Impact of outdoor nature-related activities on gut microbiota, fecal serotonin, and perceived stress in preschool children: the Play&Grow randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Due to rapid urbanization, children today have fewer opportunities to interact with nature and this may result in a greater risk for developing stress and depression. Outdoor nature-related activities can enhance general well-being. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully delineated. Here we recruited 54 preschool children to participate in a 10-week structured nature-related “Play&Grow” program. Following the intervention, children were assessed for connectedness to nature and perceived stress levels using validated questionnaires. Moreover, fecal serotonin level and gut microbiota profiles were measured by ELISA and 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing, respectively. Children were significantly more connected to nature after the intervention. Their gut microbiota altered, especially by modulating the abundance of Roseburia and the fecal-serotonin level. Moreover, we also observed a reduction in the overall perceived stress, particularly in the frequency of anger among these children. This study is the first to demonstrate the impact of nature-related activities on gut microbiota, fecal serotonin and psychosocial behaviour of preschool children. However, further mechanistic studies are needed to confirm the functional role of gut microbiota in the association between connectedness to nature and improved psychosocial behavior.

The Influence of Connectedness to Nature on Psychological Well-Being: Evidence from the Randomized Controlled Trial Play&Grow

“…The positive changes in the Prosocial scores of participants in the IG after the Play&Grow intervention are in agreement with the recently published study measuring gut microbiome [15], where the Play&Grow program significantly improved the overall perceived stress, particularly anger frequency and prosocial behavior of children, and suggested a mechanistic link between these behaviors and the bacterial load when children are exposed to natural environments. Likewise, beneficial impacts of exposure to the natural environment on negative emotions (i.e., anger and sadness) was also highlighted in a systematic review [23].…”

“…The rationale and earlier results are described in greater detail in the protocol and other publications [3,15,17,18]. Play&Grow is a structured intervention aimed at improving urban preschoolers' connectedness to natural environments through interactive games for children and providing guidance for parents/caregivers on taking care of their children.…”

“…Finally, our group has recently shown in a robust RCT that indoor and outdoor nature-related activities not only improved CN but also brought about positive changes in gut microbiota in pre-school children, which may in turn lead to healthier lifestyles with better psychological management and behaviors [15]. Following the intervention, fecal serotonin level and gut microbiota profiles were measured by ELISA and 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing, respectively.…”

A Systematic Review of Arts-Based Interventions Delivered to Children and Young People in Nature or Outdoor Spaces: Impact on Nature Connectedness, Health and Wellbeing

“…Bassingthwaighte (2017): Taking dramatherapy into the outside space: The benefits and obstacles when working with children with SEMH issues Berger (2006): Using contact with nature, creativity and rituals as a therapeutic medium with children with learning difficulties: A case study Kern and Aldridge (2006) (Gray and Birrell, 2015;Gray and Thomson, 2016;Tiplady and Menter, 2021). The duration also varied from 45 min (Sobko et al, 2020) to one full day (Tiplady and Menter, 2021;. The frequency and intensity varied from two consecutive days (Adams and Beauchamp, 2018Arbuthnott and Sutter, 2019) to once a week (Murphy, 2018;Sobko et al, 2020;Tiplady and Menter, 2021;.…”

Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Microbiota of Human Gut and Its Direct Environment in a Household Cohort with High Background of Antibiotic Use

“…The native microbial composition is not only strongly associated with host factors [2] but also with geographic and environmental variables [4,5]. Physical interactions between hosts and their natural environment may also alter the microbiota diversity and composition [6]. Recent work on the microbiota of humans and animals has suggested that, due to interactions, such as contact with natural environments and co-housing conditions, individuals may share specific bacterial strains or have a more similar microbiota with each other and their environments [7].…”