A summary of the best and latest research in the field and links to Evidence Reports and infographics.
Presentations and workshops filmed at the Adventure Mind conferences available to view free of charge
“ADVENTURE MIND: Transform your wellbeing by choosing challenge” available in Kindle, Audiobook & Paperback
Evidence supporting the benefits of adventure for mental health & wellbeing
Is there evidence showing that adventure is beneficial to mental health?
There is a large evidence-base supporting the benefits of adventure; over 200 published studies have examined the psychological impact of adventure (Bowen & Neill, 2013).
What might the benefits be?
Bowen & Neill conducted a meta-analysis on all published studies published before 2012 that examined adventure for therapeutic benefit. At that stage a total of 197 studies were identified including over 17,000 people. The results indicated that adventure programmes offered significant benefits across a broad range of outcomes, including:
● clinical outcomes (such as anxiety and depression)
● behaviour
● academic attainment
● physical health
● self-concept (an overarching idea we have about who we are)
● social development (improve the wellbeing of every individual within a society)
The only outcome examined where the evidence was not convincing was morality and spirituality. Fewer studies include a longer-term follow-up, but where studies did effects appear to be maintained over time.
A recent review provides an overview of the evidence regarding adventure experiences on health outcomes for children and young people. Peng and Lau (2022) reviewed a range of adventure experiences. They identified 18 published studies, the majority of which focused on adventure experiences in children and young people aged 9-18 years. Overall, they concluded that the research evidence indicates that adventure experiences produce physical, psychological and social benefits in children, including children who are healthy as well as children identified as at-risk or experiencing a health condition.
Come back soon for further updates
The AdventureMind Research Board will be publishing evidence summaries and updates here soon.
PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS
filmed at the AdventureMind conferences available to view free of charge
BELINDA KIRK is an explorer, researcher and campaigner promoting the benefits of adventure on wellbeing and mental health.
AdventureMind 2023
Israh Goodall explores life’s transitions and thresholds in her work as an expedition leader, rites of passage guide/researcher, coach and midwife.
Participants engage in interactive exercises designed to progressively build their mindset, including visualization, partner work & breathing.
Charlotte Boenigk demonstrates how she provides parkour different groups with a recognised mental health need.
AdventureMind 2022
Dave Bunting MBE is an expedition leader and was the Chief Training Instructor of the Joint Services mountain training centres around the world. Dr Chris Kay is a Senior Research Fellow working predominantly with wounded, injured and sick military personnel at The Battle Back Centre.
Martin is a mountain guide, was the Director of Training at Plas y Brenin and was co-author of the 2015 “Getting Active Outdoors” report and the strategic lead for the "GetOutside - Activity in a time of COVID-19" project”
Helen Dodd is a Professor of Child Psychology at the University of Exeter Medical School. She currently holds a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship, which funds a program of work examining the relationship between children's adventurous play and mental health.
Diane Westaway OAM is founder of Wild Women On Top, Australia, a social purpose enterprise which has empowered over 60,000 women to hike together for fun, fitness, friendship and fundraising
AdventureMind 2020
Kwesia faced senseless violence and trauma as a child, she found herself homeless and struggling with her mental health. At her lowest, she was given the opportunity to be part of a British Exploring Society’s expedition to the Amazon. This was a life-changing experience and led to the start of City Girl in Nature
Alan Ewert is a Professor Emeritus at Indiana University, holder of the Patricia and Joel Meier Endowed Chair in Outdoor Leadership and the co-founder of an adventure guide company. Alan first proposed the ‘black box’ of adventure processes. Named one of the ‘World’s Top 2% Scientists’ by Stanford University in 2022
Adventure Mind Book
The first book to explain why adventure is essential to our wellbeing
‘A powerful reminder that adventure truly is a state of mind’ Bear Grylls
‘I absolutely love it! Inspiring, life-affi rming, and full of real-life adventures, Belinda Kirk urges us all to challenge ourselves to live more adventurously’ Professor Alice Roberts
‘A landmark book with a groundbreaking and powerful message. It’s also a fantastic read packed with thrilling, moving and inspiring stories. I certainly recommend it!’ Chris Ryan
‘At last – adventures for everyone! Read this and reward yourself! Live your best life! This inspirational, liberating book is just what we need. Belinda Kirk has written a work to change our worlds’ Nicholas Crane
‘A great and inspiring read with the potential to change the way you live. Empowering reading’ Helen Skelton
‘An inspirational read. A testament to the spirit of exploration that resides in all of us. Reading this will make you want to go on an adventure’ Levison Wood
‘A hugely enjoyable read based on a lifetime of adventurous expertise. A thoroughly researched and powerful argument for adventure’ Alastair Humphreys
‘The perfect post-pandemic handbook for anyone wanting help to revitalise their life, increase their confidence, surprise themselves. Belinda Kirk makes clear that purposeful adventure in the twenty-first century can be for us all. Everyone who wants to should be enabled and encouraged to access and benefit from the genuinely life-defining experiences – the powerful magic that can happen – on even the smallest adventure. Belinda Kirk is a wise champion and Adventure Mind is a great companion to help on that journey’ Honor Wilson-Fletcher MBE, CEO British Exploring Society
‘A perfect balance of anecdotes, explanations and science . . . I was really impressed by how thoroughly researched the book was . . . I have been recommending it to all of my friends and colleagues!’ Helen Dodd, Professor of Child Psychology, University of Exeter
Adventure Mind: Transform your wellbeing by choosing challenge is the first book to explain why adventure is essential to wellbeing. It puts an energizing and groundbreaking case for ditching the living room in favour of a longer, happier, and more adventurous life.
Drawing on lessons I’ve learnt from more than two decades of leading groups into the wilderness around the globe, my own research with modern hunter-gatherers, and the latest findings in neuroscience and psychology, I show how adventure has the power to transform the timid into the confident, the addicted into the recovering, and the lost into the intentionally wandering.
Available today at all major booksellers including Bookshop.org and Waterstones. Or buy a signed copy direct from the author
Also available as an Audiobook or Kindle on Amazon