Outdoor adventure experiences for grieving children and adolescents in a transcultural context

Oettl, Therese Sofie (2016) Outdoor adventure experiences for grieving children and adolescents in a transcultural context. Masters dissertation, University of Cumbria. Item availability may be restricted.

PDF - Accepted Version Restricted to Registered users only Available under License CC BY-NC Download (2MB) | Contact the author

Abstract

Bereavement is theorised in many ways that have cultural as well as theoretical differences (Kuebler-Ross, 2014; Neimeyer, 2012; Smeding, 2010; Wolfelt, 2012). As there have been radical socio-cultural changes from five generations ago to today the trend to privatization, individualization and hospitalization of dying, death and grief have forged ahead immensely. For this reason, the demand for grief counselling is increasing (Lammer, 2014). Nevertheless, children and adolescents are the so-called ‘forgotten mourners’ in North American and European societies and need special attention for this reason. The hypothesis that the outdoors can have healing effects for grieving children and adolescents will be tested and the encountered findings will be presented. This theoretical and qualitative research will shine a light on the similarities and differences between North American and European healing concepts for the bereaved in the context of outdoor activities. The socio-cultural ‘Theory of Change’ method will be used which takes a look at the topic from three different perspectives. Thus, their connections will be challenged from a grief and mourning perspective, from a human-nature relationship perspective and an outdoor educational perspective. From this theoretical background, a concept for an outdoor adventure experience for grieving children and adolescents in a transcultural context developed in cooperation with OUTWARD BOUND Germany will be introduced. Here the core values stand for the right to have fun, the awareness of fellow sufferers and the presentation of the outdoors as a healing space. The development of this program is a thought piece at this time and aims to enrich the literature on the healing effects of the outdoors for grieving children and adolescents. In practice, it will be realized for the first time in the summer of 2017 with OUTWARD BOUND Germany.

Item Type:	Thesis/Dissertation (Masters)
Departments:	Academic Departments > Science, Natural Resources & Outdoor Studies (SNROS) > Outdoor Studies
Additional Information:	Dissertation presented in part fulfilment of the requirements of the Degree of Master of Arts in Transcultural European Outdoor Studies, University of Cumbria, 2016.
Depositing User:	Anna Lupton
Date Deposited:	01 Jun 2018 10:30
Last Modified:	12 Jan 2024 15:01
URI:	https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/3900