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

NCT07203469 | Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: REC nr. 807380
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 240
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

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. 1.To what extent does nature- and activity-based outdoor education contribute to improvements in children's quality of life?
2. 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. 3.Is there a difference in physiological reactions between nature-based provision of education or therapy and traditional indoor provision of education or therapy?

Conditions

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

Keywords

Nature-based; Action research; child and adolescent mental health; ADHD; Autism; Health-related quality of life; outdoor therapy; experiential education; heart rate variability

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Quality of life (PhD 2)

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

  Up to 12 months after a 10-week intervention

• Health-related quality of life (PhD 1)

  Measured by KIDSCREEN-27

  Up to four weeks after a 12- week intervention

• Physiological reactions

  Measured by heart rate and heart rate variability

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

Study Arms (3)

School setting (PhD 1)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

In this study arm, we compare two approaches to nature-based experiential learning.

Behavioral: Universal approach; Behavioral: Selective approach

Health Care Setting (PhD 2)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

In this study arm, we compare two nature- and activity-based group treatments.

Behavioral: Outdoor therapy; Behavioral: Climbing therapy

Heart Rate Variability (Substudy 1)

EXPERIMENTAL

Heart rate variability (HRV) is measured across contexts to explore physiological outcomes and stress levels

Behavioral: Universal approach; Behavioral: Selective approach; Behavioral: Outdoor therapy; Behavioral: Climbing therapy

Interventions

Universal approach BEHAVIORAL

In this intervention, the whole class participates in a 12-week nature-based experiential education program

Also known as: Universell Friluftslæring

Heart Rate Variability (Substudy 1); School setting (PhD 1)

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

Also known as: Selektiv Friluftslæring

Heart Rate Variability (Substudy 1); School setting (PhD 1)

Outdoor therapy BEHAVIORAL

This intervention is a 10-week outdoor therapy group treatment that takes place in nearby nature

Also known as: Friluftsterapi, Basecamp

Health Care Setting (PhD 2); Heart Rate Variability (Substudy 1)

Climbing therapy BEHAVIORAL

This intervention is a 10-week climbing therapy group treatment that takes place indoors in a climbing hall

Also known as: Klatreterapi

Health Care Setting (PhD 2); Heart Rate Variability (Substudy 1)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 5 Years - 18 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Sorlandet Hospital HF: lead
• University of Agder: collaborator
• University of Stavanger: collaborator

Study Sites (2)

Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ABUP), Sørlandet Hospital HF

Kristiansand, Agder, 4630, Norway

RECRUITING

Department of Sport and Physical Education, University of Agder

Kristiansand, Agder, 4630, Norway

RECRUITING

Related Links

• This is a project website for Where Wild Things Grow, or "Vill Vekst" in Norwegian

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Autistic Disorder; Tourette Syndrome

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Basal Ganglia Diseases; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Tic Disorders; Movement Disorders; Heredodegenerative Disorders, Nervous System; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities

Study Officials

• Carina R Fernee, PhD

  Sørlandet Hospital HF

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Carina R Fernee, PhD

CONTACT

+4790671621; carina.fernee@sshf.no

Sveinung Berntsen, Professor

CONTACT

+4790989765; sveinung.berntsen@uia.no

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 16, 2025
• First Posted: October 2, 2025
• Study Start: September 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 15, 2027
• Last Updated: October 2, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

NO (2)