The authors’ primary purpose for this report was to address the specific impact of wilderness challenge programs on juvenile delinquency.
Evaluations of wilderness challenge programs were meta-analyzed to assess the impact on delinquent behavior. The overall mean effect size for delinquency outcomes was 0.18 (N=22), equivalent to a recidivism rate of 29 percent for program participants vs. 37 percent for comparison subjects. Program length was not related to outcome among short-term programs (up to 6 weeks) but extended programs (over 10 weeks) showed smaller effects overall. However, the most influential program characteristics were the intensity of the physical activities and whether the program included a distinct therapeutic component. Programs involving relatively intense activities or with therapeutic enhancements produced the greatest reductions in delinquent behavior. Publisher Abstract Provided
Downloads
Similar Publications
- Two-Level, Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Single Factor SAVRY Individual/Clinical Risk Measure Across Mississippi Juvenile Court Jurisdictions
- Unraveling the Contextual Effects on Student Suspension and Juvenile Arrest: The Independent and Interdependent Influences of School, Neighborhood, and Family Social Controls
- Association between childhood maltreatment, stressful life events and hair cortisol concentration in late midlife: A prospective investigation