Exploring Post-Program Psychological Adjustment for Adult Staff Facilitating a Wilderness Adventure Program

Abstract

This paper outlines a pilot study of the post-program psychological adjustment outcomes of adult staff facilitating an Australian-based wilderness adventure program for youth at risk. The descriptive and correlational survey study (N = 62) examined the psychological adjustment processes staff underwent following program completion, and the factors that predicted adjustment. The study found that post-program psychological adjustment is neither an abnormal nor a drawn-out process, with the majority of staff reporting broadly positive experiences. A number of significant predictors of post-program psychological adjustment were identified, with perceived “program success” positively related to i..