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Existing research on the effects of nature exposure on the mental health of adults indicates that spending time in nature reduces depressive symptoms and stress, increases quality of life and mood and improves mental health. This meta‐analysis aimed to answer the question: what are the effects of nature exposure on the social, mental and physical health of adults with symptoms of mental illness? The meta‐analysis included all studies relevant to the study research questions which collected quantitative data on nature exposure using validated instruments for at least two time points on each participant and which were published between 1990 and 2020. Regarding the impact of nature exposure on adults with symptoms of mental illness, analyses showed significant, moderate effect sizes for all studies and smaller, but significant, effect sizes for studies with control groups Analyses also yielded critical information regarding the effect size of the type of nature dosage, nature setting, nature‐based activity, key mental health outcomes and other factors. These findings from the present study results have important implications regarding the potential benefits of nature exposure for adults and its role in healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Monitoring youth treatments requires outcome instruments sensitive to change. The Y-OQ and the Y-OQ-SR measure behavioral change during psychological treatment. Objective: The focus of this study was to compare treatment progress of youth in studies using the Youth Outcome Questionnaire (YOQ) or the Youth Outcome Questionnaire Self Report (YOQSR) in wilderness and non-wilderness treatment programs. Methods: Seventy-six manuscripts were examined. Inclusion criteria were (a) contained a version of the YOQ, (b) implemented mental health treatment, (c) contained sufficient data to obtain an effect size, and (d) had at least two data points (e.g., intake and termination). The final number of studies included for the Y-OQ was 15 and for the Y-OQ-SR was 11. Results: Random effects model results, for studies using the YOQ, indicated a large (Cohen in "Psychol Bull" 112(1):155, 1992) effect size (g = 0.98, 95 % CIs [0.71, 1.26]). The YOQ-SR results also indicated a large effect size (g = 0.80, 95 % CIs [0.63, 0.96]). Treatment setting demonstrated a difference between wilderness and non-wilderness programs. For the Y-OQ (parent/guardian observation) effect sizes were higher for wilderness programs Q[subscript between] = 91.82, df = 1, p < 0.001 and for the Y-OQ-SR (adolescent's self report) effect sizes were higher for non-wilderness programs Q[subscript between] = 8.62, df = 1, p = 0.003. Conclusions: Treatment programs for youth using the Y-OQ and Y-OQ-SR to measure behavioral change, are indicating strong and positive effects from pre to post testing. Clinicians should consider routinely monitoring progress of their clients to better understand changes between pre and post testing.

This chapter provides background in adventure education and its connection to student leadership pedagogy. An adventure program is the ideal experiential learning setting promoting students' leadership development through direct experience, reflection, and application.

This study reports the results of a meta-analysis of 44 studies that examined the impacts of participation in challenge (ropes) course activities. Overall, a medium standardized mean difference effect size was found (d = 0.43). Effect sizes were calculated for various study characteristics, including demographics and outcome. Higher effects were found for adult groups (d = 0.80) and for studies measuring family functioning (d = 0.67). Studies with therapeutic (d = 0.53) or developmental foci (d = 0.47) had higher effect sizes than those with educational foci (d = 0.17). Higher effect sizes for group effectiveness (d = 0.62) affirmed the use of challenge course experiences for team-building purposes. Implications for further research include the importance of recording detailed program design information, selecting appropriate instrumentation, and including follow-up data.