-are charac terized by intense focus on a stimulus, an altered sense of time; and loss of-consciousness of the self. A three item scale, part of an on-site questi onnaire, was developed to measure the quantity of optimal experiences outdo or recreationists reported getting. The quantity of benefits recollected of f-site was measured using a follow-up, mail-out questionnaire (n = 169). Re gression analyses found significant relationships between the quantity of o ptimal experiences and the quantity of three benefit categories. With the h igher meaning and social interaction benefit categories, the relationships were quadratic; indicating that high quantities of optimal experience produ ced higher quantities of these benefit categories vs. very low, low, modera te, and very high quantities of optimal experience. This type of relationsh ip suggests that very high quantities of optimal experiences may result in disbenefits-possibly due to the addictive nature of very high quantities of optimal experiences. With the greater knowledge benefit category, the rela tionship was cubic; indicating that very low and high quantities of optimal experiences may produce higher quantities of this benefit category vs. low , moderate, and very high quantities of optimal experiences. Management imp lications and research recommendations are discussed.