The Summit of Strength: How alpine sports promote resilience, wellbeing and morale among athletes

This master's thesis examines the influence of alpine sports and experiences in nature on the emotional resilience of recreational athletes. The central question is whether athletic activity in the Alpine outdoors, compared to indoor sports, has positive effects on resilience, mood, the experience of flow, connection to nature, and social motivation. The thesis is based on a quantitative online study involving 146 participants from Tyrol. The results show no significant differences in general resilience between the groups; however, alpine sports had significantly more positive effects on mood, flow experiences, and connection to nature. This study highlights the importance of contact with nature and outdoor physical activity as potential protective factors for mental well-being and provides starting points for future research in the field of sports and health psychology.