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A comparison of children with ADHD in a natural and built setting

Children with ADHD functioned better in the woods than in a built setting

Several studies have found that contact with nature may reduce symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. The purpose of this study was to build on this work, adding insights and evidence, comparing the effects of children’s experiences in a nature-based, wooded setting and a town environment on the attributes associated with their diagnosis of ADHD.

Van den Berg and van den Berg examined the behavior and cognitive and emotional functioning of 12 children, between the ages of 9 and 17, enrolled in a care program for children with ADHD at two farms in the Netherlands.  As part of this study, researchers observed and tested the two groups of children during visits to a wooded area and a nearby town on consecutive days. At both of these locations, researchers observed children participating in a group activity (e.g., building a cabin or exploring a neighborhood), and had children evaluate their experience, describe their mood, and take a concentration test.

In analyzing the data, van den Berg and van den Berg found that both groups performed better on a concentration task in the woods than in the town, however, they found that children’s behavior and emotional functioning in the two settings differed. Researchers found that children in one group liked the woods better than the town and had more positive behaviors and feelings in the woods, whereas children from the other group liked the town and woods equally and displayed positive behaviors in both settings, although they showed somewhat less positive behaviors overall in the town than in the woods.

The findings from this study, in conjunction with previous research, suggest that the natural environment may help children mitigate and reduce the symptoms of ADHD. The researchers note that this may be particularly valuable “because there is an increasing demand for alternative complementary treatment of ADHD from parents and professionals who are uncomfortable with the prospect of long-term use of pharmacologic treatments.” The researchers recommend additional studies of the roles of the physical environment in designing and applying treatments for ADHD.

 

Citation

Van Den Berg, A., Van Den Berg, C., (2011). A comparison of children with ADHD in a natural and built setting. Child: Care, Health and Development, 37(3), 430-439.

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2010.01172.x

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