The influence of the neighborhood physical environment on early child health and development: A review and call for research
Research shows a positive association between neighborhood physical environment and early child health and development
This systematic literature review examined 32 quantitative studies focusing on the relationship between the neighborhood physical environment and early child health and development. Evidence of this association was grouped into four categories: safety, access to child-relevant destinations and services, green spaces, and other neighborhood features, including housing density, outdoor home area, and quality of streets and neighborhood facilities.
Of these four categories, safety was the most frequently addressed area. Findings provided some evidence that parents’ perceptions of neighborhood safety were positively associated with young children’s social-emotional development and general health.
Four studies reported a significant association between the presence of child-relevant destinations (such as libraries, schools, and recreation centers) and early childhood development. One such study found that limited perceived access to child-relevant amenities was associated with less time engaged in peer play and fewer family outings.
Twenty two of the studies examined the relationship between neighborhood green spaces and early child health and development, with most reporting a positive association. The majority of these studies focused on outdoor play and physical activity and generally found these to be positively associated with neighborhood greenness, access to nature, green public open space, parks, and playgrounds. There was also some evidence that green spaces may be positively associated with children’s cognitive and motor development.
As stated by the researchers, this review highlights that the neighborhood physical environment may be more important for some domains of early child health and development (physical health and well-being and social competence) than others (language and communication skills.)
Citation
Christian, H., Zubrick, S.R., Foster, S., Giles-Corti, B., Bill, F., Wood, L., Knuiman, M., Brinkman, S., Houghton, S., Boruff, B., (2015). The influence of the neighborhood physical environment on early child health and development: A review and call for research. Health & Place, 33,
