A mixed-methods research synthesis to impact the wellbeing of adolescents: The Wellbeing in Outdoor Adventure Education Model (WOAEM)

Abstract

Promoting adolescent wellbeing continues to challenge families, community groups, and schools, so ways to complement existing health programs should be sought. This paper aimed to synthesise four sequential, mixed-methods studies, resulting in a novel framework to impact adolescent wellbeing. Studies were conducted in Perth, Western Australia between 2020 and 2023, involving a quantitative systematic review and meta-analysis, qualitative analysis of focus groups with adolescent outdoor adventure education participants and key informant interviews with outdoor adventure education teachers, and mixed-method analysis of an electronic Delphi study with a panel of international experts in adolescence, wellbeing, and outdoor adventure education. The studies comprising this synthesis were conducted to provide an evidence base for adventure education practitioners to impact the wellbeing of their adolescent participants. The findings of these studies have resulted in the development of the Wellbeing in Outdoor Adventure Education Model (WOAEM), a new model that aims to provide outdoor adventure education practitioners with a practical application of the PERMA (positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment) multidimensional framework of wellbeing. This practical application is specifically designed to guide program structure in a way that can positively impact the wellbeing of adolescents. Implications and recommendations for future research are discussed.