Nature-based interventions for vulnerable youth: a scoping review

Area of Science:

• Environmental Psychology
• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Therapeutic Recreation

Background:

• Vulnerable youth often face mental, emotional, developmental, behavioral, or social difficulties.
• Nature-based interventions (NBIs) are emerging as promising therapeutic approaches.
• Existing research on NBIs for youth requires synthesis to guide future practice and study.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of nature-based interventions for vulnerable youth.
• To examine wilderness therapy, animal-assisted therapy, care farming, and horticultural therapy.
• To identify research gaps and inform future treatment and research development.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search using a scoping review framework.
• Analysis of studies based on design, sample characteristics, intervention details, and outcomes.
• Inclusion of quantitative and qualitative studies examining psychosocial and behavioral measures.

Main Results:

• The majority of reviewed studies were quantitative, often employing repeated measures designs.
• Interventions varied in setting (residential, community-based) and duration.
• Positive outcomes were frequently reported across various psychosocial and behavioral domains, with many effects persisting post-treatment.

Conclusions:

• Nature-based interventions demonstrate significant positive effects for vulnerable youth.
• Robust empirical designs and detailed intervention descriptions are crucial for advancing research.
• Identifying specific target populations will enhance the efficacy and application of NBIs.