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Aims: This paper discusses the use of ethnographic approaches to explore how engagement with natural landscapes might benefit people's health., Methods: Drawing on a selected review of empirical research we identified 30 relevant research papers that utilised qualitative methods to explore health issues and engagement with nature. Three examples of 'alternative' - i.e. non-mainstream qualitative approaches - are used to illustrate how different methods can be used to explore people's experiences of engaging with nature for health., Results: While quantitative methods are dominant in health research, qualitative approaches are becoming more widely used. Approaches such as autoethnography can add value to nature and health studies by providing opportunities for researchers to be self-critical of their role as a researcher. Accompanied visits and visual ethnography can afford the researcher rich data about bodily movement, facial expressions and journeys, as well as dialogues associated with the meanings of nature for health., Conclusions: The paper concludes by suggesting that ethnographic methods can provide useful and important insights into why people engage with the natural environment and the range of health benefits they may gain from contact with nature.

Background: Although the benefits of leisure activities are well known, few instruments have been specifically designed to measure a person's engagement in their leisure activities and to assess the personal or environmental factors affecting their capacity to participate in leisure activities., Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present the steps leading to the development of the Profil du Loisir between 1990 and 2002., Methods: The planning, construction, and validation of the tool were done according to the steps suggested by Benson and Clark (1982). The first versions were tested by occupational therapists on individuals with traumatic brain injuries., Results: The validation led to the development of the final version (3.0). The inter-rater reliability of the instrument was rated from acceptable (kappa 0.21-0.4) to very good (0.61-0.80) and the test-retest reliability was rated from acceptable to moderate (0.41-0.60)., Clinical Implications: The Profil du Loisir is a promising tool that invites occupational therapists to systematically consider and assess client leisure time in their practice.

The present study examines adolescents' part-time work intensity and its relation to participation in various activities as well as substance use. We consider mechanisms articulated in two theoretical perspectives on how high work intensity is associated with substance use: (1) the "time trade-off perspective," and (2) "the precocious development perspective." Nationally representative data were drawn from the "Monitoring the Future" project from 8th, 10th and 12th grade students (overall N approximately 380,000) to address our research questions. Work intensity was found to be linked to more time spent on unstructured social activities, but to less time spent engaged in sports, health behaviors, and school-related activities. Social time use and health behaviors were found to partially mediate the relationship between work hours and substance use. Overall, results provide evidence for a combination of both perspectives.