Effective coping strategies in stressful outdoor recreation situations: Conflict on the Ocoee River

This study was designed to identify conflict situations that cause stress, and predict appraisals of stress, coping strategies and outcomes of the coping process among private boaters on the Ocoee River in Tennessee. Results show that 72 percent of the respondents experienced conflict. Conflict was of moderate intensity and concern, boaters generally psychologically distanced themselves from it, exercised self-control, and in general, satisfaction with the experience was not adversely affected. However, additional statistical analyses failed to identify significant relationships.