US Forestry Service Autism Study
Project Description:
Need:
A growing body of literature shows that spending time outdoors can improve attention, positive affect, and decrease distractibility, stress, and aggression in typical children and children with attention deficit disorder. To date, this has not been studied in children with autism.
Overall goals and objectives:
The primary purpose of this project is to determine if exposure to natural environments predicts decreased anxiety, aggression, and conduct problems, and increased executive functioning in children with autism.
Unusual features:
This project is funded by the US Forest Service and represents a collaborative effort from experts in Public Health, Psychology, Human Development, Forestry, and Special Education, from 3 UCEDDs (Georgia State, U. Arizona, and U. Colorado) and 2 other universities (North Carolina State and U. Nebraska).
Expected benefits:
By identifying ways natural settings improve executive functioning and decrease negative affectivity this project may serve to inspire work on using natural settings to augment interventions in children with autism.
Core Function(s):
Performing Research or Evaluation
Area of Emphasis
Education & Early Intervention, Health-Related Activities, Recreation-Related Activities, Quality of Life
Target Audience:
Professionals and Para-Professionals, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN, General Public
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote, Urban
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
Another State, Single-County, State
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
