TY - JOUR
T1 - A narrative and systematic review of the behavioural, cognitive and emotional effects of passive nature exposure on young people
T2 - Evidence for prescribing change
AU - Norwood, Michael
AU - Fullagar, Simone
AU - Kendall, Elizabeth
PY - 2019/9/30
Y1 - 2019/9/30
N2 - Health care providers are increasingly prescribing nature exposure to treat emotional, behavioural and cognitive difficulties of children who experience challenging personal and social circumstances. Correlational studies suggest these prescriptions have short-term potential. The capacity for nature exposure to promote long-term change is unclear. This paper presents the results of a systematic review exploring the ability of the natural environment to promote behavioural, cognitive or emotional change in young people. A systematic review of CINAHL, Medline, Scopus, Embase, PsychInfo produced 59,221 papers. Six met the review criteria. Synthesis suggested that passive nature exposure promotes positive changes in attention, memory and mood; little is known about behavioural changes and long-term outcomes. It is unknown how these changes translate to real world outcomes for children and how the effect of nature varies across different age groups. Overall, prescribing nature exposure for children appears advantageous. Randomised control trials and diverse qualitative methods using reliable outcome measures are needed to draw definitive conclusions.
AB - Health care providers are increasingly prescribing nature exposure to treat emotional, behavioural and cognitive difficulties of children who experience challenging personal and social circumstances. Correlational studies suggest these prescriptions have short-term potential. The capacity for nature exposure to promote long-term change is unclear. This paper presents the results of a systematic review exploring the ability of the natural environment to promote behavioural, cognitive or emotional change in young people. A systematic review of CINAHL, Medline, Scopus, Embase, PsychInfo produced 59,221 papers. Six met the review criteria. Synthesis suggested that passive nature exposure promotes positive changes in attention, memory and mood; little is known about behavioural changes and long-term outcomes. It is unknown how these changes translate to real world outcomes for children and how the effect of nature varies across different age groups. Overall, prescribing nature exposure for children appears advantageous. Randomised control trials and diverse qualitative methods using reliable outcome measures are needed to draw definitive conclusions.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85064601989&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2019.04.007
DO - 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2019.04.007
M3 - Review article
SN - 0169-2046
VL - 189
SP - 71
EP - 79
JO - Landscape and Urban Planning
JF - Landscape and Urban Planning
ER -