The Effects of the Natural Environment on Attention and Family Cohesion: An Experimental Study

This study explored 1) mothers' and middle-childhood daughters' attention after exposure to two different environments, and 2) their quality of family cohesion. Twenty-seven mother-daughter dyads participated in two counterbalanced experimental conditions—a 20-minute walk at an arboretum a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Children, youth and environments youth and environments, 2017-01, Vol.27 (2), p.93-109
Main Authors: Dina Izenstark, Aaron T. Ebata
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Daughters
Domestic relations
Dyadic relations
Dyadics
Family members
Mothers
Natural environments
Nature
Recreation
Walking
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Summary:This study explored 1) mothers' and middle-childhood daughters' attention after exposure to two different environments, and 2) their quality of family cohesion. Twenty-seven mother-daughter dyads participated in two counterbalanced experimental conditions—a 20-minute walk at an arboretum and a mall—followed by a family interaction task. Before and after each walk, we measured attention using digit span backwards and measured family cohesion using direct observational coding methods. Results showed that exposure to nature restored individual attention, especially for mothers; was perceived as more fun, relaxing, and interesting; and contributed to greater dyadic cohesion.
ISSN:1546-2250
1546-2250
DOI:10.7721/chilyoutenvi.27.2.0093