Kiernan, Gemma and MacLachlan, Malcolm (2002) Children’s Perspectives of Therapeutic Recreation: Data from the ‘Barretstown Studies’. Journal of Health Psychology, 7 (5). pp. 599-614. ISSN 1359-1053

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Abstract

Camps offering therapeutic recreation-based programmes seek to provide a positive experience for children with life-threatening illnesses, and their siblings. While such programmes are undoubtedly motivated by the best of intentions, there are very little data available on children’s own experiences in them. This article addresses this by investigating children’s experiences in The Barretstown Gang Camp in Ireland. A questionnaire was completed by 449 children from 15 European countries. Feedback was factor analysed to construct an empirical model of how liking for activities in the programme clustered. Eight distinct components were identified.. Results indicated that children’s level of liking for some components and whether they felt their friends would like to come to camp were influenced by their age, gender, nationality, level of understanding of explanations in camp and patient/sibling status. Children’s descriptions of their camp experience emphasized themes pertaining to fun, activities, scenic surroundings, staff and multiculturalism.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	camping programmes; children’s experiences; life-threatening illnesses; therapeutic recreation;
Academic Unit:	Assisting Living & Learning,ALL institute Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology
Item ID:	16434
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105302007005678
Depositing User:	Malcolm MacLachlan
Date Deposited:	22 Aug 2022 14:46
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Health Psychology
Publisher:	SAGE Publications (UK and US)
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	Publisher
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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