Satisfying psychological needs on the high seas: explaining increases self-esteem following an Adventure Education Programme

ABSTRACT

A number of recent studies have revealed that taking part in a sail-training-based Adventure Education Programme elevates youths’ self-esteem. Across two studies, we sought to examine the extent to which youths’ sense of belonging contributed to this increase in self-esteem. Study 1 revealed that participants who completed the voyage showed an increase in self-esteem from the first to the last day of the voyage. Partial correlation revealed that group belonging made a unique contribution to this change. Study 2 replicated Study 1 and, further, demonstrated that the relationship between group belonging and self-esteem was not a function of self-efficacy or group esteem. Such findings suggest that an important contributing factor to the benefits of sail-training interventions is their potential to satisfy psychological needs, in this case the need to belong.

KEYWORDS:

• Self-esteem
• sail training
• Adventure Education Programme
• Positive Youth Development
• belonging

Acknowledgments

Thank you to the Spirit of Adventure Trust. We would also like to thank the adolescents that participated.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Damian Scarf

Damian Scarf is a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology at the University of Otago. His research focuses on multiple aspects of positive youth development. In addition to publishing extensively, he has also communicated his research to academic audiences in over 50 conferences and to the general public through a number of different outlets including TEDx (see https://youtu.be/cbHBZWbEk8A).

Sarah Kafka

Sarah Kafka received her PhD from the University of Otago in 2015. Her research is concerned with self-esteem, media, belonging and intergroup behaviour.

Jill Hayhurst

Jill Hayhurst is a Research Fellow in the Department of Psychology at the University of Otago. Her research focuses on social development in infants and positive youth development.

Kyungho Jang

Kyungho Jang is a PhD student in the Department of Psychology at the University of Otago. His research focuses on the role of belonging and identity in positive youth development.

Mike Boyes

Mike Boyes is an associate professor in outdoor education at the School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. He holds a number of outdoor instructor awards and is a past chairperson of Education Outdoors New Zealand (EONZ) and Outdoors New Zealand (ONZ).

Ruth Thomson

Ruth Thomson is a dietician working for Southern District Health Board. She conducts extensive work with diabetic youth and has a keen interest in sailing and positive youth development.

John A. Hunter

John A. Hunter is an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Otago, Dunedin. His research focuses on the theoretical and practical ramifications of group-based behaviour, with a focus on intergroup discrimination, health-related outcomes, motivation and socialization. He has authored a large number of papers and also has a black belt in jiu-jitsu.