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

ConditionsNeurodevelopmental OutcomesADHD - Attention Deficit Disorder With HyperactivityAutismTourette SyndromeHealth-Related Quality-of-LifeHeart Rate Variability (HRV)
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age5-18
SponsorSorlandet Hospital HF

About this trial

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.

Eligibility criteria

This trial accepts healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

In PhD 1, participants are recruited on class-level (all) or individual (identified need).

In PhD 2, inclusion criteria are patients that participate in the specific interventions.

Disqualifiers

In PhD 2, exclusion criteria include substance misuse, acute psychosis, current suicidal behavior/ideation, and severe eating disorders.

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

  • 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

Treatment groups

240 Participants
are divided into 3 treatment groups
Group A: School setting (PhD 1)Active comparator 2 interventions
Group B: Health Care Setting (PhD 2)Active comparator 2 interventions
Group C: Heart Rate Variability (Substudy 1)Experimental treatment 4 interventions

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Quality of life (PhD 2)

Operationalized as single items on hapiness, health, stress, outcome rating scale and KIDSCREEN-10

Time frame
Up to 12 months after a 10-week intervention
2

Health-related quality of life (PhD 1)

Measured by KIDSCREEN-27

Time frame
Up to four weeks after a 12- week intervention
3

Physiological reactions

Measured by heart rate and heart rate variability

Time frame
One day data collection during 12-week intervention. No follow-up.

Secondary outcomes

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

Sorlandet Hospital HF

Lead sponsor

University of Agder

Collaborator

University of Stavanger

Collaborator

Source ClinicalTrials.gov
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