White water kayaking, positive affect, and perceived self-awareness: A case study of a veteran of the Vietnam era
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5055/ajrt.2014.0084Keywords:
outdoor, recreation, recreational therapy, self-awareness, positive affectAbstract
Veterans from Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), and the Vietnam era have sustained multiple injuries and disabilities as a result of their service, including Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and depression. The use of outdoor recreation as a therapeutic modality for civilians with TBI has been found to correlate with greater self-awareness and positive affect, however, scarce literature exists regarding its use and outcomes for veterans. To explore this, a veteran from the Vietnam era reporting a history of depression who is involved with a white water kayaking group completed a series of surveys designed to measure its effect on perceived self-awareness and positive affect. The case study reported that involvement with the white water kayaking group improved his perceived self-awareness. The case study also reported the highest positive affect and lowest negative affect immediately after traveling down the river during a white water kayaking river trip. More research in this area is needed.
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