IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v153y2023ics0190740923002402.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How adolescents view the role of the wilderness in wilderness therapy: “I am in the middle of nowhere and that is okay”

Author

Listed:
  • Tucker, Anita R.
  • DeMille, Steven
  • Newman, Tarkington J.
  • Polachi Atanasova, Christina
  • Bryan, Philip
  • Keefe, Mackenzie
  • Smitherman, Lee

Abstract

Wilderness therapy (WT) has become recognized as an innovative treatment option for struggling adolescents. Several WT studies identify the unique elements of WT programs, examining how they contribute to outcomes. What has not been clearly determined is the role of the wilderness in a WT program. The current study was conducted at a wilderness therapy program in southern Utah and explores the role of the wilderness for adolescents who completed the program. Participants graduating from this program were recruited to participate in phenomenological focus group interviews to gather data. An inductive thematic analysis found four themes related to the wilderness setting including: being removed from prior distractions, the novel environment, challenging experiences, and feelings of awe in the wilderness. These findings support previous research by Russell and Gillis (2017) while also highlighting young participant’s perspectives of the role of wilderness in their treatment process.

Suggested Citation

  • Tucker, Anita R. & DeMille, Steven & Newman, Tarkington J. & Polachi Atanasova, Christina & Bryan, Philip & Keefe, Mackenzie & Smitherman, Lee, 2023. "How adolescents view the role of the wilderness in wilderness therapy: “I am in the middle of nowhere and that is okay”," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:153:y:2023:i:c:s0190740923002402
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107045
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740923002402
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107045?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Harper, N.J. & Mott, A.J. & Obee, P., 2019. "Client perspectives on wilderness therapy as a component of adolescent residential treatment for problematic substance use and mental health issues," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 1-1.
    2. Wilson, Sandra Jo & Lipsey, Mark W., 2000. "Wilderness challenge programs for delinquent youth: a meta-analysis of outcome evaluations," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 1-12, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Parker D. Houston & Joshua J. Knabb & Robert K. Welsh & Beth M. Houskamp & David Brokaw, 2010. "Wilderness Therapy as a Specialized Competency," International Journal of Psychological Studies, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 2(2), pages 1-52, December.
    2. Deane, Kelsey L. & Harré, Niki, 2014. "Program theory-driven evaluation science in a youth development context," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 61-70.
    3. Adriano Bressane & Rogério Galante Negri & Irineu de Brito Junior & Liliam César de Castro Medeiros & Isabela Lopes Lima Araújo & Mirela Beatriz Silva & Amanda Louisi dos Santos Galvão & Graziele Cora, 2022. "Association between Contact with Nature and Anxiety, Stress and Depression Symptoms: A Primary Survey in Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-10, August.
    4. Ragnfrid Eline Kogstad & Rita Agdal & Mark Steven Hopfenbeck, 2014. "Narratives of Natural Recovery: Youth Experience of Social Inclusion through Green Care," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-17, June.
    5. Erika E. Atienzo & Susan K. Baxter & Eva Kaltenthaler, 2017. "Interventions to prevent youth violence in Latin America: a systematic review," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 62(1), pages 15-29, January.
    6. Parry, Benjamin J. & Quinton, Mary L. & Holland, Mark J.G. & Thompson, Janice L. & Cumming, Jennifer, 2021. "Improving outcomes in young people experiencing homelessness with My Strengths Training for Life™ (MST4Life™): A qualitative realist evaluation," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    7. de Vries, Sanne L.A. & Hoeve, Machteld & Wibbelink, Carlijn J.M. & Asscher, Jessica J. & Stams, Geert Jan J.M., 2017. "A randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of the youth crime prevention program ‘New Perspectives’ (NP): Post-treatment changes and moderator effects," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 413-426.
    8. Archana Singh, 2019. "Exploring the Relationship between Youth Leadership and Sustainability with Mediation Effects from an Indian Perspective using Path Way Analysis," Indian Journal of Commerce and Management Studies, Educational Research Multimedia & Publications,India, vol. 10(1), pages 13-22, January.
    9. Lin Dong & Zuobao Wang & Yuxiang Zhou, 2023. "Public Participation and the Effect of Environmental Governance in China: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-16, March.
    10. Harper, Nevin J., 2017. "Wilderness therapy, therapeutic camping and adventure education in child and youth care literature: A scoping review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 68-79.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:153:y:2023:i:c:s0190740923002402. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/childyouth .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.