A recent review study published in EOS (January 2024) shows that children with autism experience short-term positive effects from participating in nature-based activities. The study, conducted by researchers from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, analyzed 24 studies involving 717 participants and investigated so-called ‘nature-based interventions,’ including recreation, sailing, surfing, golf, summer camps, and equine-assisted therapy.
The findings show that these activities have a beneficial effect on the sensory, social, and behavioral functioning of children with autism spectrum disorder. Steffie van der Steen, developmental psychologist and associate professor of Special Needs Education at the University of Groningen, notes that the research primarily points to improvements in attention, hyperactivity, well-being, overstimulation, and social functioning in the short term. However, she emphasizes that the long-term effects have not yet been investigated.
Notable is the inclusion of activities with horses in the study, alongside the outdoor activities. Van der Steen expresses her surprise at this choice and emphasizes the fundamental difference between interventions in nature and those with animals. She suggests that activities with horses may have been included because of their association with the outdoor environment.
According to the study, equine-assisted therapy also appears to have positive effects. Van der Steen explains that children with autism may interact more easily with animals because of the clear signals they give. However, she points out that the impact of the therapy can vary among children, and that individual needs are difficult to investigate in large-scale studies.
The study underlines the value of natural and animal-assisted approaches in the treatment of children with autism, although further study into long-term effects and more personalized approaches is necessary for a deeper understanding.
