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Is Brief Exposure to Green Space in School the Best Option to Improve Attention in Children?

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  • Asier Anabitarte

    (Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48490 Leioa, Spain
    Biodonostia, Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development Group, Paseo Doctor Begiristain s/n, 20014 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain)

  • Gonzalo García-Baquero

    (Biodonostia, Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development Group, Paseo Doctor Begiristain s/n, 20014 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
    Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3–5. Pabellón 11. Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • Ainara Andiarena

    (Biodonostia, Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development Group, Paseo Doctor Begiristain s/n, 20014 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
    Faculty of Psychology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Av. Tolosa 70, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain)

  • Nerea Lertxundi

    (Biodonostia, Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development Group, Paseo Doctor Begiristain s/n, 20014 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
    Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3–5. Pabellón 11. Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Faculty of Psychology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Av. Tolosa 70, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain)

  • Nerea Urbieta

    (Biodonostia, Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development Group, Paseo Doctor Begiristain s/n, 20014 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain)

  • Izaro Babarro

    (Biodonostia, Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development Group, Paseo Doctor Begiristain s/n, 20014 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
    Faculty of Psychology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Av. Tolosa 70, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain)

  • Jesús Ibarluzea

    (Biodonostia, Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development Group, Paseo Doctor Begiristain s/n, 20014 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
    Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3–5. Pabellón 11. Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Faculty of Psychology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Av. Tolosa 70, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
    Ministry of Health of the Basque Government, SubDirectorate for Public Health and Addictions of Gipuzkoa, Av. Navarra 4, 20013 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain)

  • Aitana Lertxundi

    (Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48490 Leioa, Spain
    Biodonostia, Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development Group, Paseo Doctor Begiristain s/n, 20014 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
    Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3–5. Pabellón 11. Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

The positive effects of Green Spaces on health are thought to be achieved through the mechanisms of mitigation, instoration and restoration. One of the benefits of Green Spaces may be the restoration of attention and so the objective of this research is testing empirically whether exposure to a green environment improves attention in school children. For so doing, we first used a split-unit statistical design in each of four schools, then combined the primary results via meta-analysis. The Attention Network Test (ANT) was used to measure attention before and after exposure and a total of 167 seven-year-old students participated in the experiments. Overall, our experimental results do not support the hypothesis that students’ exposure to activities in green vs. grey spaces affected their performance in ANT. This was so despite the fact that neither age nor gender biases have been detected and despite that our experiments have been proved to be sufficiently statistically powerful. It would be advisable to consider air pollution and noise. We also recommend that participants attend the experiment with mental exhaustion to maximize the ability to detect significant changes.

Suggested Citation

  • Asier Anabitarte & Gonzalo García-Baquero & Ainara Andiarena & Nerea Lertxundi & Nerea Urbieta & Izaro Babarro & Jesús Ibarluzea & Aitana Lertxundi, 2021. "Is Brief Exposure to Green Space in School the Best Option to Improve Attention in Children?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-13, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:14:p:7484-:d:593636
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gert-Jan Vanaken & Marina Danckaerts, 2018. "Impact of Green Space Exposure on Children’s and Adolescents’ Mental Health: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-17, November.
    2. Kuo, F.E. & Faber Taylor, A., 2004. "A potential natural treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Evidence from a national study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 94(9), pages 1580-1586.
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    Cited by:

    1. Francisco Díaz-Martínez & Miguel F. Sánchez-Sauco & Laura T. Cabrera-Rivera & Carlos Ojeda Sánchez & Maria D. Hidalgo-Albadalejo & Luz Claudio & Juan A. Ortega-García, 2023. "Systematic Review: Neurodevelopmental Benefits of Active/Passive School Exposure to Green and/or Blue Spaces in Children and Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-29, February.

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