Children With Attention Deficits Concentrate Better After Walk in the Park

Abstract

Objective:In the general population, attention is reliably enhanced after exposure to certain physical environments, particularly natural environments. This study examined the impacts of environments on attention in children with ADHD. Method: In this within subjects design, each participant experienced each of three treatments (environments) in single blind controlled trials. Seventeen children 7 to12 years old professionally diagnosed with ADHD experienced each of three environments-a city park and two other well-kept urban settings-via individually guided 20-minute walks. Environments were experienced 1 week apart, with randomized assignment to treatment order. After each walk, concentration was measured using Digit Span Backwards. Results: Children with ADHD concentrated better after the walk in the park than after the downtown walk (p = .0229) or the neighborhood walk (p = .0072). Effect sizes were substantial (Cohen's d =.52 and .77, respectively) and comparable to those reported for recent formulations of methylphenidate. Conclusion: Twenty minutes in a park setting was sufficient to elevate attention performance relative to the same amount of time in other settings. These findings indicate that environments can enhance attention not only in the general population but also in ADHD populations. "Doses of nature" might serve as a safe, inexpensive, widely accessible new tool in the tool kit for managing ADHD symptoms. (J. of Att. Dis. 2008; XX(X)

Attention Restoration Theory: A systematic review of the attention restoration potential of exposure to natural environments

“…Study designs included 16 randomized controlled trials (RCT) from 12 articles (Berto 2005;Chen, Lai, and Wu 2011;Cimprich and Ronis 2003;Hartig et al 1996;2003;Hartig, Mang, and Evans 1991;Laumann, Gärling, and Stormark 2003;Mayer et al 2009;Perkins, Searight, and Ratwik 2011;Rich 2008;Stark 2003; van den Berg, Koole, and van der Wulp 2003); 7 randomized crossover trials from 6 articles 2012;Bodin and Hartig 2003;Johansson, Hartig, and Staats 2011;Shin et al 2011;Taylor and Kuo 2009); 3 natural experiments (Kuo 2001;Taylor, Kuo, and Sullivan 2002;Tennessen and Cimprich 1995); 3 nonrandomized controlled trials (Berto 2005;Hartig, Mang, and Evans 1991;Wu et al 2008); and 2 nonrandomized crossover trials (Ottosson and Grahn 2005;van den Berg and van den Berg 2011).…”

“…Some studies involved actual exposure to nature: either through active engagement (walking, running, or other activities) 2012;Bodin and Hartig 2003;Cimprich and Ronis 2003;Hartig et al 1996;Hartig, Mang, and Evans 1991;Johansson, Hartig, and Staats 2011;Mayer et al 2009;Perkins, Searight, and Ratwik 2011;Shin et al 2011;Stark 2003;Taylor and Kuo 2009;van den Berg and van den Berg 2011;Wu et al 2008) or passive engagement (resting outside or living with a view) (Kuo 2001;Ottosson and Grahn 2005;Rich 2008;Taylor, Kuo, and Sullivan 2002;Tennessen and Cimprich 1995). Other investigations involved virtual exposure to nature; this was exclusively passive engagement (watching video or viewing images) Berto 2005;Chen, Lai, and Wu 2011;Hartig et al 1996;Laumann, Gärling, and Stormark 2003;Rich 2008;van den Berg, Koole, and van der Wulp 2003).…”

“…Eleven studies, reported in 10 articles, reported DSB scores (Table 5B) (Berman et al , 2012Cimprich and Ronis 2003;Kuo 2001;Ottosson and Grahn 2005;Perkins, Searight, and Ratwik 2011;Rich 2008;Stark 2003;Taylor and Kuo 2009;Tennessen and Cimprich 1995). The metaanalysis included data from eight investigations reported in seven articles 2012;Cimprich and Ronis 2003;Kuo 2001;Stark 2003;Taylor and Kuo 2009;Tennessen and Cimprich 1995).…”

“…The metaanalysis included data from eight investigations reported in seven articles 2012;Cimprich and Ronis 2003;Kuo 2001;Stark 2003;Taylor and Kuo 2009;Tennessen and Cimprich 1995). The natural exposure groups performed significantly better than controls (Figure 3).…”

Parental influence on children’s physical activity in urban green spaces

“…Studies indicate that access to UGS is associated with many health benefits for children. Studies, for instance, show that children who live in greener surroundings or have views of and access to green environments are healthier (Grahn, 1996), cope better with stressful life events (Wells and Evans, 2003), have lower rates of depression (Maas, et al, 2009), less stress and anxiety (Chawla, et al, 2014), reduced symptoms of attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (Kuo and Faber Taylor, 2004;Faber Taylor and Kuo, 2009), and higher self-discipline (Faber Taylor, et al, 2002), and show more focused attention (Grahn, 1996;Wells, 2000) and reduced inattentiveness (Dadvand, et al, 2015).…”