Promoting resilience in female youth through outdoor adventure activities: what works, why, and in which contexts?

Abstract

Outdoor Adventure Activities (OAA) can positively impact female youth resilience. However, there remains a lack of resilience-specific OAA theories on which to build effective OAA interventions for female youth. To address this, a realist review of the evidence was completed. Findings suggest that OAA interventions, which are multisystemic, involve participants who share a social context and utilise regular sessions which work towards a challenge that will be most effective for cultivating female youth resilience. Furthermore, interventions should involve physical activity in nature, use a remote feeling environment, challenging tasks, small female groups, and encourage reflection and recording of the experience. Developing an enhanced capacity for resilience is thought to occur through shifts in perspectives, increased awareness, belonging, mutual support, connection and physiological adaptation. The findings of this review are a starting point for future research and for the development of future interventions.