The Effect of Therapeutic Wilderness Programs on Mental Health and Academic Performance of At-Risk Adolescents
Author: Madelyn Wheeler
Publisher:
Published: 2017
Total Pages: 36
ISBN-13:
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThe purpose of this meta-analysis was to research a possible relationship between academic performance of at-risk adolescents and their successful completion of a term in a wilderness therapy program. In this paper, the mental and cognitive aspects of academic performance are examined in relation to the effects of therapeutic wilderness programs on at-risk students. Academic performance is centered on the emotional stability of one’s health combined with one’s personality and one’s personal experience while learning (Angelkoska, Stankovska, and Dimititroviski, 2015). Depression, stress, anxiety, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are the four mental health challenges investigated for this study. The research suggests that all four of these mental disabilities greatly affect academic performance for students. Wilderness therapy programs offer a unique experience for at-risk adolescence which involves intensive therapy sessions and lengthy excursions in a natural environment. It has been found that wilderness therapy programs are successful because the participants are out of their normal environment and typical standards, and are in a neutral environment that allows them to rehabilitate using the natural healings and consequences of being out in mother-nature. This meta-analysis suggests that a positive correlation likely exists between completion of a wilderness therapy term and improved academic performance post completion for at-risk adolescents; further study is recommended.--Abstract