Nature activities and wellbeing in children and young people: A systematic literature review
Empirical research over the last 40 years identifies positive associations between nature activities and wellbeing in children and youth
Research-based evidence supports a link between nature experiences and wellbeing in children and youth. Exactly what aspects of wellbeing are impacted by time in nature remains unclear. This systematic review of the literature aimed to provide a summary of the existing research on the effects of nature-related experiences on the wellbeing of children and youth and highlight implications for practice.
Studies included in the review were published in academic journals between 1978 and 2018, focused on some form of outdoor nature-related activity as experienced by children and youth, and reported its impact on wellbeing. Fourteen papers met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed for this review. Six of the studies used quantitative research methods. The other eight used qualitative designs. Most of the studies were cross-sectional and focused on children with behavioral problems. All of the studies but one were considered to be of poor or weak quality. Factors contributing to the poor quality included selection bias, weak study design, and confounders. Most of the studies were conducted in Western countries with a predominantly white sample.
The natural environments where the children and youth had contact with nature varied considerably. These environments ranged from familiar natural spaces (e.g., residential and school yards) to wilderness settings in other countries. Nature activities also varied considerably, ranging from a focus on therapy and education to adventure and play. Some of the nature activities were relatively brief in duration; others extended over multiple days or months.
A range of wellbeing outcomes were identified for both children and adolescents. These outcomes were grouped into five thematic areas: self-esteem and confidence, positive and negative affect, stress reduction and restoration, social benefits, and resilience. Not all reported outcomes were positive. Two of the studies reported individuals experiencing nature as threatening or intimidating. There were also some inconsistencies in reported outcomes. Some studies involving adolescents, for example, reported improvements in self-esteem. Other studies found no increase in adolescent self-esteem. Particularly promising were reports of beneficial impacts on wellbeing after even brief exposure to nature. While this review supports a positive association between nature activities and wellbeing in children and youth, more robust research is recommended, including studies investigating possible long-lasting effects of nature activities.
Citation
Roberts, A., Hinds, J., Camic, P.M., (2020). Nature activities and wellbeing in children and young people: A systematic literature review. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 20(4),
