IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v14y2017i5p475-d97260.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Stress in School. Some Empirical Hints on the Circadian Cortisol Rhythm of Children in Outdoor and Indoor Classes

Author

Listed:
  • Ulrich Dettweiler

    (Department of Cultural Studies and Languages, University of Stavanger, 4036 Stavanger, Norway)

  • Christoph Becker

    (Department of Sports and Health Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Arcisstr. 21, 80333 Munich, Germany)

  • Bjørn H. Auestad

    (Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Stavanger, 4036 Stavanger, Norway)

  • Perikles Simon

    (Faculty of Social Science, Media and Sport, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz Saarstr. 21, 55099 Mainz, Germany)

  • Peter Kirsch

    (Department of Clinical Psychology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, J 5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany)

Abstract

This prospective longitudinal survey compared the stress levels of students taught using an outdoor curriculum in a forest, with children in a normal school setting. We were especially interested in the effect outdoor teaching might have on the children’s normal diurnal cortisol rhythm. 48 children (mean age = 11.23; standard deviation (SD) = 0.46) were enrolled, with 37 in the intervention group (IG), and 11 in the control group (CG). The intervention consisted of one full school day per week in the forest over the school year. Stress levels were measured in cortisol with three samples of saliva per day. Furthermore, the data allowed for statistical control of physical activity (PA) values. For data analysis, we used a linear mixed-effects model (LMM) with random intercept and general correlation matrix for the within-unit residuals. The LMM yields that IG have expected greater decline of cortisol compared to CG; rate 0.069 µg/L vs. 0.0102 µg/L (log-units/2 h), p = 0.009. PA does not show a statistically significant interaction with cortisol ( p = 0.857), despite being higher in the intervention group ( p < 0.001). The main effect in our measures was that the IG had a steady decline of cortisol during the school day. This is in accordance with a healthy child’s diurnal rhythm, with a significant decline of cortisol from morning to noon. This effect is constant over the school year. The CG does not show this decline during either measurement day. Further research is needed to fully explain this interesting phenomenon.

Suggested Citation

  • Ulrich Dettweiler & Christoph Becker & Bjørn H. Auestad & Perikles Simon & Peter Kirsch, 2017. "Stress in School. Some Empirical Hints on the Circadian Cortisol Rhythm of Children in Outdoor and Indoor Classes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-14, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:5:p:475-:d:97260
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/14/5/475/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/14/5/475/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Florian Lederbogen & Peter Kirsch & Leila Haddad & Fabian Streit & Heike Tost & Philipp Schuch & Stefan Wüst & Jens C. Pruessner & Marcella Rietschel & Michael Deuschle & Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, 2011. "City living and urban upbringing affect neural social stress processing in humans," Nature, Nature, vol. 474(7352), pages 498-501, June.
    2. Jenny J. Roe & Catharine Ward Thompson & Peter A. Aspinall & Mark J. Brewer & Elizabeth I. Duff & David Miller & Richard Mitchell & Angela Clow, 2013. "Green Space and Stress: Evidence from Cortisol Measures in Deprived Urban Communities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-18, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Patricia Ann Barfield & Katelyn Ridder & Justin Hughes & Kelly Rice-McNeil, 2021. "Get Outside! Promoting Adolescent Health through Outdoor After-School Activity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-12, July.
    2. Juan de Dios Unión-Sánchez & Manuel Jesús Hermoso-Orzáez & Manuel Jesús Hervás-Pulido & Blas Ogáyar-Fernández, 2022. "Impact of Thermal Dissipation on the Lighting Performance and Useful Life of LED Luminaires Applied to Urban Lighting: A Case Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-23, January.
    3. Hiromitsu Kobayashi & Chorong Song & Harumi Ikei & Bum-Jin Park & Takahide Kagawa & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2017. "Diurnal Changes in Distribution Characteristics of Salivary Cortisol and Immunoglobulin A Concentrations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-9, August.
    4. Lucia Mason & Lucia Manzione & Angelica Ronconi & Francesca Pazzaglia, 2022. "Lessons in a Green School Environment and in the Classroom: Effects on Students’ Cognitive Functioning and Affect," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-16, December.
    5. Luca Petrigna & Ewan Thomas & Antonino Scardina & Federica Rizzo & Jessica Brusa & Giovanni Camarazza & Claudia Galassi & Antonio Palma & Marianna Bellafiore, 2022. "Methodological Considerations for Movement Education Interventions in Natural Environments for Primary School Children: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-11, January.
    6. Reo Jones & Robin Tarter & Amy Miner Ross, 2021. "Greenspace Interventions, Stress and Cortisol: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-21, March.
    7. Lucia Mason & Benedetta Zagni & Francesca Bacchin & Carlotta Frison & Sara Scrimin, 2022. "Children’s Attentional Processes in Outdoor and Indoor Environments: The Role of Physiological Self-Regulation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-14, October.
    8. Lærke Mygind & Matt P. Stevenson & Lasse S. Liebst & Ivana Konvalinka & Peter Bentsen, 2018. "Stress Response and Cognitive Performance Modulation in Classroom versus Natural Environments: A Quasi-Experimental Pilot Study with Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-15, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mardelle Shepley & Naomi Sachs & Hessam Sadatsafavi & Christine Fournier & Kati Peditto, 2019. "The Impact of Green Space on Violent Crime in Urban Environments: An Evidence Synthesis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-19, December.
    2. Lærke Mygind & Matt P. Stevenson & Lasse S. Liebst & Ivana Konvalinka & Peter Bentsen, 2018. "Stress Response and Cognitive Performance Modulation in Classroom versus Natural Environments: A Quasi-Experimental Pilot Study with Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-15, May.
    3. Charlotte Wendelboe-Nelson & Sarah Kelly & Marion Kennedy & John W. Cherrie, 2019. "A Scoping Review Mapping Research on Green Space and Associated Mental Health Benefits," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-49, June.
    4. S. Brent Jackson & Kathryn T. Stevenson & Lincoln R. Larson & M. Nils Peterson & Erin Seekamp, 2021. "Outdoor Activity Participation Improves Adolescents’ Mental Health and Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-18, March.
    5. Larissa Samaan & Leonie Klock & Sandra Weber & Mirjam Reidick & Leonie Ascone & Simone Kühn, 2024. "Low-Level Visual Features of Window Views Contribute to Perceived Naturalness and Mental Health Outcomes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(5), pages 1-35, May.
    6. Andrea Amerio & Andrea Brambilla & Alessandro Morganti & Andrea Aguglia & Davide Bianchi & Francesca Santi & Luigi Costantini & Anna Odone & Alessandra Costanza & Carlo Signorelli & Gianluca Serafini , 2020. "COVID-19 Lockdown: Housing Built Environment’s Effects on Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-10, August.
    7. Chorong Song & Harumi Ikei & Bum-Jin Park & Juyoung Lee & Takahide Kagawa & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2018. "Psychological Benefits of Walking through Forest Areas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-10, December.
    8. Migle Baceviciene & Rasa Jankauskiene, 2022. "The Mediating Effect of Nature Restorativeness, Stress Level, and Nature Connectedness in the Association between Nature Exposure and Quality of Life," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-15, February.
    9. Liwen Li & Klaus W. Lange, 2023. "Assessing the Relationship between Urban Blue-Green Infrastructure and Stress Resilience in Real Settings: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-28, June.
    10. Jake M. Robinson & Martin F. Breed, 2019. "Green Prescriptions and Their Co-Benefits: Integrative Strategies for Public and Environmental Health," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-14, January.
    11. Ben Senkler & Julius Freymueller & Susanne Lopez Lumbi & Claudia Hornberg & Hannah-Lea Schmid & Kristina Hennig-Fast & Gernot Horstmann & Timothy Mc Call, 2022. "Urbanicity—Perspectives from Neuroscience and Public Health: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-16, December.
    12. Hiromi Suenaga & Kanako Murakami & Nozomi Murata & Syoriki Nishikawa & Masae Tsutsumi & Hiroshi Nogaki, 2020. "The Effects of an Artificial Garden on Heart Rate Variability among Healthy Young Japanese Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-10, December.
    13. Elisa Menardo & Donatella Di Marco & Sara Ramos & Margherita Brondino & Alicia Arenas & Patricia Costa & Carlos Vaz de Carvalho & Margherita Pasini, 2022. "Nature and Mindfulness to Cope with Work-Related Stress: A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-16, May.
    14. Anna Oudin & Lennart Bråbäck & Daniel Oudin Åström & Bertil Forsberg, 2017. "Air Pollution and Dispensed Medications for Asthma, and Possible Effect Modifiers Related to Mental Health and Socio-Economy: A Longitudinal Cohort Study of Swedish Children and Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-12, November.
    15. Kyunghun Min & Baysok Jun & Jaehyuck Lee & Hong Kim & Katsunori Furuya, 2019. "Analysis of Environmental Issues with an Application of Civil Complaints: The Case of Shiheung City, Republic of Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-21, March.
    16. Taylor Van Winkle & Zeenat Kotval-K & Patricia Machemer & Zenia Kotval, 2022. "Health and the Urban Environment: A Bibliometric Mapping of Knowledge Structure and Trends," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-15, September.
    17. Jeremy Mennis & Xiaojiang Li & Mahbubur Meenar & J. Douglas Coatsworth & Thomas P. McKeon & Michael J. Mason, 2021. "Residential Greenspace and Urban Adolescent Substance Use: Exploring Interactive Effects with Peer Network Health, Sex, and Executive Function," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-15, February.
    18. Chorong Song & Harumi Ikei & Miho Igarashi & Michiko Takagaki & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2015. "Physiological and Psychological Effects of a Walk in Urban Parks in Fall," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-13, November.
    19. Brittany E Evans & Kirstin Greaves-Lord & Anja S Euser & Joke H M Tulen & Ingmar H A Franken & Anja C Huizink, 2013. "Determinants of Physiological and Perceived Physiological Stress Reactivity in Children and Adolescents," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(4), pages 1-13, April.
    20. Pykett, Jessica & Campbell, Niyah & Fenton, Sarah-Jane & Gagen, Elizabeth & Lavis, Anna & Newbigging, Karen & Parkin, Verity & Williams, Jessy, 2023. "Urban precarity and youth mental health: An interpretive scoping review of emerging approaches," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:5:p:475-:d:97260. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.