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Methods:

We conducted a rapid review of peer-reviewed (n= 3096) and grey literature (n= 7) to identify physical activity and/or social connectedness outdoor space interventions targeted at children and youth (19 years and under) in Australia and New Zealand, Canada, Europe and the United States. We determined if interventions were effective by analyzing their research design, confidence intervals and reported limitations, and then conducted a narrative synthesis of the effective interventions.

Results:

We found 104 unique studies, of which 70 (67%) were determined to be effective. Overall, 55 interventions targeted physical activity outcomes, 10 targeted social connectedness outcomes and 5 targeted both. Play (n= 47) and contact with nature (n= 25) were dominant themes across interventions, with most taking place in a school or park. We report on the identifying features, limitations and implications of these …