The enduring well-being impacts of attending the Battle Back Multi Activity Course for the lives of recovering UK armed forces personnel

• Published in: Military psychology Vol. 34; no. 4; pp. 410 - 421
• Main Authors: Kay, Christopher William Philip, McKenna, Jim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Routledge 2022; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Exercise; health coaching; Military; outdoor activities; physical activity; recovery; Recovery (Medical); well-being; outdoor activities; well-being; recovery; health coaching; Military; physical activity
• ISSN: 0899-5605; 1532-7876
• DOI: 10.1080/08995605.2021.2002595

Few adventurous training courses have been formally designed to assist military personnel in their recovery and/or transition into civilian life by supporting psychological health and well-being. This study examines, for the first time, the longitudinal effects of a five-day Multi Activity Course (MAC) on the mental well-being of serving but wounded, injured, and/or sick (WIS) UK armed forces personnel. The MAC is delivered using a participant-centered approach to encourage engagement in adaptive sports, adventurous activities, and personal development coaching sessions. This work extends previous research showing powerful short-term well-being benefits. Measures of positive well-being and psychological need satisfaction were provided by participants before and after attending the course, as well as two weeks, three months, six months and 12 months later. Self-reported well-being measures of psychological need satisfaction and positive mental well-being improved significantly throughout the course. These remained significantly higher at six and 12 months after the course, respectively.