Adventure, Etc.--a health-promotion program for chronically ill and disabled youth

Adolescents with a chronic illness or physical disability have a more difficult time separating from parents, achieving a sense of mastery, developing social skills among peers, and achieving a positive body-image than do able-bodied adolescents. To promote attainment of these developmental tasks, Adventure, Etc. was created as a wilderness/urban Outward Bound experience for chronically ill, physically disabled, and able-bodied teens. Pre- and posttesting and interviewing assessed locus of control, self-image, family environment, and family dynamics. Over a two-year period, 37 teens completed the program and were tested; 23 were chronically ill or disabled. The chronically ill/disabled group showed a significant increase in internal locus of control. No change was found in the able-bodied group. Both the able-bodied and the disabled/chronically ill groups showed a significant improvement in body image. Reported family conflict declined, as did family recreational involvement, while individual recreational activities among these adolescents increased. Based on these results, new follow-up activities for the parents and adolescents were initiated to further the gains of program participants.