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Systematic Review: Neurodevelopmental Benefits of Active/Passive School Exposure to Green and/or Blue Spaces in Children and Adolescents

Author

Listed:
  • Francisco Díaz-Martínez

    (Paediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Clinical University Hospital Virgen of Arrixaca, University of Murcia, 30120 Murcia, Spain
    Environment and Human Health Lab, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Sanitaria (IMIB), University of Murcia, 30120 Murcia, Spain
    Global Alliance to Renaturalize Child and Adolescent Health (GreenRooting.org), Spanish Association of Pediatrics, 28009 Madrid, Spain)

  • Miguel F. Sánchez-Sauco

    (Paediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Clinical University Hospital Virgen of Arrixaca, University of Murcia, 30120 Murcia, Spain
    Environment and Human Health Lab, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Sanitaria (IMIB), University of Murcia, 30120 Murcia, Spain
    Global Alliance to Renaturalize Child and Adolescent Health (GreenRooting.org), Spanish Association of Pediatrics, 28009 Madrid, Spain)

  • Laura T. Cabrera-Rivera

    (Global Alliance to Renaturalize Child and Adolescent Health (GreenRooting.org), Spanish Association of Pediatrics, 28009 Madrid, Spain
    International Exchange Program for Minority Students, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
    Department of Environmental Health, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00921, USA)

  • Carlos Ojeda Sánchez

    (University Hospital of Guadalajara, 19002 Guadalajara, Spain)

  • Maria D. Hidalgo-Albadalejo

    (Department of English Language and Linguistics, Narval School, Cartagena, 30319 Murcia, Spain)

  • Luz Claudio

    (International Exchange Program for Minority Students, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
    Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Division of International Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA)

  • Juan A. Ortega-García

    (Paediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Clinical University Hospital Virgen of Arrixaca, University of Murcia, 30120 Murcia, Spain
    Environment and Human Health Lab, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Sanitaria (IMIB), University of Murcia, 30120 Murcia, Spain
    Global Alliance to Renaturalize Child and Adolescent Health (GreenRooting.org), Spanish Association of Pediatrics, 28009 Madrid, Spain
    International Exchange Program for Minority Students, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA)

Abstract

Today more than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas. Children spend about 40 h a week in the school environment. Knowing the influence of school exposure to green/blue spaces could improve the children’s health, creating healthier environments and preventing exposure to legal/illegal drugs. This systematic review summarized the main results of published studies on active or passive exposure to green or blue spaces in different domains of child neurodevelopment. In August 2022, five databases were searched and twenty-eight eligible studies were included in the analysis. Cognitive and/or academic performance was the most frequently studied (15/28). Most studies evaluate passive exposure to green/blue spaces (19/28) versus active exposure (9/28). Only three studies addressed the relationship between blue space and neurodevelopment. The main results point toward mixed evidence of a protective relationship between green/blue space exposure and neurodevelopment, especially in improving cognitive/academic performance, attention restoration, behavior, and impulsivity. Renaturalizing school spaces and promoting “greener” capacities for school environmental health could improve children’s neurodevelopment. There was great heterogeneity in methodologies and adjustment for confounding factors across studies. Future research should seek a standardized approach to delivering school environmental health interventions beneficial to children’s development.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:3958-:d:1077628
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. 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.
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