a rt i c l e

Mountaineering expedition
by persons with intellectual
disability
Impact on behavior and temperament
THOMAS M. KISHORE
R A M K . NAG A R
Journal of
Intellectual Disabilities
© 2008
sage publications
Los Angeles, London,
National Institute for the New Delhi and Singapore
vol 12(3) 183‒189
Mentally Handicapped, India issn 1744-6295(095322)12:3
doi: 10.1177⁄1744629508095322
National Institute for the Mentally
Handicapped, India

Abstract The recreational needs of adults with intellectual

disability are the same as those of the general population. If
properly planned, recreational activities can facilitate positive
behavioral changes. In this context, this present study was
designed to understand the effects of a mountaineering expedition
on the behaviors and temperament in a group of people with
intellectual disability. The study included eight men and two
women with intellectual disability aged 17–38 years. After a
training programme, the participants went on an 11 day expedition
in the Himalayan region under the supervision of professionals
and two parents. Results indicated that all of them successfully
climbed mountains up to 12,000 feet, and also had specific
positive behavioral changes. Details and implications are discussed
in this article.

Keywords behavioral effects; intellectual disability;

mountaineering; recreation

Recreational and leisure activities for people with disabilities are conducted
at both individual and group level. Based on the goals and setting, rec-
reational skills can be divided into therapeutic and community programmes.
Therapeutic programmes are medically prescribed, whereas community
programmes are voluntary in nature and are conducted by recreational
leaders, parents and schools (Burke, 2000). Nevertheless, both include art,
sports, games, cultural activities and camping, all of which have the poten-
tial to reinforce adaptive behavioral skills besides motor, social and

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JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES 12 ( 3 )
communication abilities (Baroff, 1986; Patton and Spiers, 1986). At another
level, certain recreational and leisure time activities also provide oppor-
tunities for individuals with disabilities to display their abilities to society.
Despite the vast benefits that recreation can offer, there are very few studies
on the leisure activities of adults with intellectual disability. Like others,
those with intellectual disability need recreational activities to provide a
change in their daily schedule, so as to prevent boredom. Unfortunately the
majority of them, in India at least, are kept outside the mainstream of
community life with regard to recreational activities and the use of leisure
time (Patton and Spiers, 1986). Recreational activities, once again at least in
the Indian context, are mainly conducted indoors. Outdoor activities are in
general limited to common sports and games. The reasons for this include
lack of appropriate facilities, low levels of awareness and cooperation by the
community, parental apathy, and the nature of intellectual disability itself.
Nevertheless, the trend is changing for the better with the active collabor-
ation of the government and non-government organizations.
Though the selection of recreational skills varies according to the
needs of adults with intellectual disabilities and the facilities available to
them, camping was found to provide unparalleled opportunities for
combining fun and learning. This particularly applies to residential
camping, because this is more useful in promoting independent living
skills and self-care in persons with intellectual disability (Baroff, 1986).
Nevertheless, there are no systematic data in the Indian context to suggest
the usefulness and feasibility of such programmes. It was thought that
perhaps this could be better understood by following the systematic assess-
ment of methods, structured training procedures, and precise evaluation
procedures for such a programme.
In this context, this present study was undertaken at the behest of
Partner Hooghly, a non-profitable self-help group (SHG) run by the parents
of adults with intellectual disability in Hoogly District, West Bengal, India,
which works for the social security, rights and wellbeing of persons with
intellectual disability. The SHG, with the technical support of a local
mountaineering association (CMA), and also a member of the Indian
Mountaineering Foundation, New Delhi, had earlier arranged a four day
programme in February 2000.The programme involved camping, trekking
and climbing a 1,400 foot high rock of Susunia Hill in West Bengal, India.
After this camp, the parents noticed qualitative improvements in the
participants’ adaptive behaviors and a decrease in their problem behaviors.
Some parents also noticed that their children who hitherto had not been
willing to initiate activities of daily living had become more independent.
Nevertheless, the lack of any systematic documentation made it difficult to
assess the degree of benefits of the programme.

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 KISHORE & N AG A R : M O U N TA I N E E R I N G A N D B E H AV I O R

Therefore, this present study was conducted with the primary objec-
tive of assessing the effects of a mountaineering expedition on the behavior
and temperament of this group of adults with intellectual disability.

Method

Participants
The initial sample comprised 20 adults attending the SHG with an ICD-10
diagnosis of intellectual disability. Ten were excluded when their intelli-
gence quotient was found to be above 70, or when they failed the physical
fitness test conducted by the local medical board. Therefore the final sample
comprised eight men and two women in the age range 17 to 38 years.

Tools
The personal and demographic details of the individuals were collected
using the case record developed by the National Institute for the Mentally
Handicapped (NIMH), India. Gessell’s Drawing Test (Venkatesan, 2002)
was used for a summary estimate of intelligence. The Vineland Social
Maturity Scale (Bharatraj, 1992) and the Binet–Kamat Test of Intelligence
(Kamat, 1967) were also used to assess adaptive behaviors and general
intelligence, respectively. All these tests are reported to have good reliability
and validity (Jayashankarappa, 1986). The Behavioural Assessment Scale for
Indian Children with Mental Retardation–Part B (BASIC–MR: Peshawaria
and Venkatesan, 1992) was used to assess the problem behaviors. High
scores on this scale are indicative of more problem behaviors. The
Temperament Measurement Schedule (TMS: Malhotra and Malhotra, 1988)
was also used to assess their temperament. This schedule encompasses five
factors: sociability, emotionality, energy, distractibility and rhythmicity.
High scores on this scale are indicative of a desirable condition of
temperament.

Procedure
Prior to the expedition the SHG raised sufficient money for the
programme, and this was achieved entirely by contributions; they also
obtained the necessary permission for mountaineering from the relevant
authorities. The first author, along with the representatives of the SHG,
talked to parents regarding the implications of the expedition and obtained
their consent. The NIMH in consultation with CMA drew up a plan of
action regarding the initial assessment and training plan. The scores
obtained by intelligence and adaptive behavior scales were corroborated
with ICD-10 (World Health Organization, 1992) criteria to diagnose

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JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES 12 ( 3 )
intellectual disability. Then BASIC–MR and TMS were applied. Initial
psychological assessment was undertaken by the first author, while the final
assessment was done during the expedition by the second author.
As planned, all of the participants underwent a 10 day physical training
programme prior to the expedition under the supervision of the CMA in
September 2006. The expedition was conducted for 11 days in October
2006 under the supervision of professional mountaineers, a medical team,
the second author of this present study and two parents. Descriptive
statistics and the Mann–Whitney U-test were applied to the data using SPSS
for Windows (version 12.0).

Results
The mean age of participants was 23 years (SD = 6.19). The intelligence
quotient range was 36 to 53 (mean = 44; SD = 5.57).Three of the partici-
pants had mild intellectual disability and the remainder had moderate intel-
lectual disability. Four persons had Down syndrome while others did not
have any associated disability. Table 1 gives a plan of the expedition. Table
2 indicates that there were significant differences in the pre- and post-test
scores of hyperactive domain and total scores of BASIC–MR. Table 3 indi-
cates that there were significant differences between pre-test and post-test
scores in the threshold of responsiveness, intensity and rhythmicity
domains of temperament.

Discussion
In general in India adults with intellectual disability seldom have any social
and recreational life apart from what is provided by the immediate family
(Buttimer and Tierney, 2005). This limited use of recreational skills could

Table 1 A brief schedule of the expedition

Day Towns and base camps of Himalayan Mountains Height above

sea level (feet)

1, 2 Train and road journey to reach Manebhanjan, the base camp –

3 Stay for a day at the base camp for acclimatization 7,000
4 Journey by Land Rover up to the second camp (3 km)
Trek from the second camp to Tumling 9,500
5 Trek from Tumling to Gairibas 7,000
6 Trek from Gairibas to Kalipokri 10,000
7 Trek from Kalipokri to Sandakphu 12,000
8 Journey by road from Sandakphu to Manebhanjan 7,000
9–11 Return journey to home by road and railway –

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 KISHORE & N AG A R : M O U N TA I N E E R I N G A N D B E H AV I O R

Table 2 Pre- and post-test scores on BASIC–MR Part B

Domains Pre-test Post-test Z-value

Mean ± SD Mean ± SD

Violent and destructive behaviours 0.50 ± 0.97 0.10 ± 0.32 1.13

Temper tantrums 0.20 ± 0.42 0.10 ± 0.32 1.00
Misbehaviour with others 0.60 ± 0.70 0.40 ± 0.70 1.00
Self-injurious behaviours 0.40 ± 0.97 0.00 ± 0.00 1.34
Repetitive behaviours 0.20 ± 0.42 0.00 ± 0.00 1.41
Odd behaviours 0.10 ± 0.32 0.10 ± 0.32 0.00
Hyperactivity 5.30 ± 1.49 0.80 ± 1.87 2.76**
Rebellious behaviours 0.70 ± 0.82 0.10 ± 0.32 1.86
Antisocial behaviours 0.10 ± 0.32 0.00 ± 0.00 1.00
Fears 0.00 ± 0.00 0.00 ± 0.00 0.00
Total problem behaviours 7.70 ± 2.41 2.00 ± 2.79 2.67**
* p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01.

Table 3 Pre- and post-test scores on Temperament Measurement Schedule

Domains Pre-test Post-test Z-value

Mean ± SD Mean ± SD

Sociability 15.70 ± 5.95 19.10 ± 3.60 1.89

Adaptability 16.50 ± 5.15 17.50 ± 3.21 0.46
Threshold of responsiveness 14.50 ± 4.72 19.30 ± 2.41 2.30*
Emotionality 19.60 ± 3.53 18.10 ± 2.77 1.32
Persistence 15.90 ± 4.25 15.80 ± 3.29 0.21
Energy 12.90 ± 2.38 16.20 ± 4.52 1.49
Intensity 14.10 ± 3.54 19.00 ± 3.65 2.81**
Distractibility 12.70 ± 3.53 17.00 ± 3.97 1.84
Rhythmicity 14.60 ± 1.26 17.40 ± 2.72 2.33*
* p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01.

be attributed to both the individual and the community. Uneven physical

and mental development of persons with intellectual disability, and lack of
training facilities, community funds, and trained professional and
community awareness, are some of the factors that interfere with under-
taking outdoor recreational activities (Buttimer and Tierney, 2005; Patton
and Spiers, 1986). In this context, the present study highlights the effect of
a systematically planned mountaineering expedition on the behavioral
repertoire and temperament of the individuals concerned.
As was expected, there was a decrease in the overall problem behav-
iours. This suggests that when individuals with intellectual disability are
provided with opportunities to engage in organized and challenging

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JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES 12 ( 3 )
physical activities, then their problem behaviors, particularly hyperactivity,
reduce.
During the expedition it was noted that the participants were very
excited about mountaineering and they were always ready to perform
self-help skills independently. They readily displayed appropriate social
behaviors, such as sharing their personal material with others, lending
support to others and waiting for turns.This observation corroborates with
the positive changes in temperament including the threshold of respon-
siveness, intensity and rhythmicity. These findings suggest that recreational
skills such as camping and mountaineering will increase tolerance level,
achieve greater control over needs and facilitate appropriate social
responses in people with intellectual disability.
This mountaineering experience also enhanced the curiosity of the
participants towards their environment: some started painting what they
saw, and some took photographs of the locations. During this expedition
the team also had a chance to interact with local people and tourists, which
hopefully generated more positive awareness about intellectual disability.
More importantly it helped the parents understand that their children were
capable of performing specific things beyond their expectations, albeit with
systematic training.
In conclusion, with appropriate training, persons with intellectual
disability can overcome their limitations to achieve significant outcomes.
Therefore outdoor recreational activities can be used effectively to develop
independent social and living skills and also reduce problem behaviors in
persons with intellectual disability. Future studies may focus on the long-
term impact of recreation skills.

Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the participants and their parents at Partner
Hoogly for their enthusiasm; Chandan Nagar Mountaineering Association
and the local administration for their support and Director, NIMH, India
for permission to conduct the study.

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Correspondence should be addressed to:

M . T. K I S H O R E , PhD (Clinical Psychology), Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation
Psychology & Officer In Charge, NIMH Regional Centre, NIOH Campus, BT Road,
Kolkata 700 090, India. e-mail: mtk_psy@rediffmail.com

Date accepted 25/05/08

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