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Child development and the physical environment

Gary W Evans1

  • 1Department of Design and Environmental Analysis, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-4401, USA. gwe1@cornell.edu

Annual Review of Psychology
|December 2, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Environmental factors significantly impact child development, affecting socioemotional, cognitive, and psychophysiological outcomes. Understanding these influences is crucial for advancing research and interventions in child psychology and environmental health.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Child Health

Background:

  • The physical environment plays a critical role in shaping child development.
  • Numerous factors within the environment can influence a child's well-being and progress.
  • Existing research highlights the need for a comprehensive review of these environmental influences.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss physical environmental characteristics influencing child development.
  • To review socioemotional, cognitive, motivational, and psychophysiological outcomes in children.
  • To introduce necessary methodological and conceptual advances in the field.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of environmental factors affecting child development.
  • Analysis of studies on behavioral toxicology, noise, crowding, housing, and natural settings.
  • Examination of research on school and day care environments.

Main Results:

  • The physical environment, including factors like noise, crowding, and quality of housing, significantly affects children's development.
  • Exposure to natural settings and quality of educational environments (schools, day care) are linked to various child outcomes.
  • Behavioral toxicology highlights the impact of environmental hazards on children's health and development.

Conclusions:

  • Environmental characteristics are key determinants of child development across multiple domains.
  • Further research and methodological advancements are needed to fully understand and address environmental influences on children.
  • Interventions targeting the physical environment can promote positive child development outcomes.

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