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Changes in Late Adolescents and Young Adults’ Attachment, Separation, and Mental Health During Wilderness Therapy

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Abstract

The study explored changes in young adults’ mental health, attachment, and separation from parents during a seven-week wilderness therapy program. Utilizing a longitudinal one-group design, the study examined outcomes of 157 young adults in one wilderness therapy program. From pre to post treatment, participants reported significant improvement in mental health symptoms and interpersonal relationships, as well as increases in the belief that others can be depended upon. Participants reported less resentment and anger towards mothers from pre to post treatment, but an increase in their needs for approval from fathers. The study details a link between young adults’ attachment, independence from parents, and improvement in mental health, suggesting that treatment which targets these links may provide more effective intervention.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Utah, College of Social Work, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA

    Joanna E. Bettmann & Mindy Vanderloo

  2. University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 03824, USA

    Anita Tucker

  3. Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA, 16172, USA

    Ellen Behrens

Authors
  1. Joanna E. Bettmann
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  2. Anita Tucker
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  3. Ellen Behrens
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  4. Mindy Vanderloo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joanna E. Bettmann.

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Conflict of interest

The first author was a co-owner and employee of the WT program which served as the study site for this research. The remaining authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Bettmann, J.E., Tucker, A., Behrens, E. et al. Changes in Late Adolescents and Young Adults’ Attachment, Separation, and Mental Health During Wilderness Therapy. J Child Fam Stud 26, 511–522 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-016-0577-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-016-0577-4

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