Outward Bound Instructors' Experience of Stress: Storms, Students, and Role Strain

Autor/in	McGovern, Gina
Titel	Outward Bound Instructors' Experience of Stress: Storms, Students, and Role Strain
Quelle	In: Journal of Experiential Education, 45 (2022) 2, S.209-228 (20 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (McGovern, Gina)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1053-8259
DOI	10.1177/10538259211012714
Schlagwörter	Outdoor Education; Teaching Experience; Anxiety; Safety; Student Behavior; Psychological Patterns; Role Conflict; Teacher Attitudes; Teachers + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Freiluftunterricht; Angst; Sicherheit; Student behaviour; Schülerverhalten; Rollenkonflikt; Lehrerverhalten; Lehrer; Lehrerin; Lehrende
Abstract	Background: Outward Bound (OB) provides experiential outdoor learning programs where students grow through overcoming challenges. Instructors leading these wilderness courses face numerous demands and situational conditions which may create stress. Purpose: This study sought to describe instructors' experience of stress on OB courses with adolescents. Methodology/Approach: In semi-structured interviews, 31 OB instructors from two sites provided in-depth guided narratives of highly stressful course situations, which were analyzed using grounded theory methods. Findings/Conclusions: Findings indicated that instructors were stressed by unsafe and unpredictable situations (e.g., adverse weather, dangerous terrain, medical concerns) and student behavior, thoughts, and feelings (e.g., conflict, oppositional behavior, distress). Analysis also suggested that the internalization of role demands--for student safety, student learning, and control--intensified experiences of stress. Self-perceptions of failure to meet these role demands led to role strain. In addition, stress affected instructors' functioning and their interactions with students. Implications: This study suggested several recommendations for OB and other youth-serving organizations. These include assessing the amount and types of stress instructors are experiencing on a regular basis and examining how these stressors might be reduced or mitigated by actors at multiple levels in the organization. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01