Thesis subject

Evaluating Outdoor Therapy for the Rehabilitation after Burnout: an Effect and Process Evaluation

Burnout is a complex societal issue adversely affecting employees’ health and performance, which over time results in high sick leave and replacement costs for organizations. Traditional burnout rehabilitation programs show suboptimal effects on reducing burnout complaints and the stable return to work. Based on the health promoting effects of nature, outdoor-based therapies for employee burnout are emerging, and evidence of their effectiveness is slowly growing. However, theories explaining how the combination of general psychological support and outdoor specific elements may trigger the rehabilitation process in outdoor therapy are often lacking.

In previous studies of Roald Pijpker’s PhD project, we developed an evaluation model to understand and empirically examine if and how such outdoor interventions may work for the rehabilitation after burnout. For the final part of his research project, we are looking for a master student to conduct a retrospective impact assessment of the effects and (possible) effective elements of outdoor therapy for rehabilitation after burnout. Focusing on the case of a Dutch outdoor intervention (“De Buitenpsychologen”), you will conduct interviews with former clients and their therapists who participated in this intervention.

Interested or want to know more? Please contact Roald Pijpker (roald.pijpker@wur.nl) (include thesiscoordination.hso@wur.nl in the CC).

Duration: 6 months
Language
: Dutch/English

Start: As soon as possible

Click here to read more about the project