Nature deficit disorder

Nature-deficit disorder is a term that refers to the effects on humans who do not spend enough time outdoors in nature. It was part of the title of a 2005 book that proposed addressed the condition, and the concept later became the driving force behind a movement dedicated to counteracting the factors that keep people, especially children, from experiencing nature and the effects that lead to a range of behavioral and health problems. Though not recognized by the medical community, the condition has earned considerable media attention.

Background

The term nature-deficit disorder came into use with the seventh book of author Richard Louv. In 2005, Louv published Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. The book cited research that points to the detrimental effects on children who seldom or never get to spend time outside. It describes the consequences of nature-deficit disorder and provides suggestions on ways to combat it. The book became a best seller, and Louv subsequently won the 2008 Audubon Medal for his efforts in encouraging more outdoor time for children.

Overview

Louv based his premise on research that shows that children who do not spend much time outdoors are more likely to experience physical, cognitive, and psychological consequences as a result. This has happened, according to Louv and other proponents of the movement, because of the growing urbanization of society and the increased availability of "screens," including televisions, video games, phones and other mobile devices, and computers. Concerns about child safety have led to fewer opportunities for children to have unstructured play outdoors, and school consolidations have often meant that children are bused to school and must also be transported to after-school activities.

Nature-deficit disorder is not a clinical diagnosis but rather a description of the problems and symptoms believed to be exhibited by children who do not get enough outdoor time. Experts say that although humans are generations removed from the hunter-gatherer ancestors who spent the majority of the daytime hours outside, the human brain is still hardwired to respond positively to nature. While some people can adapt to this lack of contact with nature, others struggle. This tendency is particularly noticeable in children with conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), who Louv suggested often see a reduction in behavioral issues after increased time outdoors. In addition, some research points to a possible correlation between increased television time and the development of ADHD in young children.

According to proponents of the Children & Nature Network, a nonprofit group started by Louv and others to promote outdoor activity for children, nature has a restorative effect on children that can be seen almost immediately. They claim this is backed up by studies done since Louv's book was published, including a study conducted by the American Institutes for Research that showed older, at-risk children displayed a 27 percent increase in their grasp of scientific concepts after spending just one week in an outdoor education program. The same young people also exhibited higher self-esteem, better behavior, and improved problem-solving skills after their time outdoors.

Supporters of the Children & Nature Network movement also point to the increasing numbers of obese children in the United States, Canada, and other nations where children spend more time indoors in urban environments and less time outdoors in activities such as hiking, exploring, or just playing. For example, a 2008 recreation participation report issued through the collaborative efforts of the Outdoor Foundation and other outdoor recreation groups, including the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, revealed that the level of outdoor activities among children ages six to seventeen dropped 11 percent over the previous year. The biggest drop was in children ages six through twelve. While it is not the sole factor, supporters of more outdoor time for children point out that between the time spent in cars and buses being transported to school and activities and the time spent in front of various screens, children have fewer opportunities for exercise. What is more, they say, the exercise that children do get in gym classes and organized sports may feel more like work than the outdoor playtime exhibited by previous generations. These factors combine to promote childhood obesity. Those who endorse the concept of nature deficit disorder claim that obesity could be significantly curbed if more opportunities to play and learn outside were available.

What began as a grassroots effort by Louv and some others who joined the Children & Nature Network in the United States and Canada to promote outdoor time for children garnered some official support. In 2013, John Sarbanes, a Democratic member of the US House of Representatives from Maryland, introduced a bill called No Child Left Inside, which aimed at providing funding for environmental educational programs for all children from kindergarten through grade twelve. Provisions of the bill were signed into law on December 10, 2015. In the 2016 legislative session, Sarbanes reintroduced additional provisions that would require schools receiving certain federal grant funds to establish environmental education programs to curb nature-deficit disorder.

While Louv's initial focus was on the effects of nature deficit disorder on children, especially those ages six through twelve, it was recognized that adults also benefit from increased outdoor time and suffer ill effects when outdoor exposure is limited. Researchers have determined that people who spend more time outdoors are healthier overall, with less stress and lower chances of developing stress-related conditions such as high blood pressure and depression. Research conducted by the University of Illinois also determined that there was a greater chance of violent outbursts and fights among residents of housing projects that had little nearby nature outlets as opposed to those who had green spaces nearby.

However, other researchers have challenged the concept of nature deficit disorder. Some have suggested that the diagnosis, rather than stemming from scientific methods, is grounded in complex cultural and emotional factors; for example, studies have shown that people tend to idealize their own childhoods and be skeptical of trends among later generations. Critics argue that the broad umbrella of "nature deficit disorder" risks obscuring other issues that may in fact be behind the problems observed in children and others. Many researchers, including both skeptics and proponents of nature deficit disorder, agree that further research into the interconnections between nature and human psychology and development are necessary to improve understanding of the issue.

Bibliography

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Louv, Richard. Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2005.

Louv, Richard. "Nature-Deficit Disorder." Experience Life, Sept. 2005, experiencelife.com/article/nature-deficit-disorder/. Accessed 19 Nov. 2016.

Louv, Richard. "No More 'Nature Deficit Disorder.'" Psychology Today, 28 Jan. 2009, www.psychologytoday.com/blog/people-in-nature/200901/no-more-nature-deficit-disorder. Accessed 19 Nov. 2016.

"No Child Left Inside Act – Reintroduced." American Camp Association, 11 Feb. 2015, www.acacamps.org/news-publications/hot-topic/no-child-left-inside-act-reintroduced. Accessed 19 Nov. 2016.

Richard Louv, richardlouv.com. Accessed 19 Nov. 2016.

Severance, Nancy. "Author Richard Louv Honored with the 50th Audubon Medal." Audubon Society, 24 Jan. 2008, www.audubon.org/news/author-richard-louv-honored-50th-audubon-medal. Accessed 19 Nov. 2016.

Sorrentino, Johanna. "Nature Deficit Disorder: What You Need to Know." Education.com, 21 May 2014, www.education.com/magazine/article/Nature‗Deficit/. Accessed 19 Nov. 2016.

"What Is Nature Deficit Disorder?" Best Health, 2010, www.besthealthmag.ca/best-you/mental-health/what-is-nature-deficit-disorder/. Accessed 19 Nov. 2016.