Assessing the impact of outdoor recreational activities on the development of mental resilience among university students: an empirical case study of UiTM Puncak Alam, Malaysia

Resilience is a key determinant of well-being, particularly in helping students cope with academic and personal pressures. This study examined the influence of outdoor recreational activities on the development of mental resilience among university students at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Puncak Alam, Malaysia. A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed, with 377 students participating. Two validated instruments were used: the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CDRISC-10) and the Outdoor Recreation Self-Efficacy (ORSE) Scale. Descriptive analysis showed that the most common activities were hiking (52.5%), kayaking (37.4%), and abseiling (28.9%). Pearson correlation indicated a moderate positive relationship between participation in outdoor recreation and mental resilience (r = .46, p < .001). Multiple regression analysis further demonstrated that participation in outdoor recreation was a significant predictor of resilience (β = .42, p < .001), accounting for 21.3% of the variance in resilience scores. These findings suggest that engaging in outdoor activities contributes meaningfully to students’ psychological strength and coping abilities. Universities are encouraged to integrate outdoor recreation into student development programs to enhance mental health and resilience. Future longitudinal research is recommended to examine the long-term effects of such interventions.