TY - JOUR
T1 - Adverse Childhood Experiences
T2 - The Protective and Therapeutic Potential of Nature
AU - Touloumakos, Anna K.
AU - Barrable, Alexia
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright © 2020 Touloumakos and Barrable.
Copyright:
Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2020/11/26
Y1 - 2020/11/26
N2 - Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are prevalent in many western populations. Large studies have put the likelihood of having at least one ACE above 50% of the general population. ACEs and the associated experience of chronic stress, moreover, have been consistently linked with a variety of negative physical and psychological health outcomes across the lifespan from behavioral problems and cognitive difficulties early on, to greater chance of suffering from a mental health disorder and engaging in self destructing behaviors. The literature puts forward several protective factors, such as mother-child relations, parental health, and community engagement. In this perspective paper we put forward the potential of regular nature engagement as a possible additional protective factor. Nature’s therapeutic potential has been well documented, for many psychopathologies and mental health difficulties. Yet studies looking at the protective and therapeutic potential of nature with people with ACEs are remarkably limited in numbers. In this perspective piece we conduct a search of the literature to find previous applications of nature as a protective or therapeutic intervention for people with ACEs. We highlight the gap in the current literature, and put forward various mechanisms of action that justify a closer exploration of this area in further research.
AB - Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are prevalent in many western populations. Large studies have put the likelihood of having at least one ACE above 50% of the general population. ACEs and the associated experience of chronic stress, moreover, have been consistently linked with a variety of negative physical and psychological health outcomes across the lifespan from behavioral problems and cognitive difficulties early on, to greater chance of suffering from a mental health disorder and engaging in self destructing behaviors. The literature puts forward several protective factors, such as mother-child relations, parental health, and community engagement. In this perspective paper we put forward the potential of regular nature engagement as a possible additional protective factor. Nature’s therapeutic potential has been well documented, for many psychopathologies and mental health difficulties. Yet studies looking at the protective and therapeutic potential of nature with people with ACEs are remarkably limited in numbers. In this perspective piece we conduct a search of the literature to find previous applications of nature as a protective or therapeutic intervention for people with ACEs. We highlight the gap in the current literature, and put forward various mechanisms of action that justify a closer exploration of this area in further research.
KW - adverse childhood experiences
KW - nature
KW - nature-based interventions
KW - nature-based therapies
KW - protective factors
KW - psychopathology
KW - trauma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85097366515&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.597935
DO - 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.597935
M3 - Article
C2 - 33324297
VL - 11
SP - 597935
JO - Frontiers in Psychology
JF - Frontiers in Psychology
SN - 1664-1078
M1 - 597935
ER -