Breedon, Karen T. (2019) Identifying the Mechanisms and Effectiveness of Adventure Therapy for Adults Experiencing Trauma or Chronic Stress: A Systematic Literature Review. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Aim: To conduct a systematic literature review (SLR) to identify potential underlying mechanisms of Adventure Therapy (AT). Further, to examine the effectiveness of AT in ameliorating the effects of trauma and chronic stress (TCS) experienced by adults over the age of 25. Background: TCS pose adverse impacts on adults conducting everyday activities, physically and psychologically. Psychological interventions have been used to ameliorate the effects of TCS with limited or moderate success. AT is an emergent intervention used to treat adults experiencing TCS. AT includes outdoor-based interventions, directed by therapists, that involve engaging clients in adventurous activities to enact change in thoughts and behaviour. Methods: The Joanna Briggs Institute framework was used to conduct the systematic literature review. Relevant literature were identified searching University of Southern Queensland databases. Included studies were peer-reviewed, in English and focussed on adults over the age of 25 years that were experiencing TCS. Results: A total of 216 articles were identified during the initial screening process. After removal of duplicates 184 articles remained. Titles and abstracts were screened resulting in 146 articles being removed with 38 remaining for full text review. The selection process resulted in 6 articles from which 33 articles were identified using forward and backwards searching as potential studies for inclusion. A total of 11 articles were included for review. The interventions explored varied under the umbrella of Adventure Therapy. These included: therapeutic flyfishing, ocean therapy, sailing nature adventure rehabilitation, Outward-Bound experience, deptherapy, Huey helicopter rides, recreation-based health and wellness retreat, nature-based recreation and AT (tree climbing, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, problem solving games/challenges). Conclusion: AT was explored to determine if and how effective the intervention is with adults over the age of 25, and what mechanisms may account for its effectiveness. Benefits of outcomes, from the systematic literature review, include assisting healthcare professionals to make more informed choices regarding AT as an effective option for adults experiencing TCS. It will also assist in directing future research in the area of AT, by identifying gaps in current research.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
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| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Counselling (1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | Erich Fein; Amy Mullens |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 27 Aug 2025 03:38 |
| Last Modified: | 27 Aug 2025 03:38 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Trauma; Chronic Stress; Adventure Therapy; Nature Therapy; Outdoor Therapy |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52176 |
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