RESEARCH

The Impact of School Gardens on Youth Social and Emotional Learning: A Scoping Review

Studying SEL in youth reveals significant insights into how these programs impact their behavior and interactions. The research emphasizes the need for better systematic review methods to keep literature reviews updated and relevant.

Program Types: Social

Population Groups: Children/Youth, Students

Setting or Context: Schools/Educational Settings

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Enhanced Emotional Well-being, Increased Sense of Belonging (Reduced Isolation), Increased Social Engagement & Skills, Greater Job Readiness & Vocational Skills, Increased Self-Efficacy, Community Building

Allied Profession Intersections: Education

Type of Activity: Outdoor Gardening, Edible Plant Gardening

Evidence Type: Meta-Analyses/Systematic Reviews

Measurement and Evaluation: Patient-Reported Outcomes, Standardized Assessment Tools

Access: Available Upon Request

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Summary

The research paper examines various studies on how social-emotional learning (SEL) impacts school-aged children and adolescents. It looks at different types of studies, including case studies, post-test-only studies, and quasi-experimental designs, and uses diverse methods like quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. The studies primarily come from the United States and Finland, with most focusing on SEL as it relates to interactions with other people. The researchers emphasize the importance of systematic reviews and highlight challenges, such as the lack of standardized methods for updating literature reviews.

During their analysis, the authors used a data extraction chart to ensure consistent review processes across the different studies. They only included studies that directly collected data from youth or involved direct observation of youth behavior. The results underscore the broad range of methods used to study SEL and the importance of creating more systematic approaches to updating research literature. The findings are crucial for understanding how SEL programs can be effectively implemented and assessed across different settings.

Link

Lohr, A.M., Drause, K.C., McClelland, K.J. et al. (2021). The impact of school gardens on youth social and emotional learning: A scoping review. Journal of Adventure Education & Outdoor Learning, 21(4), 371-384

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