Mark Widmer

Contributions of Family Leisure to Family Functioning Among Families That Include Children With Developmental Disabilities

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between family leisure involvement and family functioning among families that include children with developmental disabilities. The sample consisted of 144 families (144 parents and 60 youth). Data were analyzed from the parent, youth, and family perspective. The Family Leisure Activity Profile (FLAP) was used to measure family leisure involvement. FACES II was used to measure family functioning. A scale based upon the definition, classification, and systems of support manual of the American Association on Mental Retardation adapted by Dyches was used to measure the level of support needed by the child with a developmental disability. Blocked multiple regression analyses indicated a positive relationship between core family leisure and family cohesion, adaptability, and overall family functioning, but the analyses indicated no relationship between balance family leisure and family cohesion, adaptability, and overall family functioning from all three perspectives. Results also indicated that family functioning and family leisure involvement were very similar between traditional families and families including children with developmental disabilities. Implications for practitioners and recommendations for further research are discussed.

Adventures in Identity Development: The Impact of Adventure Recreation on Adolescent Identity Development

This study examined the effect of an adventure recreation program on adolescent identity development. Participants included 43 males and 45 females, ages 11 to 15 (M = 13.33, SD = .86). Twenty-two males and 23 females participated in the program, and the remaining youth served as members of a comparison group. Participants completed a two-week adventure program that included such activities as backpacking, mountain biking, white-water rafting, environmental education, and leadership training. The Erikson Psychosocial Stage Inventory was used to measure levels of identity, intimacy, and generativity, and the Identity Styles Inventory was used to assess informational, normative, and diffuse/avoidant approaches to identity formation. Results indicated that program participants experienced significant identity development when contrasted with the comparison group.

Antecedents of Identity Development in a Structured Recreation Setting: A Qualitative Inquiry.

Identity research has focused primarily on outcomes associated with identity formation. Far less attention, however, has been given to understanding the facilitating contextual elements of this process. This qualitative study examined a context, a 2-week adventure recreation program for youth, quantitatively shown in previous research to have promoted identity development. The program took place in Idaho’s Salmon-Challis National Forest and involved rafting, backpacking, mountain biking, and a variety of other outdoor activities. Data were gathered from 23 female and 22 male participants, ages 11 to 15 (M = 13.2, SD = .89). Seven distinct categories emerged from the analysis related to participants’ perceptions of the program experience including: (a) new experiences, (b) challenge, (c) supportive relationships, (d) acquisition of new skills and knowledge, (e) increased self-confidence, (f) fun, and (g) new self-perceptions. A preliminary framework incorporating the identified elements is proposed. The findings add to the understanding of identity formation antecedents and provide guidance regarding the intentional design of contexts to promote identity development.

Fortifying Leisure Adolescent Perspectives of Family Leisure in Uganda

This study examined family leisure patterns and meanings of family leisure from the perspective of adolescents living in the Mukono District of Uganda. Sixty-eight secondary students were interviewed. Results indicate Ugandan adolescent definitions of leisure reflect leisure as free time and leisure as a means to an end. Students mentioned three primary family leisure outcomes (enjoyment/fun, personal development, and family development) that point toward a core theme. Fortifying describes the importance Ugandan youth place upon family leisure outcomes that strengthen the individual to overcome inevitable challenges they will face throughout their lives and enable them to succeed, especially through family socializing activities, such as discussion and storytelling.

The School-Based Family: Teachers as Parental Figures for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Ugandan Schools

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to examine the possible formation of surrogate families within Ugandan schools, especially among orphans who lack positive development opportunities typically provided by parents. This qualitative study sample of 66 Ugandan secondary school students were selected from eight schools in the Mukono district of Uganda. Findings suggest a potentially widespread family formation pattern between students and their teachers. More than 75% of students interviewed self-identified their teacher as family. Some teachers were able to offer orphans and vulnerable children positive developmental assets and were, therefore, identified as family.

Engaging Families in Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare

This chapter highlights the role of the family in the treatment of youth who attend Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare (OBH) programs. Family involvement can take many forms across the stages of wilderness treatment that are highlighted in this chapter. For example, when an adolescent is in the expedition phase of treatment-specific letter writing assignments may be used to encourage dialog between the parents/guardians and child. During the phase of the program where parents/guardians participate alongside their child there may be family therapy sessions, family adventure activities, family sculptures, and family group sessions. In addition to reviewing some ways families can be involved, the role of the family therapist at home is discussed in relation to the OBH clinician and how they can work together collaboratively. To highlight how family involvement may look within an OBH program, a case study is provided and suggestions concerning the role of family are presented.

Self-Efficacy of Risk Taking in Outdoor Recreation as a Predictor of the Self-Efficacy of Risk Taking in Essay Writing.

During two decades of teaching, we have observed that writing students seem more emotionally honest when their writing class is accompanied by an outdoor recreation component. The ability to take perceived risks is important to both outdoor recreation and writing; thus, we postulated that confidence gained in taking risks in outdoor experiences might affect students’ confidence in taking risks in their reflective writing. In this study, we applied Bandura’s (1997) self-efficacy theory to two classes of writing students, one that included outdoor experience and one that did not. We examined whether participating in outdoor activities would increase the self-efficacy of risk taking in the experimental group and whether this growth of self-efficacy in outdoor contexts would be accompanied by increased self-efficacy of risk taking in writing personal essays. Findings indicated significantly more growth of self-efficacy scores pertaining to risk taking in the writing of students in the experimental group versus those in the control group. Subscribe to JOREL