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In a groundbreaking new study led by the University of Glasgow, researchers have discovered that children who spend more time in natural environments exhibit significantly better mental health. This innovative research, published in the journal Environment International, utilized GPS and accelerometer tracking to measure children’s actual time spent in nature, revealing the profound benefits of such exposure, especially for children from lower-income households.
The study found that children who spent just 60 minutes daily in natural settings had a 50% lower risk of developing mental health issues. The positive effects were most pronounced among children from disadvantaged backgrounds, showing substantial improvements in behavior and social skills. Notably, light activities like walking in nature proved to be as beneficial as more vigorous activities, such as running.
In light of these findings, the researchers are calling for collaborative efforts among policymakers, local planners, community organizations, and health professionals to ensure that disadvantaged areas have good access to safe, high-quality natural spaces. They also emphasize the importance of raising awareness about the health benefits associated with spending time in nature.
Dr. Fiona Caryl, the lead researcher, highlighted the potential of nature to support children’s mental health. “Our findings suggest that encouraging children to spend more time in nature could be a simple yet effective way to support their mental health. Crucially, disadvantaged children appear to benefit more from time in nature than their advantaged peers.”
Professor Rich Mitchell, senior author of the study, pointed out the role of natural environments in reducing mental health disparities. “This provides compelling evidence of nature’s role in reducing gaps in mental health between higher and lower-income children. It suggests that natural environments might be ‘equigenic,’ meaning they can reduce inequalities by disproportionately benefiting those from less affluent backgrounds.”
Co-author Dr. Paul McCrorie added, “Natural environments may buffer less advantaged children against increased psychosocial and environmental stressors. They also increase opportunities for improving social connection through activities like team sports.”
The study stands out amid rising concerns about children’s mental health and increasing urbanization, underlining the crucial need to understand how nature affects young people’s well-being. Previous studies on nature-health relationships in children often yielded mixed results due to indirect measures of nature exposure, such as proximity to nature or parental estimates, rather than direct measurement of time spent in natural environments.
To address these limitations, the researchers, with full consent from participating children and their parents, employed advanced GPS and accelerometer technology to measure actual time spent in nature over a week. They categorized the nature usage based on the type of activities—vigorous or sedentary—and assessed the children’s mental health through questionnaires.
The compelling findings from this study underscore the importance of integrating natural spaces into urban planning and highlight the potential of nature to serve as a vital resource for enhancing the mental well-being of children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
For more detailed information, refer to the study by Fiona Caryl et al., “Use of natural environments is associated with reduced inequalities in child mental wellbeing: A cross-sectional analysis using global positioning system (GPS) data,” published in Environment International (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108847.
