Proximal and Distal Contributions of a Recreation Camp for Youth with Serious Illnesses and Disabilities
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21559906 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Daphna Gross-Manos (Tel Hai Academic College, corresponding author), Daphna Gross‐mano (0000-0002-3965-5958), Ayelet Gur (0000-0002-5764-0653, Tel Hai Academic College) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Publication date | 2026-03-19 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0738-0151 • E-ISSN: 1573-2797 |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1007/s10560-026-01098-2 |
| OpenAlex | W7138942571 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 25 |
Recreational camps for children and youth with chronic illnesses and disabilities offer tailored physical and social activities. While research highlights proximal psychological and social benefits, less is known about the mechanisms behind these effects and their potential for distal effect for well-being. This study investigates the mechanisms through which recreation camps benefit children and youth with chronic illnesses and disabilities. It also examines possible distal impacts of camp participation from the perspectives of youth interviewed several months after their stay. A qualitative study was conducted with 30 participants aged 10–20 who attended a three- to five-day residential camp during the previous 6 to 10 months. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Two main themes emerged. The first reflected personal and social empowerment, with participants describing various effects that extended beyond camp. The second identified four key factors supporting this empowerment: sustained joy, supportive and accessible environments, a sense of peer belonging, and meaningful counselor relationships. By fostering ongoing joy and social connection, the camp enabled participants to stay present while alleviating daily concerns, supported both physically and emotionally. These insights offer a deeper understanding of how camps contribute to youth well-being beyond short-term outcomes. The findings provide practical guidance for developing camps and similar interventions supporting children and youth with chronic illnesses and disabilities, relevant to both camp settings and broader youth services
Positive Youth Development · Psychological intervention · Qualitative property · Qualitative research · Recreation · Social support · Thematic analysis · Autoimmune and Inflammatory Disorders Research · Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders · Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life
Healing Rites of Passage
Conducting Semi‐Structured Interviews
The broaden–and–build theory of positive emotions
Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis
A longitudinal evaluation of an intensive residential intervention (camp) for 12–16 year olds living with HIV in the UK
Strengthening youth participation in civic engagement
When I went to camp, it made me free”
Camp experiences in the lives of adolescents with serious illnesses
Naturalistic inquiry
Outcomes and Processes at a Camp for Youth With HIV/Aids
The need to belong
Inviting the messy
| Highly cited | No |
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