A South African exploration into outdoor adventure education and adolescent psychosocial development. Issue 5 (2nd September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Blaine, Judith; Akhurst, Jacqui
• Is Part Of: Journal of psychology in Africa. Volume 30:Issue 5(2020)
• Page Start: 440
• Page End: 450
• Publication Date: 2020-09-02
• Subjects: adolescent psychosocial competencies -- adolescent well-being -- outdoor adventure education; Psychology -- Africa, Sub-Saharan -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Latin America -- Periodicals; Black people -- Latin America -- Psychology -- Periodicals; Black people -- Africa, Sub-Saharan -- Psychology -- Periodicals; 155.8496
• DOI: 10.1080/14330237.2020.1821311
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-0237

Abstract

Abstract : This study explored the psychosocial outcomes of an outdoor adventure program for adolescents. A purposive sample of 144 Grade 10 learners participated in the Journey outdoor adventure education (OAE) programme (female = 48.6%, black = 27.5%; mean age =16.5 years; SD = 3.45 years). Applying a pre- and post-test quasi-experimental design, the adolescents completed self-report measures (including the Life Effectiveness Questionnaire, Emotional Literacy Questionnaire, and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale) at three points in time: pre- and post- Journey, and four months later. Results following ANOVA analysis indicated increases in the adolescents' self-reports of life effectiveness and resilience (but not of emotional literacy) on completion of the programme. Findings suggest that a strength-based OAE would enhance psychosocial outcomes of adolescent school learners.