Where Wild Things Grow: Nature- and Activity-based Group Interventions for Neurodivergent Children and Youth

Sponsor
Sorlandet Hospital HF
Study ID
NCT07203469
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • ADHD - Attention Deficit Disorder With Hyperactivity
  • Autism
  • Health-Related Quality-of-Life
  • Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
  • Neurodevelopmental Outcomes
  • Tourette Syndrome

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
5 Years - 18 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Universal approach — BEHAVIORAL
    In this intervention, the whole class participates in a 12-week nature-based experiential education program
  • Selective approach — BEHAVIORAL
    In this intervention, an intentional group of pupils with an identified need is recruited from different classes within the same school to participate in a 12-week nature-based experiential education program
  • Outdoor therapy — BEHAVIORAL
    This intervention is a 10-week outdoor therapy group treatment that takes place in nearby nature
  • Climbing therapy — BEHAVIORAL
    This intervention is a 10-week climbing therapy group treatment that takes place indoors in a climbing hall

Study Details

The goal of this action research project is to develop and implement nature- and activity-based group interventions across health care, school and leisure settings in Southern Norway. The interventions are tailored to support the mental health, self-efficacy and daily life functioning of children and youth in the Agder region, with a particular focus on youngsters who struggle due to neurodivergence, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Tourette's syndrome. The main questions we aim to answer are: 1. To what extent does nature- and activity-based outdoor education contribute to improvements in children's quality of life? 2. To what extent does nature- and activity-based interventions in a health care setting improve children's self-efficacy, self-esteem and quality of life? 3. Is there a difference in physiological reactions between nature-based provision of education or therapy and traditional indoor provision of education or therapy? Participants will take part in a 12-week school-based or health care intervention.

Key Dates

Start date
Sep 1, 2025
Status verified
Sep 2025
Primary completion
Jun 15, 2026
Completion
Jun 15, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment
240 participants (estimated)
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION

Arms

  • Active Comparator: School setting (PhD 1)
    In this study arm, we compare two approaches to nature-based experiential learning.
  • Active Comparator: Health Care Setting (PhD 2)
    In this study arm, we compare two nature- and activity-based group treatments.
  • Experimental: Heart Rate Variability (Substudy 1)
    Heart rate variability (HRV) is measured across contexts to explore physiological outcomes and stress levels

Primary Outcome Measure

Quality of life (PhD 2) [ Time Frame: Up to 12 months after a 10-week intervention ]

Central Contacts

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