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Promoting Health-related Quality of Life in Minority Youth through Environmental Education and Nature Contact

Author

Listed:
  • Christine C. Ekenga

    (Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, Campus Box 1196, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA)

  • Nadav Sprague

    (Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, Campus Box 1196, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA)

  • Damilola M. Shobiye

    (Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, Campus Box 1196, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA)

Abstract

Few studies have examined the relationship between environmental sustainability education and health outcomes in youth. The purpose of this study was to examine health-related quality of life over a 13-week time period in a sample of urban minority youth who participated in an environmental education program with a nature contact component. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was measured using a survey comprising five items (physical activity, emotional functioning, school functioning, family support, and social functioning). The overall HRQoL score was determined as the sum of the scores on the five items, with higher scores indicating better HRQoL. A pre-test/post-test within-subjects study design was used to evaluate changes in HRQoL. A total of 53 students (ages 10 to 14 years) participated in the environmental education intervention; 46 (87%) of those students completed HRQoL questionnaires before and after the program. There were statistically significant improvements in overall HRQoL scores and in the family support HRQoL domain scores. Engaging in the natural environment through environmental education may promote HRQoL in youth. Larger, prospective studies are warranted to further investigate these initial findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Christine C. Ekenga & Nadav Sprague & Damilola M. Shobiye, 2019. "Promoting Health-related Quality of Life in Minority Youth through Environmental Education and Nature Contact," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-8, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:13:p:3544-:d:243497
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kirsten Schwarz & Michail Fragkias & Christopher G Boone & Weiqi Zhou & Melissa McHale & J Morgan Grove & Jarlath O’Neil-Dunne & Joseph P McFadden & Geoffrey L Buckley & Dan Childers & Laura Ogden & S, 2015. "Trees Grow on Money: Urban Tree Canopy Cover and Environmental Justice," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(4), pages 1-17, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ashby Lavelle Sachs & Eva Coringrato & Nadav Sprague & Angela Turbyfill & Sarah Tillema & Jill Litt, 2022. "Rationale, Feasibility, and Acceptability of the Meeting in Nature Together (MINT) Program: A Novel Nature-Based Social Intervention for Loneliness Reduction with Teen Parents and Their Peers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-16, September.
    2. Nadav L. Sprague & Ashby L. Sachs & Christine C. Ekenga, 2022. "Green vs. Screen: Exploring the Outcomes of an In-Person and Virtual Nature-Based Environmental Education Intervention for Low-Income Children," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-11, October.

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