Promoting resilience and wellbeing through an outdoor intervention designed for Aboriginal adolescents
S D Ritchie1, M-J Wabano2, K Russell3
1935 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. sritchie@laurentian.ca.
Rural and Remote Health
|March 28, 2014
Summary
This study found that an outdoor adventure leadership experience (OALE) improved resilience in First Nations adolescents in the short term. However, resilience returned to baseline levels one year later, influenced by life stressors.
Area of Science:
- Indigenous Health Research
- Adolescent Mental Health
- Outdoor Education and Therapy
Background:
- First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people in Canada experience poorer health outcomes.
- First Nations adolescents on reserves face particular mental health challenges.
- Outdoor education and adventure therapy show promise but lack evidence for Indigenous youth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of an outdoor adventure leadership experience (OALE) on First Nations adolescent resilience and wellbeing.
- To assess the sustainability of OALE's impact.
- To identify factors influencing changes in resilience and wellbeing.
Main Methods:
- Mixed-method design evaluating a 10-day OALE program for adolescents in Wikwemikong.
- Resilience measured using the Resilience Scale (RS-14) at baseline, 1 month, and 1 year post-program.
- Exploratory measures included SF-12v2 Mental Component Score (MCS); open-ended questions explored intervening factors.
Main Results:
- Seventy-three adolescents participated; 80.8% provided baseline data.
- Mean RS-14 scores significantly improved from baseline to 1 month post-OALE (p=0.011).
- Resilience scores returned to baseline levels at 1 year; improved MCS scores were noted. Intervening factors included family changes and stressors.
Conclusions:
- The OALE program demonstrated short-term benefits for adolescent resilience in the Wikwemikong community.
- Long-term resilience gains were not sustained.
- Further research is needed to confirm OALE effectiveness in other Indigenous communities.
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