Blockade Happiness: Children Who Spent More Time in Nature Fared Best

DOI:10.1002 / pan3.10270

Commentary

According to this study, children from less affluent backgrounds may have had more difficulty with COVID-19 blockade because they were less connected to nature than their wealthier peers.

Another study reported that children who increased their connection to nature during the initial COVID-19 blockade may have lower levels of behavioral and emotional problems compared to children with the same or decreased connection to nature, regardless of socioeconomic relationship.

The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Cambridge and the University of Sussex, showed that children from wealthier families tended to have a greater connection to nature during a pandemic than those from less wealthy families.

Two-thirds of these parents reported a change in their children's connection to nature during the blockade, while one-third of the children whose connection to nature decreased showed an increase in well-being problems due to "acting out" and increased sadness and anxiety.

The COVID-19 blockade means that children no longer have normal school activities, routines, or social interactions, and The increased connection to nature was reflected in reports of children spending more time gardening, playing in the garden, and engaging in outdoor physical activity.