Greenspace exposure and children behavior: A systematic review.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Child Psychology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Childhood behavioral problems are a significant public health concern.
• The role of environmental factors, specifically green space exposure, is increasingly recognized.
• Understanding these associations can inform interventions and urban planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize evidence on the association between long-term green space exposure and child behavioral problems.
• To assess the quality and heterogeneity of existing studies.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review following PRISMA 2020 guidelines.
• Inclusion of 29 studies (17 cross-sectional, 11 cohort, 1 case-control) published up to November 2021.
• Assessment of study quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

Main Results:

• Most studies (n=29) reported beneficial associations between green space exposure and child behaviors, except for conduct problems.
• Commonly assessed outcomes included total behavioral difficulties, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, and prosocial behavior.
• Studies exhibited heterogeneity in exposure metrics (availability, accessibility, quality) and outcome definitions.

Conclusions:

• Long-term green space exposure appears beneficial for children's behavioral development.
• Further research with standardized methodologies is needed to confirm these findings.
• Urban planning and public health initiatives should consider the positive impact of accessible green spaces.