The quality of life among visitors of recreational parks: a case study of recreational parks in Temerloh Town, Pahang, Malaysia

Abstract

Recreational parks are important in encouraging physical activities and social relationship among the community as well as to improve the quality of life (QoL) of the community through their participation in the parks. Quality of life can be incorporated into the ideas of expectation and satisfaction, which covers physical, social and health aspects. Participation in leisure or recreation activities is considered by many researchers as an essential component of an individual’s sense of QoL. A study had been carried out in Temerloh town to study the QoL impact of the recreation parks. A questionnaire survey was carried out among the visitors to examine the expectation and satisfaction of respondents (visitors) on the three aspects of QoL, i.e. physical, social and health. As a result, the study found that respondents were having lower “satisfaction” scores as compared to the scores for “expectation” on average. It shows a low level of QoL for the study areas. Furthermore, the study also found that the satisfaction of respondents on physical aspects was positively and significantly correlated to the social aspects of QoL. Thus, the physical aspects of recreation parks were potentially impacting the social aspects of QoL among respondents who used the parks. It is suggested that recreational parks should be improved especially the physical aspects, i.e. safety and physical facilities for the purpose to increase the QoL of the users including the community interaction, family life and health.