Personal growth effects for college students of ropes course participation: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis examines the effects of ropes course participation on personal growth outcomes in college students. Transition to college brings challenges to students’ mental health and overall well-being. Ropes courses (RCs) are obstacle courses used to foster personal growth, resilience, and team-building. We reviewed 10 studies involving RC interventions, considering factors like intervention duration, RC type, and control group design. The RCs programs demonstrated overall significant effect on personal growth outcomes (standardized mean difference – Hedges’ g = 0.24, 95% CI 0.04–0.44, P = 0.02), however the magnitude of Hedges’ g showed no effect. In summary, the results indicate that RCs programs may have small immediate positive effects for college students on personal growth outcomes, such as self-concept and self-efficacy. However, the effectiveness of these programs is primarily dependent on their duration, with longer interventions demonstrating greater potential for positive effects. It is also essential to consider the limitations of the reviewed studies, including the lack of randomization, the use of self-report measures, and the potential for biases.