Regular visits to parks could play an important role in supporting children's mental health, according to a new study published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.
Researchers analysed data from the long-running Children of the 90s (ALSPAC) study, which has tracked more than 14,000 children from the Bristol area from birth into adulthood.
Mental health benefits linked to regular park visits
The study found that children who visited a park at least once a week between the ages of six months and 11 years scored, on average, 16.5% better on mental health assessments than children who visited parks less frequently.
Researchers also found that individual children tended to display better mental health during periods when they visited parks more often, strengthening evidence of a link between regular park use and emotional wellbeing.
Benefits remained after other factors were considered
The association remained even after researchers accounted for factors known to affect child mental health, including:
- Poor housing conditions
- Maternal mental health
- Family disadvantage
Additional sensitivity analyses produced similar results, increasing confidence in the findings.
Why parks matter
Researchers focused specifically on park visits because green spaces can encourage:
- Physical activity
- Social interaction
- Imaginative and adventurous play
Previous studies have also suggested that time spent in natural environments can reduce stress and have restorative effects for both children and adults.
Access remains an important issue
The study found differences in park use across socioeconomic groups.
Children from more advantaged families were generally taken to parks more often during early childhood. However, this pattern became less pronounced as children grew older, with some children from less advantaged families visiting parks more frequently.
Many children in the study visited parks less than once a week for at least part of their childhood.
Call for quality public spaces
The researchers concluded that increasing opportunities for children to visit parks could improve mental health and help reduce inequalities.
They noted, however, that these benefits depend on parks being safe, welcoming, accessible and of good quality for all families.
Source: The Conversation
