Increasing resilience in adolescents: the importance of social connectedness in adventure education programmes.
OBJECTIVE
Mental health problems are a leading cause of health-related disability during adolescence. The objectives of the current study were to investigate whether participating in an adventure education programme (AEP) increased adolescents' resilience and elucidate how social connectedness contributes to any increase.


METHODS
Adolescents who participated in the AEP had their resilience measured on the first (Time 1) and last day (Time 2) of a 10-day voyage. Perceived social support and sense of belonging were also measured at Time 2. A control group of adolescents, who did not take part in the voyage, also had their resilience assessed at two time points, 10 days apart.


RESULTS
Adolescents who participated in the AEP, but not those in the control group, displayed an increase in resilience from Time 1 to Time 2. Further, the increase in resilience was related to the adolescents' sense of belonging, and this effect held when controlling for perceived social support.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings demonstrate the positive impact AEPs have on adolescents' resilience and a mechanism through which this occurs.
Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Damian
D
Scarf
Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Jillian G
JG
Hayhurst
Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Benjamin C
BC
Riordan
School of Physical Education, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Mike
M
Boyes
Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Ted
T
Ruffman
Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
John A
JA
Hunter
D000293:Adolescent; D004493:Education / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D009520:New Zealand; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D012933:Social Identification; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult
adolescence; mental health; psychological; psychology; resilience; social; social identification; social support