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

Abstract

BackgroundThe time that children and young people spend in nature and outdoor spaces has decreased significantly over the past 30 years. This was exacerbated with a further 60% decline post-COVID-19. Research demonstrating that natural environments have a positive impact on health and wellbeing has led to prescription of nature-based health interventions and green prescribing, although evidence for its use is predominantly limited to adults. Growing evidence also shows the impact of arts on all aspects of health and wellbeing. However, what has received scant attention in literature is the interconnection between the two: arts and nature.AimsThis review synthesizes the literature surrounding the interconnectedness between arts and nature, and their impact on the health and wellbeing of children and young people.MethodsEight major electronic databases were systematically searched, while hand-searching included 20 journals, six books, and contact with experts. The review was conducted using the Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews, PRISMA guidelines and TIDieR template. All stages were conducted independently by two researchers and the protocol was published on PROSPERO (Registration no.: CRD42021286574).ResultsAlthough 9,314 records were identified, only 11 records were included as most studies focused either on arts or nature, but not both. Studies were conducted in United Kingdom, United States, Ireland, Australia, and Hong Kong, in a range of spaces such as forests, woodlands, beaches, parks, fields, gardens, and school playgrounds. The review encompasses data from 602 participants in total.DiscussionArts-in-nature offered an inclusive medium to engage all children and young people, especially those who might otherwise remain disinterested about environmental issues and disengaged with educational programs. Further, arts-in-nature provided stimuli to increase nature connectivity, understand environmental issues and explore ways to prevent environmental disasters. This led to higher environmental awareness and pro-environmental behaviors, and potential decrease in eco-anxiety.ConclusionAlthough the quality of qualitative studies was high, the quality of quantitative studies was low or unclear, thus quantitative evidence is still at its infancy. Implications for research, policy, and practice are discussed, such as methods and activities to strengthen future interventions. Scaling-up existing interventions may lead to wider recognition and inclusion of arts-in-nature in future health guidelines, including green prescribing.

Growing up in Victoria, Australia, in the midst of the climate emergency

“…Climate action also instills a sense of belonging to a greater cause and promotes values related to social justice (Sanson & Bellemo, 2021), and meaning-focused coping in relation to climate change has been found to promote wellbeing (Ojala, 2022). But for young people to truly benefit from climate action, they require adequate support from family, friends, school, and the broader community (Moore & Duffin, 2020; Moula et al, 2022). Instances of dismissal or backlash from adults and authorities, along with government inaction on climate change, contribute to the distress experienced by young activists (Hickman et al, 2021).…”

Unearthing Inequities in the Relationship between Multiple Sociodemographic Factors and Diverse Elements of Park Availability and Quality in a Major Southern Metropolitan Region

“…Similarly, a study by Cohen et al [114] found that playgrounds with an increased variety of play elements had more visitors. In other scenarios, improvements to the health-promoting potential of parks may be identified, such as implementing community garden spaces, outdoor group exercise classes, art installations, and walking trails [115][116][117]. For any such interventions to be culturally relevant and address specific community needs, it is critical to engage local communities throughout the park planning and development process [118,119].…”

Current evidence and opportunities in child and adolescent public mental health: a research review

“…These can be important opportunities for self‐expression, socialisation and supporting others. Reviews on this topic have examined arts‐based interventions (Moula et al., 2022), group singing (Glew, Simonds, & Williams, 2021) and unstructured play (Lee et al., 2020). However, in general, the studies included in these reviews were of variable quality and rarely measured mental health‐related outcomes, so few conclusions could be drawn regarding their effectiveness.…”

“…Recent systematic reviews examining the impact of interventions targeting or set in the natural environment have included a wide range of social and independent activities (e.g. green space activity, gardening and wilderness experiences) across diverse natural settings (Bray, Reece, Sinnett, Martin, & Hayward, 2022;Fyfe-Johnson et al, 2021;Moula, Palmer, & Walshe, 2022). Findings from these reviews have generally supported the effectiveness of these interventions for improving mental health outcomes.…”