RecruitingNot Applicable

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

Norway240 participantsStarted 2025-09-01

Plain-language 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. To what extent does nature- and activity-based outdoor education contribute to improvements in children's quality of life? 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. Is there a difference in physiological reactions between nature-based provision of education or therapy and traditional indoor provision of education or therapy? Participants will take part in a 12-week school-based or health care intervention.

Who can participate

Age range

5 Years – 18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * In PhD 1, participants are recruited on class-level (all) or individual (identified need). * In PhD 2, inclusion criteria are patients that participate in the specific interventions. Exclusion Criteria: * In PhD 2, exclusion criteria include substance misuse, acute psychosis, current suicidal behavior/ideation, and severe eating disorders.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Quality of life (PhD 2)

Timeframe: Up to 12 months after a 10-week intervention

Health-related quality of life (PhD 1)

Timeframe: Up to four weeks after a 12- week intervention

Physiological reactions

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

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07203469

SponsorSorlandet Hospital HF

Sponsor typeOTHER_GOV

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-06-15

Contact for this trial

Carina R Fernee, PhD

+4790671621 carina.fernee@sshf.no

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Neurodevelopmental Outcomes trials