The outdoors under the magnifying glass of a researcher

The outdoors is good for your health, everyone knows that. But what about the physical, psychological and social impacts of specific activities, such as rock climbing, river canoeing and hiking? Good to know if you want to use these activities as part of psychosocial interventions.

Virginie Gargano, assistant professor at the School of Social Work and Criminology at Laval University, wants to know. She therefore undertook a series of studies, meeting fans of these three activities in particular.

“With the idea of ​​integrating more adventure activities into group intervention in social work as a means to achieve objectives, it is important to know what these activities generate in the participants,” says She.

She explains that outdoor programs with educational or intervention aims have often developed from summer camps or adventure schools. A variety of activities were offered.

Virginie Gargano knows her way around the outdoors. She is a trained guide, holding a bachelor’s degree in outdoor and adventure tourism, then a master’s degree in social work and a doctorate in social work.

“My research always revolves around the outdoors,” she says.

She obtained a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada to study the impact of three specific activities: rock climbing, river canoeing and hiking.

“As part of this grant, it was important to connect our projects to the Canadian population,” explains Ms.^me Gargano. In Canada, we have several outdoor climbing sites, a variety of rivers and lakes, and networks of hiking trails throughout the country. This is the reason why I started with these disciplines. »

She conducted interviews with dozens of participants, collated the data with a colleague and is now at the writing stage. She hopes to have these studies published in scientific journals in French and English, with open access, therefore accessible to the population.

Virginie Gargano has just started to present preliminary results at conferences and has prepared video clips, offered on her YouTube channel, particularly regarding climbing.

“People who climb have a perception of being in better physical shape, of aging well,” she says. Climbing is a driving force for staying in shape for a long time. Physically, what emerges a lot from the benefits perceived by the participants is strength, flexibility, endurance. »

In terms of psychological effects, the participants talk about self-confidence, surpassing oneself, a feeling of competence, and pride. On a social level, they talk about the special relationship with their climbing partner.

“A deep connection is created between two individuals because they experience similar challenges, they have to solve different sections of the wall together. »

On a more spiritual level, participants talk about the need to connect to nature.

Ultimately, Virginie Gargano would like to compare the results obtained for each of the three disciplines.

“There is a difference,” she says. Whitewater canoe people talk more about a community than the relationship between partners. This is also the case for people who hike. »

This is information that can guide organizations that set up psychosocial intervention activities. These organizations will thus be able to choose the disciplines that best correspond to their objectives.

“In Quebec, we are a leader,” says M.^me Gargano. We have several organizations that stand out in terms of intervention in nature and adventure contexts. »

We are talking in particular about the Fondation Sur le pointe des pieds, which offers therapeutic adventure expeditions to young people suffering from cancer, about Face aux vents, which targets a clientele monitored in mental health, and about Maïkana, which also works in the field mental health.

Visit Virginie Gargano’s YouTube channel