Effectiveness of adventure education programs in improving resilience: a case of University Freshmen in Taiwan

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aims to evaluate the effect of adventure education programs on resilience enhancement among first-year undergraduate students. The researchers designed adventure education courses using a benefits-based management activity planning model. An analysis is conducted using quasi-experimental and pre- and post-test non-equivalent group designs. Participants are divided into two groups: an experimental group and a control group. The effects of the adventure education programs as a 72-hour intervention are studied using a resilience scale. The data analysis employs a paired t-test and a one-way ANCOVA. The experimental group reports higher scores than the control group on the resilience scale and two subscales, problem-solving and interpersonal interaction, and these results are statistically significant. Further, the experimental group shows marginal positive changes in the total resilience scale and its two subscales in terms of effect size. The designed adventure education programs positively affect resilience among university freshmen.