ORCID Profile
0000-0002-8027-6589
Current Organisations
Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen
,
IT University of Copenhagen
,
Deakin University
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Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 15-03-2015
Publisher: No publisher found
Date: 2015
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 15-08-2019
Abstract: Contact with nature is widely considered to ameliorate psychological stress, but the empirical support for a causal link is limited. We conducted a systematic review to synthesize and critically assess the evidence. Six electronic databases were searched. Twenty-six studies evaluated the difference between the effect of natural environments and that of a suitable control on the acute psychophysiological stress response. Eighteen studies were rated as being of moderate quality, 4 low quality, and 4 high quality. Meta-analyses indicated that seated relaxation (g = .5, p =.06) and walking (g = .3, p =.02) in natural environments enhanced heart rate variability more than the same activities in control conditions. Cortisol concentration measures were inconsistent. While intuitively and theoretically sound, the empirical support for acute stress-reducing effects of immersion in natural environments is tentative due to small s le sizes and methodological weaknesses in the studies. We provide guidelines for future research.
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 20-03-2019
Abstract: In this systematic review, we summarised and evaluated the evidence for benefits of immersive nature-experience on children and adolescents’ mental, physical and social health. An electronic search was performed for English language articles published between January 2004 and May 2017. Data were extracted from 84 publications that met the inclusion criteria. Study quality was assessed for a subset of the studies, i.e. controlled between- and within-subjects studies, using a systematic assessment scheme, and the quality of the evidence was reviewed at an outcome level. Across heterogeneous types of immersive nature-experience, there was conditional support for benefits on self-esteem, self-efficacy, resilience and academic and cognitive performance. Correlational research evidenced higher levels of physical activity in natural environments than comparison conditions. Benefits for outcomes such as self-concept, problem solving, and mood were more inconclusive. In addition, social skill-oriented and behavioural indicators were improved, although the categories comprised different outcomes. Risk of bias, insufficient s ling methods and unsuited comparison groups were common study limitations.
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 05-2020
Abstract: Background. Existing research indicates that spending time in nature is associated with erse aspects of children’s health and wellbeing. Although fundamental to later life chances and health, no systematic reviews, to our knowledge, have focused specifically on the effects of interaction with nature on socioemotional functioning in childhood. Objectives. Amongst children, what is the consistency of associations between the availability of or spending time in nature on socioemotional function and development? Furthermore, which child behaviours and states independently associate with socioemotional function and availability of or spending time in nature, and what is the consistency of associations between these behaviours and states and contact with nature?Data sources. Embase, Environment Complete, MEDLINE, and APA PsycINFO. Eligible studies were backward and forward snowball-searched. Study eligibility criteria. Studies investigating effects of, or associations between, availability of or interaction with nature on socioemotional or proximal outcomes in children under the age of 12 years were included in this review. Study appraisal and synthesis methods. The internal validity of studies investigating socioemotional outcomes were based on assessments of elements of study design, conduct, and reporting to identify potential issues related to confounding or other biases. The number of analyses indicating positive, negative, and non-significant associations between availability or interaction with green space and the outcomes were summed.Results. A total of 223 eligible full-texts, of which 43 pertained to socioemotional outcomes and 180 to proximal outcomes, met eligibility criteria. Positive associations between availability of and spending time in green space were found with children’s intra- and interpersonal socioemotional function and development. Proportions of positive findings ranged from 13.9% to 55% across experimental and observational research, exposures, populations, and contexts. Modifying and mediating factors were identified. We found consistent evidence for improved aspects of cognition and, for children over six years, reduced risk of obesity and overweight in association with green space consistent links between movement behaviours in the experimental, but not observational research tentative trends suggesting associations with play, motor skills, language, screen time, and communication skills little evidence for positive associations between green space and mood, physical wellbeing, and stress some evidence for associations with healthy birth outcomes, and little evidence for direct associations between availability of green space and asthma and allergy prevalence, however, mediation via, for ex le, air pollution was likely.Limitations. We identified few studies without either probable or severe risk of bias in at least one item. Improved study quality may therefore result in different results. Restricting analyses to include only studies considered at low risk of bias indicated similar or slightly lower proportions of positive findings. Risk of bias in proximal outcomes was not assessed.Conclusions. The empirical evidence for benefits of availability of and interaction green space for child socioemotional function and development must currently be considered limited. A number of proximal indicators were identified. Systematic review registration number. PROSPERO ID: CRD42019135016.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2023
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2016
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 07-06-2021
Abstract: Education outside the classroom (EOtC) has become an attractive approach, not only for learning but also for health. This explorative, cross-sectional study investigated children’s sedentary behaviours (SED), light physical activity (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) on school days with an EOtC session in green space compared to school days with EOtC in other environments and without EOtC. Teachers from 17 Danish school classes practised EOtC for one school year on a weekly basis and self-reported the characteristics of the EOtC environment. The pupils’ PA was device-measured for seven consecutive days in a random period during the school year with AX3 accelerometers. Across 617 pupils (age 9–13 years), PA intensity cases (N = 2264) on school days (8:10–14:00 h) with (n = 317) or without (n = 1947) EOtC were included in a mixed-effects regression analysis. Mean exposure to EOtC was 262 min per session. School days with green EOtC (e.g., parks, forests and nature schools) were associated with (mean, [95% CI]) −24.3 [−41.8, −7.7] min SED and +21.3 [7.7, 36.4] min LPA compared to school days with non-green EOtC (e.g., cultural and societal institutions or companies) and with +6.2 [−0.11, 11.48] min MVPA compared to school days with a school-ground EOtC. No sex differences were found. In conclusion, school days with green EOtC must be considered promising to counteract children’s sedentary behaviours during school hours.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 05-2023
DOI: 10.1177/00139165231182686
Abstract: Nurturing relationships are crucial for adaptive child development. The objectives of the study were to investigate whether nature availability was associated with early nurturing parenting practices, mother-infant bonding, and infant socioemotional function. Data were from the Australian Temperament Project ( n = 809 infants to 515 parents residing in Victoria, Australia) and were linked cross-sectionally to residential greenness (i.e., Normalized Difference in Vegetation Index). There were no observable associations between residential greenness within a 1,600 m network radius and parenting practices, mother-infant bonding, or infant socioemotional function. The findings were largely corroborated by sensitivity analyses (i.e., NDVI within 100, 250, 500, and 1,000 m and distance to park). Shorter distances to a park were associated with less hostile parenting. More residential greenness (1,000 and 1,600 m) was associated with stronger father-infant bonding and more hostile parenting amongst the most stressed parents in exploratory analyses. Residential greenness might be a socioecological precursor for father-infant bonding.
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 27-06-2022
Abstract: Human social cognition is considered an essential skill necessary for socially appropriate behaviours and social integration. Childhood is a time of rapid social expansion and growing independence from parents, but it is also a period of vulnerability in which children may have unequal opportunities for optimal development. Accumulating evidence suggests that access to greenery, such as trees, shrubs, and grassed areas, may promote social skills in children. In this pre-registered, cross-sectional study, we found that vegetation cover around the home was associated with theory of mind (b/SE = 18.36/6.49, p = 0.006, Bayes Factor (BF) = 2.711) but not affect recognition (4.51/6.99, 0.52, 0.133) in 5-12 year-old children (n = 85). Further, neither of two neurophysiological indexes of face emotion processing, the N170 latency (-31.9/42.20, 0.45, 0.201) and the N170 litude (-5.58/11.82, 0.63, 1.02), were associated with vegetation cover around the home. Vegetation cover around the home might support the formation of social skills through higher order reasoning about emotion experience and cause and effect as it relates to other people. Future studies including larger, longitudinal s les are required to confirm the findings.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-12-2021
DOI: 10.1111/DESC.13200
Abstract: The environmental influences on early childhood development are understudied. The association between vegetation cover (i.e., trees, shrubs, grassed areas) in four key behaviour settings and socioemotional functioning was investigated in 1196 young children (2–5 years). Emotional difficulties were inversely associated with vegetation cover in the home yard (OR: 0.81 [0.69—0.96]) and neighbourhood (OR: 0.79 [0.67–0.94]), but not in early childhood education and care (ECEC) centre outdoor areas or the ECEC neighbourhood. The higher odds of emotional difficulties associated with lower levels of maternal education was reduced with higher percentages of home yard vegetation cover. There was no evidence of mediation of the relationship between emotional difficulties and vegetation cover by time spent playing outside the home, day or nighttime sleep duration, or physical activity. We found no associations between vegetation cover and conduct, hyperactivity and inattention, peer difficulties, or prosocial behaviours. A video abstract of this article can be viewed at atch?v=J3HeEiIjVZc
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 24-02-2021
Abstract: It is central for public health to answer questions related to how to change health and wellbeing in populations through interdisciplinarity and health in all policies and sectors. For a school physical activity promotion initiative to be acceptable and thus feasible, the buy-in of teachers is fundamental. Therefore, school physical activity promotion should be integrated into and support teaching activities. We discuss the use of education outside the classroom as a feasible pedagogical approach that integrates and promotes physical activity for school children. We present and discuss theoretical arguments and empirical evidence to argue and illustrate that education outside the classroom is a promising approach for promoting physical activity. Education outside the classroom is characterised by regular curriculum-based experiential teaching activities outside the classroom with the inclusion of physical activity as a means to pedagogical ends. School subjects are taught outside the classroom drawing on problem-based learning and experiential education. Here, physical activity is integrated without compromising curriculum goals which increases teacher buy-in and thereby intervention acceptability and feasibility. Empirical evidence suggests that education outside the classroom increases boys’ moderate to vigorous physical activity and girls’ light intensity physical activity. We contend that the mechanisms are a mix of place, pedagogy and pupil motivations. Education outside the classroom is a feasible and acceptable approach to public health and physical activity promotion because it is integrated into children’s everyday settings through curriculum time and applied broadly to child populations at a low cost. The practice of education outside the classroom is context-dependent and culturally bound, and practices therefore need to be adapted to the in idual sociocultural context.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 03-05-2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.HEALTHPLACE.2019.05.014
Abstract: In this systematic review, we summarised and evaluated the evidence for benefits of immersive nature-experience on children and adolescents' mental, physical and social health. An electronic search was performed for English language articles published between January 2004 and May 2017. Data were extracted from 84 publications that met the inclusion criteria. Study quality was assessed for a subset of the studies, i.e. controlled between- and within-subject studies, using a systematic assessment scheme, and the quality of the evidence was reviewed at an outcome level. Across heterogeneous types of immersive nature-experience, there was conditional support for benefits on self-esteem, self-efficacy, resilience and academic and cognitive performance. Correlational research evidenced higher levels of physical activity in natural environments than comparison conditions. Benefits for outcomes such as self-concept, problem solving, and mood were more inconclusive. In addition, social skill-oriented and behavioural indicators were improved, although the categories comprised different outcomes. Risk of bias, insufficient s ling methods and unsuited comparison groups were common study limitations.
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2018
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2016
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 22-09-2022
Abstract: Natural environments are increasingly acknowledged as social determinants of mental, physical, and social health, and are a widely accessible multi-sectorial planning modality. Yet, in the context of several reviews conducted by the authors, we have observed that sometimes the multifarious, quantitative research investigating impacts of natural environments on human health is not conducted or reported to rigorous scientific standards 1–5. To constructively draw attention to this issue, we present and unpack seven research practices that obscure our understanding of the benefits of nature for human health: 1) circumventing the best available evidence, 2) uneven reporting and black boxing interventions, 3) confusing statistical significance with practical importance, 4) confusing correlation and causality, 5) data dredging and forking paths, 6) overlooking clustering in s les, and 7) ignoring selection in s les to derive generalised conclusions. This list is not exhaustive, but we expect that this compilation of practices will serve as a resource to support fidelity in conducting, analysing, and reporting in this promising field of research. We invite researchers, editors, and funders to discuss and expand the identified practices.
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 08-03-2023
Abstract: Early nurturing relationships are crucial for adaptive child development. The objectives of the study were to investigate whether the availability of natural environments was associated with nurturing parenting practices, mother-infant bonding, and infant socioemotional function at one year of age. Data were from the Australian Temperament Project (n = 809 infants to 515 parents residing in Victoria, Australia) and were linked cross-sectionally to residential greenness (i.e., Normalized Difference in Vegetation Index). There were no observable associations between residential greenness within a 1600m network radius and parenting practices (using items from the parenting scales from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children), mother-infant bonding (Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale (MPAS)), or infant socioemotional function (Brief Infant Toddler Social Emotional Assessment (BITSEA)). The findings were largely corroborated by sensitivity analyses (i.e., NDVI within 100m, 250m, 500m, and 1000m and distance to park). Shorter distances to a park were associated with less hostile parenting. More residential greenness (1000m and 1600m) was associated with stronger father-infant bonding (Paternal Postnatal Attachment Scale (PPAS)) and more hostile parenting amongst the most stressed parents in exploratory analyses. Residential greenness might be a socioecological precursor for father-infant bonding.
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 26-07-2022
Abstract: IntroductionThe prevalence of mental and physical disorders amongst children and adolescents is high and is, for many disorders, on the rise. Innovative public health interventions are needed to address this. Despite the existence of multifarious health promotion and prevention interventions targeting children, adolescents, and families, few have proven effective. The family unit is considered essential for the formation of health, wellbeing, and health behaviors over the lifespan. It is especially important for interventions to target families that are socially disadvantaged considering the well-established social gradient in health and wellbeing. Unfortunately, previous interventions have had limited success. This protocol outlines the three-phased approach we plan to use to develop the intervention 1) Synthesis and prototyping, 2) Testing and feedback, and 3) Refinements and description. The intervention will subsequently be tested, and further developed and adapted, in a feasibility study. We consider this a fourth phase although this document focuses on the formal three-phased development process.ObjectivesWe aim to carefully develop an intervention that works through established civil society platforms (i.e., Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA)’s Social Work’s (YSW) social cafes and kindergartens in Denmark) and targets both health competences and the social, relational dynamics that underlie health and wellbeing deficits within socially disadvantaged families. The process described will ensure that the intervention is based on the best available evidence, is informed by theory and practice, and increase the likelihood of acceptability amongst users, providers, commissioners, and those with community interest.Methods and AnalysisOur three-phased approach is inspired by the revised Medical Research Council (MRC) guidance for developing complex interventions and the key principles and actions for consideration described by O’Cathain et al. (1) and McQueen et al. (2). First, we will combine evidence synthesis with stakeholder and research expert engagement to develop a tentative program theory and to understand barriers and enablers to health promotion, family-based interventions amongst socially disadvantaged populations. Next, we further develop our intervention ideas and adapt our emerging program theory by collecting detailed data through interviews with purposively s led stakeholders (i.e., users, providers, and commissioners) as well as observations and piloting of intervention components in existing YSW family groups. Finally, we test and refine our program theory, develop intervention materials, map, and clarify our intervention and its intersecting components in a discussion with purposively s led stakeholders. OutcomeHealth-promoting, family-based intervention targeted socially disadvantaged populations Evidence-based program theory Intervention content and materials TIDIER checklist suitable for testing and further refinement in a feasibility study.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 09-09-2019
Abstract: Contact with nature is widely considered to ameliorate psychological stress, but the empirical support for a causal link is limited. We conducted a systematic review to synthesize and critically assess the evidence. Six electronic databases were searched. Twenty-six studies evaluated the difference between the effect of natural environments and that of a suitable control on the acute psychophysiological stress response. Eighteen studies were rated as being of moderate quality, four studies of low quality, and four studies of high quality. Meta-analyses indicated that seated relaxation ( g = .5, p = .06) and walking ( g = .3, p = .02) in natural environments enhanced heart rate variability more than the same activities in control conditions. Cortisol concentration measures were inconsistent. While intuitively and theoretically sound, the empirical support for acute stress-reducing effects of immersion in natural environments is tentative due to small s le sizes and methodological weaknesses in the studies. We provide guidelines for future research.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2023
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 16-10-2020
Abstract: The environmental influences on early childhood development are understudied. The association between vegetation cover (i.e. trees, shrubs, grassed areas) in four key behaviour settings and socioemotional functioning was investigated in 1196 young children (2-5 years). Emotional difficulties were inversely associated with vegetation cover in the home yard (OR: 0.81 [0.69-0.96]) and neighbourhood (OR: 0.79 [0.67-0.94]), but not in early childhood education and care (ECEC) centre outdoor areas or the ECEC neighbourhood. The higher odds of emotional difficulties associated with lower levels of maternal education was reduced with higher percentages of home yard vegetation cover. There was no evidence of mediation of the relationship between emotional difficulties and vegetation cover by time spent playing outside the home, day or nighttime sleep duration, or physical activity. We found no associations between vegetation cover and conduct, hyperactivity and inattention, peer difficulties, or prosocial behaviours.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 10-12-2015
Publisher: CAIRN
Date: 13-05-2019
Abstract: In today's modern society, lifestyle-related diseases play an increasingly important role as the cause of bad health. Staying in and access to environments that contain natural elements such as forests, parks and gardens has been featured because of its potential to stimulating people's health and well-being. An independent research area has developed, which addresses issues that try to explain and document the health effects of access to and activities in nature. To bring together European researchers working with different aspects of the relation between nature and health, COST Action E39 "Forests, Trees, and Human Health and Wellbeing" was established in 2004 and terminated in November 2009. The main results of COST E39 was presented in the book "Forests, Trees and Human Health" published in 2011. This article focuses on three central research questions regarding the relationship between nature and health: (1) Nature's restorative and salutogenic effects on human beings, (2) Health effects of outdoor physical activities, and (3) Therapeutic interventions such as therapy gardens and forest bathing. Based on a systematic review of research carried out in the aftermath of the COST Action the following conclusions are made: (1) There is a remarkable amount of research publications showing a statistical correlation between access to nature and green areas and human physical activity and health. However, there are few studies that really prove a causal relationship, i.e. that access to green areas leads to increased physical activity and better health. (2) The existing research on outdoor activities in natural environments describes a number of positive associations and effects on health, and the evidence for some of these are convincing, albeit there must be reservations for the immediate applicability of the conclusions. (3) A lot of studies also show that nature-based therapeutic interventions work and provide clear positive effects, but there is serious criticism about the quality of the studies. Finally, the authors suggest more emphasis on research regarding the economic benefits of nature's health effects, more research on the effects of nature-based therapeutic interventions, and of broadening the theoretical basis. Furthermore, we foresee a better integration with health policies and practical implementation within urban planning and forest management.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 03-04-2017
Abstract: Since children spend a large proportion of their time in institutional settings such as schools, health promotion researchers have identified this as an important setting to promote physical activity (PA). Apart from physical education, PA could be integrated into the school curriculum in other ways. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine whether a school excursion to a museum can increase primary school students’ PA and reduce sedentary time. One hundred and ten primary school students aged 12–13, from three Danish schools, wore accelerometers for four consecutive days, of which one consisted of an excursion day to a museum. While an increase in light physical activity and reduction in the amount of sedentary time was observed, students did not spend more time in moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) during the visit to the museum than on a regular school day. However, over the full excursion day, the students accumulated more MVPA. One school used active transportation to and from the museum, which contributed to significantly more MVPA compared to the other schools. An excursion to a museum significantly reduced sedentary time, but was in itself not sufficient to increase MVPA.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2021
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 28-05-2018
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 03-07-2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2021
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 25-10-2013
No related grants have been discovered for Lærke Mygind.