The impact of short-term adventure-based outdoor programs on college students’ stress reduction

ABSTRACT

This study examines the effect of short-term adventure-based outdoor programs (AOP) on reducing college students’ stress levels. The effects of sex and different outdoor adventure activities in stress reduction are also evaluated. Thirty-three college students participated in selected short-term backpacking, canoeing, and kayaking programs. Student's salivary samples were collected to evaluate physiological stress response (as measured by levels of cortisol) and their psychological stress levels were collected through a modified 12-item questionnaire. Stress responses were measured at three different time points, including the second weekly meeting in the classroom, before the field trip, and at the conclusion of the field trip. Findings suggest that short-term AOP affords opportunities for college students to be away from daily challenges, and in turn reduce college students’ psychological stress levels and provide a temporary relief of physiological stress levels. No significant differences in college students’ stress levels were found between sex and different outdoor adventure activities.

KEYWORDS:

• Campus recreation
• stress management
• college student
• salivary cortisol
• adventure-based outdoor program

Acknowledgments

The authors extend thanks to the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education for funding this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education (AORE) Research Grant [N110013].

Notes on contributors

Yun Chang

Yun Chang is an Assistant Professor at School of Kinesiology and Recreation at Illinois State University. Her research interests lie in the underlying mechanisms between program elements and youth developmental outcomes within the context of outdoor adventure education. She has also participated in several pioneering studies and conducted workshops in the use and application of biomarkers in outdoor recreation and adventure education research.

Curt Davidson

Curt Davidson is an Assistant Professor at California State University, Long Beach. He is the author of several peer reviewed publications and books including The Outdoor Facilitator’s Handbook and Behavior and Group Management in Experiential Education. His passion for research and teaching has shown through in his efforts to provide valuable information to the field of Adventure Education and how it can contribute to building a more robust society. His interests range from Adventure Education to inquiry methodologies and new techniques to examine trends and issues surrounding human health and adventure education.

Seann Conklin

Seann Conklin is a researcher in the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Studies at Indiana University. His research interests include studies of outdoor experiences and its relationship with stress, and anxiety in individuals.

Alan Ewert

Alan Ewert is a Professor and holder of the Patricia and Joel Meier Endowed Chair in Outdoor Leadership at Indiana University. He also instructs at Outward Bound and is a co-owner of an outdoor adventure guiding business called AlpenGlow.