Process factors explaining psycho-social outcomes in adventure therapy

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Therapeutic Interventions
• Substance Use Disorder Treatment

Background:

• Adventure therapy is a growing field, but its therapeutic factors require empirical validation.
• The Adventure Therapy Experience Scale (ATES) was developed to quantitatively assess these factors.
• Understanding ATES factors' impact on treatment outcomes is crucial for optimizing interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To utilize the ATES to explore how its factors impact treatment outcomes in a substance use disorder (SUD) program.
• To empirically test the contribution of ATES factors to treatment progress over time.
• To examine the relationship between specific ATES subscales and psycho-social functioning improvements.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 168 males in a 90-day adventure-based SUD residential program participated.
• Routine outcome monitoring used the Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-45.2) at intake, bi-weekly, and discharge.
• The 18-item ATES was administered bi-weekly, measuring helpfulness, mindfulness, group adventure, nature, challenge, and reflection.

Main Results:

• Clients demonstrated significant average improvement in psycho-social functioning (OQ-45.2 scores).
• Higher weekly helpfulness, mindfulness, and group adventure scores were associated with greater OQ score reductions.
• Elevated aggregate helpfulness and group adventure scores throughout treatment predicted more substantial psycho-social improvements.

Conclusions:

• Adventure therapy, particularly its group adventure component, positively influences SUD treatment outcomes.
• The ATES is a valuable tool for monitoring therapeutic factors and predicting treatment success.
• Findings support the integration of specific adventure therapy experiences to enhance SUD treatment efficacy.