| A high-stress urban environment has been shown to be significantly detrimental to adolescent development. Literature on the risk/resilience framework describes the importance of developing protective factors as a means of buffering the risks inherent in this environment. The complex trauma literature suggests that strengthening of attachments, mindfulness-based self-regulation skills, sense of competence, and interpersonal relating can help adolescents to better manage their stress and "inoculate" themselves towards greater resilience. This empirical thesis used a mixed-methods design to further understand how use of a nature setting and wilderness therapy model in an after-school program helped urban adolescents exposed to chronic, poverty-related trauma enhance protective factors and related skills and capacities. A group of freshman and sophomore adolescents at a New Haven high school took part in a seven-week wilderness skills acquisition pilot program. These adolescents were assessed for anxiety, mindfulness, self-esteem, and self-efficacy before and after the program. In addition to these quantitative measures, the adolescents participated in qualitative interviews to further assess their experience. Analysis of data assessing the pilot provided some evidence supporting the program's effectiveness. A nature setting appears to have some potential for helping adolescents to soothe, calm, and spur creativity and competence in unique ways. The model appears promising; however, further research is needed to continue evaluation and exploration of this potentially innovative, accessible, and affordable nature-based intervention designed to assist adolescent development. |
