An Exploration of the Experiences of Vulnerable Young People Participating in a Stand-Up Paddle-Boarding Therapy Course: A Phenomenological Study

Abstract

Nature-based interventions have been advocated as an approach to support mental health and well-being in young people. The Wave Project, a United Kingdom–based charity, has an established surf therapy intervention for vulnerable children and adolescents which has been demonstrated to have a positive impact on mental health and well-being. However, this intervention provides challenges in terms of accessibility for young people located away from the coast. Stand-up paddle-boarding is an aquatic activity which can be conducted on inland waters, which therefore has the potential to address this barrier. Semistructured interviews (n = 6) utilizing video and photo elicitation were conducted with young people participating in a 5-week stand-up paddle-boarding course delivered on a canal in a central city location in the south-west of England. Transcripts were analyzed using a qualitative phenomenological approach. Participants reported engaging in paddle-boarding induced a feeling of calmness and provided respite from preoccupations of school and other concerns. The support provided by instructors and volunteers gave them a sense of both physical and psychological safety which provided them with the confidence to master a new skill. This experience increased their self-confidence and self-esteem as well as reducing social anxiety and feelings of anger. The findings suggest that a stand-up paddle-boarding course may confer mental health and well-being benefits for vulnerable young people. The ability to deliver this intervention on a canal in the center of a city increases its accessibility to young people living inland.