Nature in the indoor and outdoor study environment and secondary and tertiary education students’ well-being, academic outcomes, and possible mediating pathways: A systematic review with recommendations for science and practice
“… Thomsen et al 46 113 studies, of which 74% used quantitative data, 18% used qualitative data, and 8% used a mixed-methods approach Wildland recreation activities like hiking, camping, and paddling sports Physical activity, cardiovascular health, muscle strength/bone, mass endurance, obesity, blood pressure, respiratory health, flexibility, sleep quality, self-esteem, emotional well-being, perceived stress/anxiety, family friend functioning, coping with illness/disorder, quality of life, hopelessness/depression, flourishing/happiness/joy, youth behavioral/emotional, and mindfulness Wildland recreation has the potential to improve physical and mental health, including physical activity, self-esteem, and perceived stress. van den Bogerd et al 44 37 studies including 18 experimental and intervention studies and 19 cross-sectional or cohort studies Campus greenspace Students’ well-being, academic outcomes, and outcomes related to the pathways of mitigation, restoration, and instoration There was limited evidence for the effects of nature in the study environment on students’ well-being, academic outcomes, or outcomes related to the possible underlying pathways. Wolf et al 45 201 studies including 56 experimental studies, 26 natural/quasi-experimental studies, 11 longitudinal studies, 69 cross-sectional studies, 24 modelling studies, and 14 time-series studies Experience or visit to forest or woodland, canopy cover, individual trees, clusters of trees, associated measures like pollen, moss, and tree loss to emerald ash borer; viewing images/tapes of trees, forest/woodland/land cover, experiencing trees in a park, and view of trees/forest through a window Psychological and cognitive outcomes like mental acuity, stress; physiological measures such as heart rate, cortisol, and glucose levels; self-reported symptoms of illness and allergies; modelling of human health impacts related to heat and air quality; actual air quality, hospitalization and medical records, medication usage, neurological measures, etc.…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“… 46 N P Y N N N N Y N N N/A N/A N N N/A N van den Bogerd et al. 44 Y Y Y P Y N N Y Y N N/A N/A Y Y N/A Y Wolf et al. 45 N N Y Y Y N N P Y N N/A N/A Y N N/A Y Yuan et al.…”
Multiple systematic reviews on greenspace and health outcomes exist, but the overall evidence base remains unclear. Therefore, we performed an umbrella review to collect and appraise all relevant systematic reviews of epidemiological studies on greenness exposure and health. We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from inception to June 28, 2021, and screened references of relevant articles. Systematic reviews with or without meta-analyses of epidemiological studies that examined the associations of greenness with any health outcome were included. Two independent investigators performed study selection and data extraction. We also evaluated the methodological quality of the included systematic reviews using the “Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews 2” checklist. A total of 40 systematic reviews and meta-analyses were included, of which most were cross-sectional studies conducted in high-income countries. Greenspace exposure was estimated with various objective and subjective parameters. Beneficial associations of greenspace with all-cause and stroke-specific mortality, CVD morbidity, cardiometabolic factors, mental health, low birth weight, physical activity, sleep quality, and urban crime were observed. No consistent associations between greenspace and other health outcomes (e.g., cancers) were observed. Most of the included systematic reviews and meta-analyses had one or more limitations in methodology. Our findings provide supportive evidence regarding the beneficial effects of greenspace exposure on some aspects of human health. However, the credibility of such evidence was compromised by methodological limitations. Better performed systematic reviews and meta-analyses as well as longitudinal designed primary studies are needed to validate this conclusion.
“… Thomsen et al 46 113 studies, of which 74% used quantitative data, 18% used qualitative data, and 8% used a mixed-methods approach Wildland recreation activities like hiking, camping, and paddling sports Physical activity, cardiovascular health, muscle strength/bone, mass endurance, obesity, blood pressure, respiratory health, flexibility, sleep quality, self-esteem, emotional well-being, perceived stress/anxiety, family friend functioning, coping with illness/disorder, quality of life, hopelessness/depression, flourishing/happiness/joy, youth behavioral/emotional, and mindfulness Wildland recreation has the potential to improve physical and mental health, including physical activity, self-esteem, and perceived stress. van den Bogerd et al 44 37 studies including 18 experimental and intervention studies and 19 cross-sectional or cohort studies Campus greenspace Students’ well-being, academic outcomes, and outcomes related to the pathways of mitigation, restoration, and instoration There was limited evidence for the effects of nature in the study environment on students’ well-being, academic outcomes, or outcomes related to the possible underlying pathways. Wolf et al 45 201 studies including 56 experimental studies, 26 natural/quasi-experimental studies, 11 longitudinal studies, 69 cross-sectional studies, 24 modelling studies, and 14 time-series studies Experience or visit to forest or woodland, canopy cover, individual trees, clusters of trees, associated measures like pollen, moss, and tree loss to emerald ash borer; viewing images/tapes of trees, forest/woodland/land cover, experiencing trees in a park, and view of trees/forest through a window Psychological and cognitive outcomes like mental acuity, stress; physiological measures such as heart rate, cortisol, and glucose levels; self-reported symptoms of illness and allergies; modelling of human health impacts related to heat and air quality; actual air quality, hospitalization and medical records, medication usage, neurological measures, etc.…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“… 46 N P Y N N N N Y N N N/A N/A N N N/A N van den Bogerd et al. 44 Y Y Y P Y N N Y Y N N/A N/A Y Y N/A Y Wolf et al. 45 N N Y Y Y N N P Y N N/A N/A Y N N/A Y Yuan et al.…”
Multiple systematic reviews on greenspace and health outcomes exist, but the overall evidence base remains unclear. Therefore, we performed an umbrella review to collect and appraise all relevant systematic reviews of epidemiological studies on greenness exposure and health. We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from inception to June 28, 2021, and screened references of relevant articles. Systematic reviews with or without meta-analyses of epidemiological studies that examined the associations of greenness with any health outcome were included. Two independent investigators performed study selection and data extraction. We also evaluated the methodological quality of the included systematic reviews using the “Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews 2” checklist. A total of 40 systematic reviews and meta-analyses were included, of which most were cross-sectional studies conducted in high-income countries. Greenspace exposure was estimated with various objective and subjective parameters. Beneficial associations of greenspace with all-cause and stroke-specific mortality, CVD morbidity, cardiometabolic factors, mental health, low birth weight, physical activity, sleep quality, and urban crime were observed. No consistent associations between greenspace and other health outcomes (e.g., cancers) were observed. Most of the included systematic reviews and meta-analyses had one or more limitations in methodology. Our findings provide supportive evidence regarding the beneficial effects of greenspace exposure on some aspects of human health. However, the credibility of such evidence was compromised by methodological limitations. Better performed systematic reviews and meta-analyses as well as longitudinal designed primary studies are needed to validate this conclusion.
“…A study compared natural environments' influences on the well-being of adolescents versus other age groups [7]. Previous studies on young adults and adolescents have assessed natural environments as being more restorative than built ones [8,9]. One's own experience plays an essential role in assessing a natural environment's influence [10].…”
Background: According to previous studies, the natural environment positively influences well-being, including that of adolescent girls. However, knowledge is lacking on what motivates adolescent girls to spend time in nature. A secondary analysis of qualitative data was conducted employing three preexisting sets of interview data that had formed the basis of previously published research reports. A novel perspective on what motivates adolescent girls in the Arctic to spend time in nature was uncovered—a finding that previous articles have not reported. Aim: The aim was to describe what motivates adolescent girls in the Arctic to spend time in nature. Methods: The participants were adolescent girls aged 13 to 16 living in the province of Finnish Lapland. The girls wrote about well-being (n = 117) and were interviewed (n = 19) about the meaning of seasonal changes, nature and animals’ influence on well-being. Also, five focus group interviews (n = 17) were held. The materials were analyzed by inductive content analysis. Results: After the secondary analysis, three generic categories were found: 1) wanting to have pleasant emotions, 2) the possibility of participating in activities and 3) a desire to feel better. The main category of “need to experience positive sensations” was formed. Conclusion: Based on these results, through personalized guidance and advice, it is possible to strengthen adolescent girls’ willingness to spend time in nature.
“…For example, Adams et al (21) showed that students' poor mental health (depression, anxiety, negative affect) is associated to some extent with a decline in immunity system function and acute infectious illnesses including bronchitis, sinusitis, strep throat and ear infection. To enhance university students' mental health, the importance of outdoor campus green space has been recognized as a potential restorative setting that contribute to their psychological restoration (20,22), attention restoration (23) and mental fatigue restoration (16). As many studies have shown, in outdoor environments there are possibilities to enjoy a psychological restoration experience and mental health benefits.…”
Introduction: Green spaces support people mentally in their everyday life. Perceived restorativeness and Perceived Sensory Dimension (PSD) have been addressed as optimal environmental related characteristics with regards to psychological restoration. However, relatively little research has investigated how the perception of these characteristics, directly and indirectly, affects restoration experience, particularly in a sample of university students within the area of green outdoor campus landscapes.Methods: This study hypothesizes these associations through application of partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), inputting data from a sample of university students in Malaysia. In the hypothesized model, we examine the degree of restoration that is enjoyed by subjects within landscapes through the effects of these characteristics. Indirect effects of perceived restorativeness via evaluation of mediation effects associated with perception of landscape characteristics and restoration experience are also investigated.Results: Through validation of the measurement model, we find significant positive coefficient paths with adequate predictive abilities in the hypothesized model. Findings suggest the effect of PSD on perceived restorativeness leads to a better explanation of restoration experience. In addition, perceived landscape characteristics of PSD enhance restoration experience in alignment with perceived restorativeness characteristics.Conclusions: Greater effects on restoration experience come through perceived restorativeness that is affected by PSD, which itself is capable of promoting favorable experiences of restorativeness in a green space and facilitating psychological restorative outcomes. The mechanistic effect of emotional regulation implies a distinct role of green spaces in maintaining good mental health and has relevance to public health models that promote independence and well-being through preventative approaches. The work paves the way for further studies that examine which dimensions of PSD support perceived restorativeness and restoration experience more than others, and the wider psycho-social value of green spaces through the application of mediation effects and personal sensory dimensions in the development of mental health.
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