Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2021 Aug;30(4):1001-1009.
doi: 10.1111/inm.12856. Epub 2021 Apr 27.

Using an arts-based approach to explore the building of social capital at a therapeutic recreation camp

Elissa-Kate Jay  1 , Lorna Moxham  2   3 , Christopher Patterson  3
Affiliations
Review

Using an arts-based approach to explore the building of social capital at a therapeutic recreation camp

Elissa-Kate Jay et al. Int J Ment Health Nurs. 2021 Aug.

Abstract

Therapeutic recreation is beneficial for people with and without disabilities, promoting an empowered, connected, and joyful life. The present study aimed to analyse canvas art created on a therapeutic recreation programme called Recovery Camp, to discover what they reveal about the shared experiences which have occurred. This study utilized an arts-based research method and thematic analysis to discover what participants have communicated via their artwork from ten camps between 2018 and 2019. This study adheres to the COREQ guidelines for qualitative studies. Reflexive thematic analysis produced subthemes which informed three main themes and an identified core meaning of Social Capital. The three main themes were Togetherness and teamwork, Positivity, and Gratitude for Recovery Camp. Based on these findings, canvas art has revealed that shared experiences during a therapeutic recreation camp were positive and connecting. Social capital was created and bridged at Recovery Camp through teamwork and prosocial attitudes. Gratitude has also been disclosed by participants for their shared positive experience.

Keywords: arts-based research; mental illness; shared experience; social capital; therapeutic recreation.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

REFERENCES

    1. Alford, S., Perlman, D., Sumskis, S. et al. (2017). What can leisure offer those with a mental illness: Diversion, experience or something much richer? World Leisure Journal, 59, 218-226.
    1. American Therapeutic Recreation Association (2015). Strategic plan, definition and vision update. ATRA Newsletter, 31, 2.
    1. Anderson, L.S. & Heyne, L.A. (2016). Flourishing through leisure and the upward spiral theory of lifestyle change. Therapeutic Recreational Journal, 50, 118-137.
    1. Arai, S. & Pedlar, A. (2003). Moving beyond individualism in leisure theory: A critical analysis of concepts of community and social engagement. Leisure Studies, 22, 185-202.
    1. Australian Government Productivity Commission (2019). Mental Health Productivity Commission Draft Report, vol 2. Canberra Australia: Commonwealth of Australia.

LinkOut - more resources