Children and Nature: Linking Accessibility of Natural Environments and Children's Health-Related Quality of Life

doi:10.3390/ijerph15061072

. 2018 May 25;15(6):1072.

doi: 10.3390/ijerph15061072.

Children and Nature: Linking Accessibility of Natural Environments and Children's Health-Related Quality of Life

Suzanne Tillmann¹, Andrew F Clark², Jason A Gilliland^{3

4

5

6

7

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Affiliations

¹ Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada. stillma@uwo.ca.
² Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada. aclark2@uwo.ca.
³ Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada. jgillila@uwo.ca.
⁴ Department of Paediatrics, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada. jgillila@uwo.ca.
⁵ School of Health Studies, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada. jgillila@uwo.ca.
⁶ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada. jgillila@uwo.ca.
⁷ Children's Health Research Institute, London, N6C 2V5, Canada. jgillila@uwo.ca.
⁸ Lawson Health Research Institute, London, N6C 2R5, Canada. jgillila@uwo.ca.

PMID: 29799451
PMCID: PMC6025036
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15061072

Free PMC article

Children and Nature: Linking Accessibility of Natural Environments and Children's Health-Related Quality of Life

Suzanne Tillmann et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018.

Free PMC article

. 2018 May 25;15(6):1072.

doi: 10.3390/ijerph15061072.

Authors

Suzanne Tillmann¹, Andrew F Clark², Jason A Gilliland^{3

4

5

6

7

8}

Affiliations

¹ Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada. stillma@uwo.ca.
² Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada. aclark2@uwo.ca.
³ Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada. jgillila@uwo.ca.
⁴ Department of Paediatrics, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada. jgillila@uwo.ca.
⁵ School of Health Studies, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada. jgillila@uwo.ca.
⁶ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada. jgillila@uwo.ca.
⁷ Children's Health Research Institute, London, N6C 2V5, Canada. jgillila@uwo.ca.
⁸ Lawson Health Research Institute, London, N6C 2R5, Canada. jgillila@uwo.ca.

PMID: 29799451
PMCID: PMC6025036
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15061072

Abstract

A growing body of research suggests that increasing children's nature interactions can have positive benefits for their health-related quality of life (HRQOL); however, researchers have yet to examine how geographical context influences this relationship. The purpose of this study was to examine individual-level and environmental factors that are associated with HRQOL of children from different geographical contexts. Data were collected for 851 children from 34 elementary schools in Ontario, Canada. The natural environments around each child's home were computed using geospatial analyses in a geographic information system. Natural environment measures were combined with HRQOL and the demographics from child surveys to be used in a series of step-wise linear regression models. These models explored the relationship between children's HRQOL and the natural environment in urban/suburban and rural populations. In addition to important individual-level determinants, the findings revealed that characteristics of the natural environment, including the amount of greenness, park, and water, show significant relationships in the urban/suburban population. Interpersonal variables were the key predictors of HRQOL in the rural population. Where children live influences relationships between nature and HRQOL. These findings have implications for policymakers, health practitioners, educators, and parents in the design and the promotion of nature for children's HRQOL.

Keywords: children; health-related quality of life; mental health; nature.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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References

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[1] Barton J., Sandercock G., Pretty J., Wood C. The effect of playground- and nature-based playtime interventions on physical activity and self-esteem in UK school children. Int. J. Environ. Health Res. 2015;25:196–206. doi: 10.1080/09603123.2014.915020. - DOI - PubMed

[2] Barton J., Sandercock G., Pretty J., Wood C. The effect of playground- and nature-based playtime interventions on physical activity and self-esteem in UK school children. Int. J. Environ. Health Res. 2015;25:196–206. doi: 10.1080/09603123.2014.915020. - DOI - PubMed

[3] Dadvand P., Nieuwenhuijsen M.J., Esnaola M., Forns J., Basagaña X., Alvarez-Pedrerol M., Rivas I., López-Vicente M., De Castro Pascual M., Su J., et al. Green spaces and cognitive development in primary schoolchildren. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 2015;112:7937–7942. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1503402112. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[4] Dadvand P., Nieuwenhuijsen M.J., Esnaola M., Forns J., Basagaña X., Alvarez-Pedrerol M., Rivas I., López-Vicente M., De Castro Pascual M., Su J., et al. Green spaces and cognitive development in primary schoolchildren. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 2015;112:7937–7942. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1503402112. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[5] Maller C.J. Promoting childnre’s mental, emotional and social health through contact with nature: A model. Health Educ. 2009;109:522–543. doi: 10.1108/09654280911001185. - DOI

[6] Maller C.J. Promoting childnre’s mental, emotional and social health through contact with nature: A model. Health Educ. 2009;109:522–543. doi: 10.1108/09654280911001185. - DOI

[7] Ward J.S., Duncan J.S., Jarden A., Stewart T. The impact of children’s exposure to greenspace on physical activity, cognitive development, emotional wellbeing, and ability to appraise risk. Health Place. 2016;40:44–50. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2016.04.015. - DOI - PubMed

[8] Ward J.S., Duncan J.S., Jarden A., Stewart T. The impact of children’s exposure to greenspace on physical activity, cognitive development, emotional wellbeing, and ability to appraise risk. Health Place. 2016;40:44–50. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2016.04.015. - DOI - PubMed

[9] Wu C.D., McNeely E., Cedeno-Laurent J.G., Pan W.C., Adamkiewicz G., Dominici F., Lung S.C., Su H.J., Spengler J.D. Linking Student Performance in Massachusetts Elementary Schools with the “Greenness” of School Surroudings Using Remote Sensing. PLoS ONE. 2014;9:e108548. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108548. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[10] Wu C.D., McNeely E., Cedeno-Laurent J.G., Pan W.C., Adamkiewicz G., Dominici F., Lung S.C., Su H.J., Spengler J.D. Linking Student Performance in Massachusetts Elementary Schools with the “Greenness” of School Surroudings Using Remote Sensing. PLoS ONE. 2014;9:e108548. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108548. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

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Children and Nature: Linking Accessibility of Natural Environments and Children's Health-Related Quality of Life

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Children and Nature: Linking Accessibility of Natural Environments and Children's Health-Related Quality of Life

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