Exploring the Health Benefits of Nature for Children in Urban, Suburban, and Rural Settings

A growing body of research suggests that increasing children’s exposure to natural environments can have positive benefits for their overall health and well-being. Using a mixed-methods approach, this thesis uses (a) surveys and spatial analyses within a geographic information system framework to examine how individual-level and environmental factors are associated with children’s health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and (b) semi-structured focus groups with children to understand how children living in a rural community define nature, experience nature, and perceive the benefits and drawbacks of nature. Results suggest that in addition to a number of important individual level variables, certain environmental characteristics were associated with higher levels of HRQOL. Qualitative findings build on these results demonstrating that children are aware of the mental health benefits of interacting with nature. The findings have implications for future research, policymakers, health practitioners, educators, and parents.

Name thesis:degree_name

M Sc

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Geography

Grantor dc:publisher

The University of Western Ontario

Year dc:date.issued

2017

Author dc:creator

• Tillmann, Suzanne

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Gilliland, Jason

• Children
• nature
• mental health
• health-related quality of life
• mixed methods

Language dc:language.iso

en_ca

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/27656

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/27656