Efficacy of outdoor adventure education in developing emotional intelligence during adolescence

Abstract

This study was an efficacy evaluation of an outdoor adventure intervention to facilitate emotional intelligence (EI) among adolescents. A pre-post-test design was used. Participants were a convenience sample of 76 Grade 10 learners from a private high school for boys in a major South African city. They completed the Bar-On EQ-i:YV at pre-intervention, post-intervention and follow-up. The results indicated that participation in outdoor intervention led to a sustainable increase in the overall EQ scores of participants as well as in certain subskills of EQ, namley intrapersonal skills, adaptability and general mood but not in interpersonal skills and stress management.