Is Nature-Deficit Disorder Impacting Your Child?
The Importance of Outdoor Time
I love nature, and I spend most of my free time outdoors. When I am at home or work, I regularly gaze at the mountain views outside my window. I believe nature is healing and have experienced the first-hand benefits of being connected with nature. As a marriage and family therapist, I have also witnessed nature’s healing benefits in my clients. When the families I see spend more time outside, they tend to be emotionally, mentally, relationally, and physically healthier. I have always been curious about the research behind nature’s healing benefits, so I decided to do some digging. One of the first terms I came across was nature-deficit disorder.
In 2005, Richard Louv coined the term nature-deficit disorder in his book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder. Nature-deficit disorder derives from the idea people, especially children, are spending less time outdoors. Louv found nature-deficit disorder contributes to the diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties, behavioral problems, obesity, and higher rates of emotional and physical illnesses. He believes spending time outside helps us live a happy, healthy life.
Where Do You Spend Your Time?
A few years ago, I lived within a mile of Grant Park, Millenium Park, Maggie, Daley Park, and the Lakefront Trail in Chicago. I value nature and thought living close to so many parks would help me acclimate to the city. But this was not the case. I found the parks loud, dirty, and crowded. Living in the city greatly affected my experience of nature, and I often left the city to explore quieter parks in the suburbs.
According to a recent study, more than 50% of people currently live in urban areas. This number is anticipated to jump to 70% by 2050. The same study suggests mood disorders increase within urban areas. Accessing nature in urban areas is possible but challenging.
Florence Williams, the author of The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative states, Americans spend 93% of their time indoors. Williams goes on to say,
“How we spend our days is how we spend our lives.”
With the trend of staying inside, families are missing out on the benefits nature provides. Cultivate intentionality in choosing where you live your life. Life is short, and if you value nature, find ways to incorporate it into your daily life, which is what I did.
My husband and I moved half-way across the country to Park City, Utah, while I was 7-months pregnant to live a life that incorporated nature. It has been a year since we moved and it has been the best decision my husband and I have made. I find I am the best version of myself when I incorporate nature into daily life.
What Are the Benefits of Being Outside?
There are thousands of articles that describe a multitude of benefits from spending time in nature. I plan to share the results of a few studies. If you enjoy reading research and learn more, visit the research library at the Children And Nature Network.
Roberta L. Woodgate and Olga Skarlato, the authors of “It is about being outside”: Canadian youth’s perspectives of good health and the environment, found a connection between time spent in nature and positive mental health benefits, including feelings of calm and peace. Less anxiety and depression is also cited as one of the most common benefits of spending time outdoors.
In another study, Bjorn Opper, Jacobus Maree, Lizelle Fletcher, and Jaqui Sommerville found participation in an outdoor adventure program by adolescent males led to improved emotional intelligence. Many wilderness therapy programs exist and succeed due to the many positive changes clients undergo during the process.
Finally, Louise Chawla, Kelly Keena, Illene Pevecc, and Emily Stanley found that natural schoolyards decrease stress, strengthen attention, reduce behavior problems, and enhance children’s resilience. While the approach and content of each study are different, the results often yield similar conclusions.
In numerous studies, it has been found spending time outside decreases the activation of the stress response (fight or flight response). When this occurs, we feel more relaxed and happy. Nature stimulates the release of endorphins, which also creates feelings of happiness and relaxation. When our body is consistently happy and calm, we develop different areas of ourselves, such as self-esteem, short-term memory, physical activity level, creativity, mental health, and immunity.
How Much Time Outside is Needed to Realize Benefits?
During my search, I encountered data recommending a precise amount of time to spend outside to improve your possibility of experiencing benefits.
A study published in 2019 found that spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and well-being. The study found people could divide their 120 minutes throughout the week.
Another 2019 study found slipping away to walk or sit in nature for 20–30 minutes decreases cortisol release, creating a sense of calm and happiness. In her book, Florence Williams suggests spending at least 5 hours a month in nature offers benefits.
As you may notice, each recommendation is a little different. My suggestion is to tune into what impacts you and your children. Humans are not a ‘one size fits all’ group. Our needs and wants are unique and require individual care.
What Does Quality Nature Time Look Like?
As you may have guessed, researchers have defined and studied the quality of time in nature along a vast spectrum. Researchers have studied it all from viewing an image of a waterfall to weekend-long retreats in the remote backcountry.
The authors of Autonomic Nervous System Responses to Viewing Green and Built Settings: Differentiating Between Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Activity found five minutes of viewing green space images supports recovery from stress. The authors state,
“Viewing green scenes may thus be particularly effective in supporting relaxation and recovery after experiencing a stressful period.”
The results indicate placing images of outdoor scenes indoors is beneficial to lowering stress.
In Japan, forest bathing has been practiced since the 1980s. Forest bathing is the process of absorbing nature through the senses at a slow pace. Dr. Qing Li, the author of Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness states,
“Walking slowly will help you to keep your senses open, to notice things and smell the forest air.”
Forest bathing decreases stress and increases the immune system. Forest bathing is much different than viewing images of nature from inside your home, but both have proven beneficial.
What does this mean?
After reading a few books and numerous studies, I found myself asking, “What does this mean?”. The information I found points to the benefits of outdoor time. However, each study or book suggests different parameters for what nature time means and how to access the benefits.
My suggestion is to foster curiosity in how nature influences your child, your family, and yourself. If you find walking in a park brings peace and happiness, find ways to walk more. If your child laughs and smiles every time he plays at the lake, make it a priority to visit more. If you are like me and revel in the moments before stepping on a mountaintop, hike more. Find ways to tune into nature to enhance your life.
It is no secret that people, especially children, spend more and more time inside. Maybe this works for your family, but perhaps something is missing, and perhaps it’s nature. The title of this article is “Is Nature-Deficit Disorder Impacting Your Child?”. I purposefully did not answer this question because I believe you are the only person who can find the answer for your child. And you will find the answer by going outside and experiencing nature in many different ways. There is only one last thing to say:
Enjoy your time outside!
