Growing up surrounded by green space reduces kids’ risk of mental disorders

It seems the green of nature can be good for your kids’ mental health. A study has found that children who grow up surrounded by a high amount of green space have up to a 55 percent less risk of developing mental disorders later in life.

The study was done by researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark. It has important implications since many of the world’s population life in cities. Even if your family live in more rural settings, you may want to maximize your kids exposure to green surroundings.

In addition, over 450 million people suffer from some form of mental disorder, according to estimates by the World Health Organization. This number is expected to rise.

55 Percent Lower Risk of Mental Disorders

The researchers used satellite data from 1985 to 2013 to map the green space around childhood homes of almost one million Danes. The correlated this data with the risk of developing 16 different mental disorders later in life.

The results showed that people who lived in homes surrounded by large areas of green space when they were children have up to a 55 percent lower risk of developing mental disorders. This finding holds up even after the data were adjusted for other known risk factors like family history of mental disorders, socio-economic factors, urbanization, etc.

A Green Childhood

They also found that the longer the childhood is spent around green space, the lower the risks of developing mental disorders in the future. In fact, the entire childhood must be “green” for this correlation to hold.

The study was published in the prestigious American Journal PNAS.

Healthier, Greener Cities

This information has importance, since now there is a link between mental disorders, green space and urban life. Moreover, many of the world’s population live in large cities.

Using this knowledge, urban planners can incorporate more green space into city planning and build healthier and greener cities. Everyone knows just adding more trees and vegetation can make neighborhoods feel more inviting and natural. Perhaps, these findings are not that surprising.

If you have kids who will grow up in an urban environments, planning to life in neighborhoods with ample green space would definitely be beneficial to the kids, especially their mental health.

Even if you family don’t live in an urban area, maximizing your kids exposure to green space in their childhood would may still be beneficial for them. Connecting more with nature is always a good thing.

Science Converse Ice Breaker

“Danish researchers have found that children growing up surrounded by a lot of green space have much lower risks of developing mental disorders later in life.”

  • Researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark mapped satellite data from 1985-2013 of the green space around childhood homes of almost one million Danes
  • They compared the data to the risk of developing mental disorders of the population later in life
  • The found children who grew up with lots of green space had up to a 55 percent less risk of developing mental disorders
  • If you have children, the take home message is let them have lots of green space to enjoy during their childhood. It’s good for their mental health.

Reference: Residential green space in childhood is associated with lower risk of psychiatric disorders from adolescence into adulthood.
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1807504116

A study has found that children who grow up surrounded by a high amount of green space have up to a 55 percent less risk of developing mental disorders later in life. (pixabay)
A study has found that children who grow up surrounded by a high amount of green space have up to a 55 percent less risk of developing mental disorders later in life. (pixabay)