By Stephen Beech via SWNS
Spending time in the great outdoors helps children with mental health issues, suggests a new study.
Researchers found that nature reduces emotional distress among troubled 10- to 12-year-olds.
They say their findings suggest that an inexpensive school-based program may help the most vulnerable youngsters.
Canadian researchers discovered that spending two hours a week of class time in a natural environment can reduce emotional distress among 10- to 12-year-olds who had the most significant mental health problems before the program began.
The research, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, follows the recent publication of a UNICEF report pointing to the importance of green space for children’s development.
The Canadian team looked at the effects of spending time in nature on the behavior and mental health symptoms of more than 500 schoolchildren across Quebec in the spring of 2023.
They found that at the end of a three-month period, teachers noted that the biggest changes in behavior occurred in children with the most significant problems at the outset.
These included anxiety and depression, aggressivity and impulsivity, and social problems relating to interaction with their peers.
Interviews with the teachers following the program also suggested that children were more calm, more relaxed and more attentive in class after time spent in nature.
Study senior author Professor Marie-Claude Geoffroy, of McGill University, said: “We found that children with higher mental health symptoms at baseline showed greater reductions in symptoms following the intervention.”
Co-author Professor Sylvana Côté, from the University of Montreal, added: “This suggests that nature-based programs may offer targeted benefits for children with higher levels of mental health vulnerabilities and potentially act as an equalizer of mental health among school-age children,”
The research builds on earlier observational studies but is the first to use a randomized controlled trial to provide concrete information about the benefits to children of spending time in nature.
All the schools involved in the study were within a mile of a park or green space.
Half of the children stayed in school, while a similar number of children took part in the nature-based intervention.
Geoffroy said: “The idea for the project came up during the pandemic when people were worried about the health risks of children spending so much time inside the school each day.
“My kids and I spend lots of time in parks, so I’ve seen the benefits of spending time in nature, both for myself and for them.
“So, I thought maybe we can have a free and accessible intervention where school children can spend time in nature, and we can measure the effects this has on their mood and behavior.”
During the two hours they spent in the park each week, teachers were asked to offer their regular classes in subjects such as maths, languages or science.
They were also asked to incorporate a 10- to 15-minute activity designed to promote mental health, with examples drawn from a teachers’ kit designed by the research team.
The activities included drawing a tree, writing haikus, and mindful walking.
Study first author Tianna Loose, a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Montreal, added: “The intervention was low-cost, well-received and posed no risks, making it a promising strategy for schools with access to greenspaces.”
The researchers plan to follow up the study by working with teenagers to co-design an intervention in nature to improve well-being, reduce climate anxiety and increase connection to nature.
