Exploring Mental Health Outcome Variables in Outdoor Adventure and Experiential Education

Bibliographic Data

ID21634451
AuthorsCurt Davidson (0000-0002-4671-4856, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA, corresponding author), Alan Ewert (0000-0002-8126-0300, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA)
Year2024
Volume47
Issue2
Pages185-190
Publication date2024-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Experiential Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1053-8259 • E-ISSN: 2169-009X
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/10538259231226315
OpenAlexW4390979185
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited10

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many facets of outdoor adventure and experiential education (OAEE) programs. Using past literature, four variables represent important student outcome variables associated with OAEE programs. Purpose: This study examined the effects of participation in an OAEE program on levels of anxiety, depression, hope, and resilience. Methods: This study used online data collection software with a 30-item inventory to measure the selected variables. Using a retrospective predesign, data were collected and analyzed using repeated measure t-tests. Findings: Results suggest that OAEE programs can effectively enhance an individual's ability to cope with anxiety and hopelessness while enhancing their levels of resilience

Adventure · Adventure Education · Anxiety · Data collection · Experiential education · Experiential learning · Medical education · Mental health · Outdoor education · Pedagogy · Psychiatry · Psychological resilience · Social science · Sociology · Adventure Sports and Sensation Seeking · Applied Psychology · Clinical Psychology · Medicine · Outdoor and Experiential Education · Psychology · Social Psychology · Youth Development and Social Support

Tools

Open DOI