The Impact of Adventure Education on Intolerance to Uncertainty and Cognitive Flexibility: An Exploratory Study

Outdoor Adventure Education (OAE) may reduce levels of intolerance to certainty (IT) and increase levels of cognitive flexibility (CF) by introducing the individual to situations that create uncertainty and reward cognitive flexibility. This study used a two-group design, where one group featured a 3-day backpacking trip, and one was devoid of any OAE activities. The participants included a diverse gender mix between 18 and 22 years old. The study utilized the Intolerance to Uncertainty Scale and the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory. The Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon Signed Sequence Number Test were used in the analysis. The overall sample displayed improvements in CF scores and decreases in the IT scores. Independent samples t-tests revealed significantly higher cognitive flexibility scores for the treatment (backpacking) course when compared to the comparison group. This study provides evidence of the positive impact of OAE on cognitive flexibility, with potential implications for managing intolerance to uncertainty.