Outdoor Play in Early Childhood Linked to Better Mental Health Later
A study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry examined the relationship between the frequency of outdoor play in early childhood and the development of mental health symptoms in later childhood. The research analyzed data from 4,151 children participating in the Growing Up in Scotland cohort.
Key Findings
Researchers tracked the mental health symptoms of the children at ages 4, 5, 6, and 8.
For each additional day of outdoor play per week between the ages of two and four, the odds of having a low-symptom mental health profile through age 8 increased by 6 to 14 percent.
The study distinguished between externalizing symptoms (including aggression, impulsivity, and hyperactivity) and internalizing symptoms (including anxiety and depression).
Methodology
The researchers controlled for several variables, including:
- Child's sex and ethnicity
- Household education level
- Number of physical conditions
- Parental working status
- Access to parks or gardens
Expert Commentary
Professor Helen Dodd, of the University of Exeter, stated that the findings suggest providing more outdoor play opportunities could be a low-cost method to support mental health. She recommended integrating this approach into public health, education, and planning policies.
Marguerite Hunter Blair, of the UK Children's Play Policy Forum, commented that the study indicates the importance of play-based early interventions that can have long-lasting positive impacts on preschool children's mental health.
Background
The study was conducted in collaboration with the University of Glasgow, University College London, and Complutense University of Madrid. It was funded by UK Research and Innovation and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
According to the researchers, while previous studies had linked outdoor play to children's mental health, this is the first to examine how early outdoor play relates to mental health trajectories over time.