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Psychosocial Outcomes of Australian Male and Female Veterans Following Participation in Peer-Led Adventure-Based Therapy Cover

Psychosocial Outcomes of Australian Male and Female Veterans Following Participation in Peer-Led Adventure-Based Therapy

Journal of Veterans Studies
Volume 6 (2020): Issue 2
By: ,   and    
Open Access
|Nov 2020
Figures & tables

Figures & Tables

Table 1

Brief Overview of Trojan’s Trek Program: Core Content.

Key therapeutic components and activitiesExamples
Brain Function/Mechanisms of thoughts influencing behaviour

  • Sensory filters

  • Conscious vs. subconscious brain

  • Recognising behaviour and thought patterns

  • Identifying and challenging unhelpful thoughts

Motivation and skills development

  • Identifying needs and motivators

  • Beliefs vs. values

  • SMART goals

Relationships and communication

  • Communication process and effective communication

  • Barriers to communication

  • Active listening

  • Team/relationship building

Legacy making and values

  • Qualities of an effective mentor

  • Pathway to mentoring

Common experiences

  • Suicide

  • Women in service*

  • Sexual assault*

Nature-based skills building activities

  • Journaling

  • Silent walk

  • Guided meditation

  • Target shooting

  • Knot tying

  • Celebrity heads

  • Charades

  • Understanding 4-wheel driving

  • Bushwalking

  • Navigating by the stars

  • Stories and jokes

[i] Note: * Content only provided in women’s program delivery.

Table 2

Demographic Information for Participants of the March 2018 – March 2019 Trojan’s Trek Programs.

VariableAll participants (n = 60)Male (n = 34)Female (n = 26)p
Age (years)46.5 ± 12.6
Range = 25–77		46.7 ± 13.3
Range = 28–74		46.3 ± 11.9
Range = 25–77		.904    
Children (yes)39 (65.0%)23 (67.6%)16 (61.5%).785    
Ethnicity.345    
      Caucasian49 (81.7%)26 (76.5%)23 (88.5%)
      Aboriginal1 (1.7%)1 (2.9%)0 (0%)
      Other5 (8.3%)4 (11.8%)1 (3.8%)
      Missing5 (8.3%)3 (8.8%)2 (7.7%)
Employment Status.340    
      Full-time12 (20.0%)5 (14.7%)7 (26.9%)
      Part-time/Casual11 (18.3%)7 (20.6%)4 (15.4%)
      Pension10 (16.7%)4 (11.8%)6 (23.1%)
      Retired12 (20.0%)9 (26.5%)3 (11.5%)
      Unemployed13 (21.7%)7 (20.6%)6 (23.1%)
      Missing2 (3.3%)2 (5.9%)0 (0%)
Service Type.289    
      Army37 (61.7%)24 (70.6%)13 (50.0%)
      Navy13 (21.7%)5 (14.7%)8 (30.7%)
      Air Force8 (13.3%)4 (11.8%)4 (15.4%)
      Navy + Air Force1 (1.7%)0 (0%)1 (3.8%)
      Missing1 (1.7%)1 (2.9%)0 (0%)
Years of Service12.1 ± 8.67
Range = 1–43
(n = 57)		13.2 ± 9.61
Range = 3–43
(n = 32)		10.7 ± 7.24
Range = 1–27
(n = 25)		.284    
Years Since Discharge15.2 ± 12.1
Range = 1–57
(n = 58)		14.5 ± 12.2
Range = 1–46
(n = 33)		16.1 ± 12.2
Range = 1–57
(n = 25)		.623    
Medical Discharge.800    
      Yes31 (51.7%)17 (50.0%)14 (53.8%)
      No29 (48.3%)17 (50.0%)12 (46.2%)
Deployed Overseas<.001**
      Yes37 (61.7%)28 (82.4%)9 (34.6%)
Self-reported Psychological Condition*.037*  
      Yes52 (86.7%)32 (94.1%)20 (76.9%)
      No7 (11.7%)1 (2.9%)6 (23.1%)
      Unsure1 (1.7%)1 (2.9%)0 (0%)
Anxiety.115    
      Yes26 (43.3%)11 (32.4%)15 (57.7%)
      No31 (51.7%)20 (58.8%)11 (42.3%)
      Missing3 (5.0%)3 (8.8%)0 (0%)
Depression.781    
      Yes37 (61.7%)21 (61.8%)16 (61.5%)
      No20 (33.3%)10 (29.4%)10 (38.5%)
      Missing3 (5.0%)3 (8.8%)0 (0%)
PTSD.013*  
      Yes35 (58.3%)24 (70.6%)11 (42.3%)
      No22 (36.7%)7 (20.6%)15 (57.7%)
      Missing3 (5.0%)3 (8.8%)0 (0%)
# of Self-Reported Psychological Conditions*.012*  
      07 (11.7%)1 (2.9%)6 (23.1%)
      113 (21.7%)9 (26.5%)4 (15.4%)
      211 (18.3%)8 (23.5%)3 (11.5%)
      315 (25.0%)10 (29.4%)5 (19.2%)
      4+10 (16.7%)2 (5.9%)8 (30.8%)
      Missing/unsure4 (6.7%)4 (11.8%)0 (0%)
Current Psychological Treatment.006*  
      Yes44 (73.3%)30 (88.2%)14 (53.8%)
      No11 (18.3%)2 (5.9%)9 (34.6%)
      In the past5 (8.3%)2 (5.9%)3 (11.5%)
Current Relationship Status.622    
      Married22 (36.7%)14 (41.2%)8 (30.8%)
      De-facto/Partner15 (25.0%)9 (26.5%)6 (23.1%)
      Divorced/Separated8 (13.3%)3 (8.9%)5 (19.2%)
      Single15 (25.0%)8 (23.5%)7 (26.9%)

[i] Note: Data presented as mean ± standard deviation (percent of total participants). * Psychological conditions (Anxiety, Depression, PTSD) were self-reported by participants as part of the demographics questionnaire. Differences between male and female participants measured by independent t-tests, Fischer’s exact test or Pearson Chi Square.

* p < .05. ** p < .001.

Table 3

Means and Standard Deviations.

VariablenPre-InterventionPost-InterventionFollow-Up
Mean ± SDMean ± SDMean ± SD
DASS-21
Depression5110.1 ± 5.433.45 ± 3.397.16 ± 5.20
    Male3010.6 ± 5.272.93 ± 2.537.90 ± 4.96
    Female219.48 ± 5.724.19 ± 4.306.10 ± 4.37
Anxiety517.76 ± 4.573.98 ± 3.935.04 ± 4.05
    Male307.90 ± 4.572.80 ± 3.005.23 ± 4.22
    Female217.57 ± 4.695.67 ± 4.534.76 ± 3.88
Stress5111.9 ± 5.254.92 ± 4.048.47 ± 5.04
    Male3012.4 ± 4.904.00 ± 3.018.60 ± 4.75
    Female2111.1 ± 5.256.24 ± 4.968.29 ± 5.53
PCL-54942.4 ± 18.128.2 ± 17.532.5 ± 18.8
    Male3047.3 ± 15.830.4 ± 17.035.0 ± 18.7
    Female1934.8 ± 19.324.7 ± 18.328.6 ± 18.9
PNI- Friend
Positive506.24 ± 1.277.06 ± 1.136.30 ± 1.47
    Male295.72 ± 1.106.86 ± 1.275.83 ± 1.44
    Female216.94 ± 1.247.33 ± 0.866.95 ± 1.28
Negative474.53 ± 1.413.87 ± 1.363.83 ± 1.26
    Male284.75 ± 1.513.71 ± 1.334.04 ± 1.37
    Female194.21 ± 1.234.11 ± 1.413.53 ± 1.02
PNI- Family
Positive496.29 ± 1.766.94 ± 1.216.16 ± 1.78
    Male296.21 ± 1.576.93 ± 1.226.14 ± 1.83
    Female206.40 ± 2.046.95 ± 1.236.20 ± 1.77
Negative475.21 ± 1.554.64 ± 1.424.75 ± 1.89
    Male285.07 ± 1.514.43 ± 1.264.86 ± 1.88
    Female195.42 ± 1.614.95 ± 1.614.58 ± 1.95
PNI- Partner
Positive299.44 ± 2.3810.5 ± 1.359.79 ± 2.18
    Male209.40 ± 2.1610.4 ± 1.399.50 ± 2.44
    Female99.56 ± 2.9610.6 ± 1.3310.4 ± 1.33
Negative307.47 ± 2.996.57 ± 2.517.17 ± 2.36
    Male207.75 ± 2.866.85 ± 2.647.20 ± 2.42
    Female106.90 ± 3.316.00 ± 2.267.10 ± 2.38
GSE5027.9 ± 5.2831.5 ± 5.1430.5 ± 5.02
    Male2928.3 ± 3.6131.5 ± 5.1729.9 ± 5.00
    Female2127.3 ± 7.0331.5 ± 5.1431.4 ± 5.05
LSQ505.38 ± 1.747.01 ± 1.435.78 ± 1.61
    Male305.46 ± 1.507.11 ± 1.525.80 ± 1.30
    Female205.27 ± 2.106.87 ± 1.335.77 ± 2.03

[i] Note: DASS-21 = Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21. PCL-5 = PTSD Checklist for DSM-5. PNI = Positive and Negative Interactions Scale.

GSE = General Self-Efficacy Scale. LSQ = Life Satisfaction Questionnaire.

Table 4

Mixed ANOVAs Main Effects Comparing Scores on Measures across Assessment Time Points and Between Gender.

VariableTimeGenderTime × Gender
Fdfnp2Fdfnp2Fdfnp2
DASS-21
Depression39.8***2, 490.4480.275    1, 490.0062.45    2, 490.048
Anxiety–      –––    ––5.46**2, 490.100
Stress–      –––    ––3.46*  2, 490.066
PCL-517.2***2, 470.2683.35    1, 470.0661.26    2, 470.026
PNI- Friend
Positive8.34***2, 480.14813.5**1, 480.2201.95    2, 480.039
Negative5.02**  2, 450.1000.569    1, 450.0122.53    2, 450.053
PNI- Family
Positive5.47**  2, 470.1040.060    1, 470.0010.066    2, 940.001
Negativea3.35*    1.75, 450.0690.244    1, 450.0051.50    1.75, 450.032
PNI- Partner
Positive2.86      2, 270.0960.379    1, 270.0140.603    2, 540.022
Negative4.62*    2, 280.1420.386    1, 280.0140.952    2, 560.033
GSE12.1***2, 480.2010.018    1, 480.0001.24    2, 960.025
LSQ34.2***2, 470.4160.143    1, 480.0030.152    2, 960.003

[i] Note: DASS-21 = Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21. PCL-5 = PTSD Checklist for DSM-5. PNI = Positive and Negative Interactions Scale. GSE = General Self-Efficacy Scale. LSQ = Life Satisfaction Questionnaire.

a Greenhouse-Geisser correction. * p < .05. ** p < .01. *** p < .001.

Table 5

Post-hoc Comparisons between Assessment Time Points for Outcome Measures.

VariablePre-Intervention – Post-InterventionPre-Intervention – Follow-UpPost-Intervention – Follow-Up
tdtdtd
DASS-21
Depression6.48***1.483.04***0.56–3.44***0.85
Anxiety (Male)5.10***1.322.67***0.61–2.43**  0.66
Anxiety (Female)1.90      0.412.81*    0.650.905      0.22
Stress (Male)8.43***2.073.83**  0.79–4.60***1.16
Stress (Female)4.86**  0.912.81*    0.39–2.05      0.50
PCL-513.5***0.809.22**  0.54–4.25      0.24
PNI- Friend
Positive–0.759**  0.67–0.052      0.040.708**  0.58
Negative0.570      0.480.699**  0.530.129      0.03
PNI- Family
Positive–0.637*    0.430.134      0.070.772*    0.51
Negative0.558*    0.390.528      0.27–0.03      0.06
PNI- Partner
Negative0.900*    0.330.175      0.11–0.725      0.24
GSE–3.70***0.69–2.86***0.52–0.847      0.19
LSQ–1.62***1.02–0.417      0.241.20***0.80

[i] Note: DASS-21 = Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21. PCL-5 = PTSD Checklist for DSM-5. PNI = Positive and Negative Interactions Scale. GSE = General Self-Efficacy Scale. LSQ = Life Satisfaction Questionnaire.

* p < .05. ** p < .01. *** p < .001.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21061/jvs.v6i2.189 | Journal eISSN: 2470-4768
Journal RSS Feed
Language: English
Page range: 70 - 87
Submitted on: Jun 25, 2020
Accepted on: Oct 4, 2020
Published on: Nov 2, 2020
Published by: Virginia Tech Publishing
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Keywords:
adventure-based therapy,
peer-to-peer intervention,
peer support veterans,
mental health,
posttraumatic stress disorder

© 2020 Rebecca Theal, Jessica Lynne Kerin, Madeline Romaniuk, published by Virginia Tech Publishing
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 6 (2020): Issue 2
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