Psychosocial and Biological Outcomes of Immersive, Mindfulness-Based Treks in Nature for Groups of Young Adults and Caregivers Affected by Cancer: Results from a Single Arm Program Evaluation from 2016–2021

David Victorson, Gretchen Doninger, Scott Victorson, Gwen Victorson, Lars Hall, Carly Maletich, Bradley R. Corr, Kathy Scortino, Zachary Burns, Lori Allen, Ian Rosa, Kelley Quirk, Adekunle Adegbemi, Johanna Strokoff, Kile Zuidema, Kelle Sajdak, Todd Mckibben, Angie Roberts, Thomas W. McDade, Amanda Boes, Katie McAlinden, Karen Arredondo, Christina Sauer, Kristin Smith and John M. Salsman
Additional contact information
David Victorson: True North Treks, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
Gretchen Doninger: True North Treks, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
Scott Victorson: True North Treks, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
Gwen Victorson: True North Treks, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
Lars Hall: Breakwater Expeditions, Sandpoint, ID 83864, USA
Carly Maletich: True North Treks, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
Bradley R. Corr: True North Treks, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
Kathy Scortino: True North Treks, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
Zachary Burns: Encompass Learning, Duluth, MN 55804, USA
Lori Allen: True North Treks, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
Ian Rosa: True North Treks, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
Kelley Quirk: True North Treks, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
Adekunle Adegbemi: True North Treks, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
Johanna Strokoff: True North Treks, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
Kile Zuidema: True North Treks, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
Kelle Sajdak: True North Treks, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
Todd Mckibben: Breakwater Expeditions, Sandpoint, ID 83864, USA
Angie Roberts: Breakwater Expeditions, Sandpoint, ID 83864, USA
Thomas W. McDade: Deparment of Anthropology and Institute for Policy Research, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
Amanda Boes: True North Treks, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
Katie McAlinden: True North Treks, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
Karen Arredondo: True North Treks, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
Christina Sauer: True North Treks, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
Kristin Smith: True North Treks, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
John M. Salsman: True North Treks, Evanston, IL 60201, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 23, 1-16

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has left many individuals suffering from “connection deficit disorder” given changes to the way we work, go to school, socialize, and engage in daily activities. Young adults affected by cancer between the ages of 18–39 have known this connection deficit long before the pandemic. Being diagnosed and treated for cancer during this time can significantly disrupt engagement in important educational, career, social, and reproductive pursuits, and contribute to increased stress, anxiety, depression, and other negative outcomes. Experiencing meaningful connection—with nature, with peers who understand, and with oneself, may help assuage this adverse effect of disconnect. A single arm within-subjects program evaluation was conducted to examine outcomes following participation in immersive, multi-night, mindfulness-based treks in nature in a sample of young adults ( n = 157) and caregivers ( n = 50) affected by cancer from 2016–2021. Pre to post-trek changes included significant ( p < 0.001) self-reported improvements in feeling connected to nature (d = 0.93–0.95), peers (d = 1.1–1.3), and oneself (d = 0.57–1.5); significant ( p < 0.001) improvements on PROMIS Anxiety (d = 0.62–0.78), Depression (d = 0.87–0.89), and Sleep Disturbance (d = 0.37–0.48) short forms; and significant ( p < 0.05) changes in pro-inflammatory biomarkers (d = 0.55–0.82). Connection-promoting experiences like this have the potential to improve health and wellbeing in this population and serve as a model for others.

Keywords: nature; connection; mindfulness; cancer; young adult; caregiver; peers (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)

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