Nature contact and children’s attention
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN17762011 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN17762011 |
| Protocol serial number | 2012-2698 |
| Sponsor | Dalhousie University |
| Funder | Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada |
- Submission date
- 05/07/2017
- Registration date
- 18/07/2017
- Last edited
- 24/12/2019
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Children spend less time in nature than ever before and there is concern that this negatively impacts children’s cognitive (mental) abilities, particularly their ability to direct their attention. Theories such as the Attention Restoration Theory (ART) suggest that contact with nature may replenish endogenous attention (directed, voluntary attention). There is a lack of research on how contact with nature is associated with attention in children. The aim of this study is to evaluate if children who are exposed to natural environments during a 30 minute reflective walk would be better at endogenous attention.
Who can participate?
Children aged eight to 15 years old who are able to complete a 30 minute walk.
What does the study involve?
Prior to treatment, participants in both groups complete the Combined Attention Systems Task (CAST), a series of game-based tasks on a computer to measure attention. Participants are allocated to one of two groups. Those in the first week complete a 30 minute walk through a busy downtown neighbourhood. Those in the second group complete a 30-40 minute walk through a relatively pristine urban forest. After the walk, participants complete the CAST again.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no direct benefits with participating however participants may benefit from 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity which is known to promote healthy development in children and adolescents. Participants are at risk of boredom, fatigue, and frustration. These risks are reduced by providing breaks to participants during testing or at any time at the request of the participant. Participants are allowed to remove themselves from the study at any time.
Where is the study run from?
This study is run by Dalhousie University (Canada) and takes place in an urban or forested environment.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
July 2012 to June 2014
Who is funding the study?
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (Canada)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Shannon Johnson
Contact information
Scientific
LSC3263
Department of Psychology and Neuroscience
1355 Oxford Street
PO Box 15000
1355 Oxford Street
Halifax
B3H4R2
Canada
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Interventional single-centre study |
| Secondary study design | Non randomised study |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Dose-dependent effects of virtual environments on attention |
| Study objectives | Children who were exposed to natural environments during a 30-minute reflective walk would demonstrate specific improvements in endogenous attention. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Dalhousie University Social Sciences and Humanities Research Ethics Board, 21/08/2012 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Exogenous and endogenous attention |
| Intervention | Participants are assigned to one of two study conditions, either the urban walk or the nature walk. Participants blindly assigned themselves to study condition as they are informed that there were two possible locations to which they could be assigned and then where asked to select a participation date, following which the testing location prescheduled for that date was revealed. Condition 1 (Urban Walk): Participants engage in a guided walk of a typical urban environment for 30 minutes (around 1.25 miles). Condition 2 (Natural Walk): Participants engage in a guided walk of a typical urban forested-park environment for 40 minutes (around 1.25 miles) Participants fill out a demographic and history questionnaire as well as the connectedness to nature scale questionnaire in advance of exposure to either condition. The CAST (Combined Attention Systems Task) is administered to all participants before and after exposure to either condition. There is no further follow-up to this study. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Endogenous and Exogenous attention are measured using the Combined Attention Systems Task (CAST) at baseline and immediately post-treatment. |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Intelligence quotient (IQ) is measured using the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) at baseline |
| Completion date | 30/06/2014 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Healthy volunteer |
|---|---|
| Age group | Child |
| Lower age limit | 8 Years |
| Upper age limit | 15 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 70 |
| Total final enrolment | 60 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Aged between 8-15 years 2. IQ: >=80 3. Normal or corrected-to-normal vision 4. No history of psychiatric/psychological diagnoses 5. No history of severe head injury 6. No significant neurological disorders affecting the central nervous system |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Inability to walk for 30 minutes |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/10/2012 |
| Date of final enrolment | 01/10/2013 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Canada
Study participating centre
1355 Oxford Road
Halifax
B3H4R2
Canada
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| IPD sharing plan | The (de-identified) datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from Dr. Shannon Johnson (shannon.johnson@dal.ca) |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | results | 05/12/2019 | 24/12/2019 | Yes | No |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
24/12/2019: The following changes have been made:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The total final enrolment number has been added from the reference.
22/09/2017: Internal review.
