A Mixed Methods Exploration of Surf Therapy Piloted for Youth Well-Being in Post-Conflict Sierra Leone

Jamie Marshall, Sallu Kamuskay, Michaella Margaedah Samai, Isha Marah, Fanta Tonkara, Josephine Conteh, Sullayman Keita, Oullematu Jalloh, Mohamed Missalie, Mohamed Bangura, Olufemi Messeh-Leone, Messeh Leone, Brendon Ferrier and Russell Martindale
Additional contact information
Jamie Marshall: School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University, 9 Sighthill Court, Edinburgh EH11 4BN, UK
Sallu Kamuskay: United Sierra Leone, 9 York Road, Sussex Beach, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Michaella Margaedah Samai: United Sierra Leone, 9 York Road, Sussex Beach, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Isha Marah: Pipul Pikin Foundation, 60 Maxwell Street, Wellington, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Fanta Tonkara: Moseray Fadika Trust Foundation, 154 Wilkinson Road, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Josephine Conteh: Job Opportunities for Youth (JOY), JOY Centre, 38 White Street, Tokeh Beach, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Sullayman Keita: Young Leaders Sierra Leone, AYV House, 3 Wesley Street, Tower Hill, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Oullematu Jalloh: Young Leaders Sierra Leone, AYV House, 3 Wesley Street, Tower Hill, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Mohamed Missalie: Moseray Fadika Trust Foundation, 154 Wilkinson Road, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Mohamed Bangura: Job Opportunities for Youth (JOY), JOY Centre, 38 White Street, Tokeh Beach, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Olufemi Messeh-Leone: Pipul Pikin Foundation, 60 Maxwell Street, Wellington, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Messeh Leone: The Messeh Leone Trust, Malaika Chambers, 17 Off Kingharman Road, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Brendon Ferrier: School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University, 9 Sighthill Court, Edinburgh EH11 4BN, UK
Russell Martindale: School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University, 9 Sighthill Court, Edinburgh EH11 4BN, UK

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-11

Abstract: Young people in post-conflict and post-epidemic contexts such as Sierra Leone face a range of mental health challenges as part of their daily life. An innovative approach to Sport for Development that could offer support to youth mental health is surf therapy. This research used an uncontrolled mixed methods approach to explore surf therapy pilots run by five youth-focused and community development organizations around Freetown. Four sites provided useable pre/post data using the Stirling Children’s Well-Being Scale ( n = 58, average age = 12.9). Three sites were associated with significant ( p < 0.017) large effects ( r = 0.65–0.84) on participant well-being. One site was associated with a non-significant ( p < 0.380) small negative effect ( r = −0.22). A synthesis of qualitative data within the five evaluations triangulated with quantitative findings and provided important context in terms of challenges to service delivery. This included low attendance as a plausible mediator for why one site saw very different results than other sites. Combined, these processes highlight the need for future research exploring possible dose-response relationships in surf therapy. This study also provides a foundation for more rigorous research in the future. These promising findings support continued and optimized delivery of surf therapy in Sierra Leone to support youth mental health.

Keywords: surf therapy; mental health; sport for development; mixed methods; evaluation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/12/6267/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/12/6267/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:12:p:6267-:d:572168

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().