Effects of a tall ship sail training experience on adolescents’ self-concept

This study investigates the impact of a sail training education programme on the self-concept of a group of 147 adolescents. The Competence and Social domains of Bracken's self-concept scale were assessed by a quasi-experimental design in three phases: before commencement of the activities, on the last day of the voyage, and three months after completion of the programme. A significant difference (Competence: effect size 0.2, p < .001; Social: effect size 0.23, p < .05) was identified soon after the sail experience, but this effect was only temporary. Our analysis was confirmed by a bootstrapping technique. Bronfenbrenner's bio-ecological theory was used as a general interpretative framework in order to identify personal and environmental factors that can sustain developmental changes over time.

► We analyse short and long-term effects of a sail experience on self-concept. ► Self-concept increases after the sail experience but it reverts back after time. ► We apply Bronfenbrenner's bio-ecological theory as an interpretative framework. ► We identify chrono- and meso-systemic factors influencing self-concept's stability.