IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i20p13141-d940381.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Children’s Attentional Processes in Outdoor and Indoor Environments: The Role of Physiological Self-Regulation

Author

Listed:
  • Lucia Mason

    (Department of Educational Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy)

  • Benedetta Zagni

    (Department of Educational Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy)

  • Francesca Bacchin

    (Department of Educational Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy)

  • Carlotta Frison

    (Department of Educational Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy)

  • Sara Scrimin

    (Department of Educational Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy)

Abstract

Previous research has documented that exposure to green spaces has the beneficial effects of attention restoration and stress reduction. This study investigated the effects of indoor (classroom) and outdoor (green school garden) environments on attentional processes in interaction with emotion and physiological self-regulation. Children in third and fourth grades ( n = 42) completed a school-related emotional Stroop task assessing the effects of outdoor and indoor classroom backgrounds when facing positive and negative stimuli. Children’s attentional patterns in a task completed in both environments were also assessed. Heart rate variability was registered at rest as an index of physiological self-regulation. The results revealed that children were less distracted from negative emotional materials when presented with outdoor compared with indoor background stimuli. Greater selective attention and sustained attention were shown in the green than in the classroom environment. Moreover, sustained attention varied in relation to physiological self-regulation but only when performing the task indoor.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:20:p:13141-:d:940381
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/20/13141/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/20/13141/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Peter Wallner & Michael Kundi & Arne Arnberger & Renate Eder & Brigitte Allex & Lisbeth Weitensfelder & Hans-Peter Hutter, 2018. "Reloading Pupils’ Batteries: Impact of Green Spaces on Cognition and Wellbeing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-11, June.
    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. 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.
    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. 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.

    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. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. Arne Arnberger & Renate Eder & Brigitte Allex & Martin Ebenberger & Hans-Peter Hutter & Peter Wallner & Nicole Bauer & Johann G. Zaller & Thomas Frank, 2018. "Health-Related Effects of Short Stays at Mountain Meadows, a River and an Urban Site—Results from a Field Experiment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-19, November.
    5. Jean C. Bikomeye & Sima Namin & Chima Anyanwu & Caitlin S. Rublee & Jamie Ferschinger & Ken Leinbach & Patricia Lindquist & August Hoppe & Lawrence Hoffman & Justin Hegarty & Dwayne Sperber & Kirsten , 2021. "Resilience and Equity in a Time of Crises: Investing in Public Urban Greenspace Is Now More Essential Than Ever in the US and Beyond," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-39, August.
    6. Yijun Zhang & Suzanne Mavoa & Jinfeng Zhao & Deborah Raphael & Melody Smith, 2020. "The Association between Green Space and Adolescents’ Mental Well-Being: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-26, September.
    7. Jeff Mann & Tonia Gray & Son Truong & Pasi Sahlberg & Peter Bentsen & Rowena Passy & Susanna Ho & Kumara Ward & Rachel Cowper, 2021. "A Systematic Review Protocol to Identify the Key Benefits and Efficacy of Nature-Based Learning in Outdoor Educational Settings," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-10, January.
    8. Yaqi Du & Rong Zhao, 2022. "Research on the Development of Urban Parks Based on the Perception of Tourists: A Case Study of Taihu Park in Beijing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-18, April.
    9. Tammie Ronen & Dorit Kerret, 2020. "Promoting Sustainable Wellbeing: Integrating Positive Psychology and Environmental Sustainability in Education," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-19, September.
    10. Maria Chiara Gallotta & Giovanna Zimatore & Ludovica Cardinali & Lavinia Falcioni & Valerio Bonavolontà & Davide Curzi & Laura Guidetti & Carlo Baldari, 2022. "Physical Education on the Beach: An Alternative Way to Improve Primary School Children’s Skill- and Health-Related Outcomes during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-13, March.
    11. 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.
    12. 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.
    13. Marcia P. Jimenez & Nicole V. DeVille & Elise G. Elliott & Jessica E. Schiff & Grete E. Wilt & Jaime E. Hart & Peter James, 2021. "Associations between Nature Exposure and Health: A Review of the Evidence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-19, April.
    14. Jean C. Bikomeye & Caitlin S. Rublee & Kirsten M. M. Beyer, 2021. "Positive Externalities of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation for Human Health: A Review and Conceptual Framework for Public Health Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-29, March.
    15. Jiayi Liu & Zhikai Peng & Xiaoxi Cai & You Peng & Jiang Li & Tao Feng, 2021. "Students’ Intention of Visiting Urban Green Spaces after the COVID-19 Lockdown in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-17, August.
    16. Jean C. Bikomeye & Joanna Balza & Kirsten M. Beyer, 2021. "The Impact of Schoolyard Greening on Children’s Physical Activity and Socioemotional Health: A Systematic Review of Experimental Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-20, January.
    17. 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.
    18. 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.
    19. 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.
    20. Vera Schellewald & Jens Kleinert & Rolf Ellegast, 2018. "Introducing a Dynamic Workstation in the Office: Insights in Characteristics of Use and Short-Term Changes of Well-Being in a 12 Week Observational Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-18, November.

    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:19:y:2022:i:20:p:13141-:d:940381. 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.