title: An outdoor adventure program for young adults with cancer: positive effects on body image and psychosocial functioning.
abstract: This study evaluated the psychological effects of an outdoor adventure program on young adult cancer survivors (ages 18-39). The 6-day adventure program included personal instruction and supervision on the basics of kayaking, surfing, or climbing. Compared to a wait-list control group, participants who took part in the program for the first time had improved (relative to pretest) body image, self-compassion and self-esteem, and less depression and alienation. Participants who took part for the second time, though also helped by the program in similar ways, were no better off psychologically than participants who took part for the first time. Possible explanations for the positive effects and their apparent short duration are offered.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry , University of California-San Francisco , San Francisco , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Robin S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: Whitney
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: Brad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zebrack
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moulton
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kosslyn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D057173:Recreation Therapy; D012649:Self Concept; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: adventure therapy; body image; cancer survivors; depression; self-compassion; young adult