The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign released on May 15 findings from a review article that suggest time spent in nature can have greater positive effects on the mental health of disadvantaged children compared to their advantaged peers. The research examines the concept of equigenesis, which refers to how natural environments, such as neighborhood greenspaces, can promote equity in health and functioning.
The study matters because it highlights a potentially accessible way to support psychological development among children facing social or economic challenges. Growing up in disadvantaged communities is linked with higher stress and increased risk for mental health issues, but access to greenspace could help offset these effects.
Keira Denker, who led the review article after taking Andrea Faber Taylor’s Children and Nature class at Illinois, said, “Most of the equigenesis research has focused on physical health and adult populations — there have only been a couple dozen studies specifically looking at the differences in mental health impacts of greenspace on advantaged and disadvantaged children. We wanted to look holistically at this body of work to discover if any patterns emerged.”
Denker and Faber Taylor reviewed 123 studies involving people from various backgrounds and ages. Nearly 60% showed evidence that those living with disadvantage benefited more from exposure to natural environments than their advantaged counterparts. “That doesn’t mean advantaged groups don’t also benefit,” said Faber Taylor, teaching associate professor in the Department of Crop Sciences at Illinois. “But there may be a ceiling effect; they already have the support needed and thus demonstrate less of a boost from time in greenspace in contrast to those living with disadvantage.”
A closer look at 24 studies focusing specifically on children’s psychological health found that half demonstrated clear benefits for disadvantaged youth—including lower anxiety levels, fewer behavioral difficulties, improved academic skills, better cognitive functioning, and stronger prosocial behaviors—when exposed to greenspaces. No study indicated harm from spending time outdoors.
While not all neighborhoods offer safe or accessible parks for children facing disadvantage, Denker and Faber Taylor urge investment in greening school yards as an effective intervention: “School yards in particular are low-hanging fruit,” Faber Taylor said. “Most children have to go to school, so they’d almost be guaranteed to experience that greenspace. There is some compelling work showing the value of green school yards in improving learning… If you think about all the benefits of greenspace and the potential cost offsets for medical treatments or behavioral interventions, it’s crazy not to just invest in more trees and other forms of greenspace.”
The University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences supports students through $3.8 million annually in scholarships; promotes social well-being through nutrition programs; maintains high retention rates; offers over 400 study abroad opportunities; utilizes its own agricultural experiment station for research; and aims globally advance knowledge across agriculture-related fields—all according to its official website.
