Children given greater access to green spaces before birth and during early years face significantly lower risks of neurodevelopmental disorders, according to new research from Rutgers University published this week in the journal Environment International. The study, which surveyed data from over 1.8 million mother–child pairs in the United States, reveals that exposure to lush, vegetated environments, measured down to the ZIP code level, can reduce rates of ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and learning delays—even after factoring in socio-economic differences. For urban-dwelling families, particularly among Black and Hispanic populations, the effects are especially pronounced, suggesting a path forward for more equitable child health outcomes.
This news comes as urbanization accelerates worldwide, including in Thailand, where rural-urban migration and high-rise development continue to shrink green spaces in Bangkok and other metropolitan areas. The implications of these research findings could influence both public health and urban development strategies, amid rising concerns about childhood mental health in Thai society.
The Rutgers-led study stands out for the scale and diversity of its data pool: analyzing records of nearly 1.84 million mother–child pairs enrolled in Medicaid across multiple US states from 2001 to 2014. Using satellite data, researchers measured “greenness” via the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) around residential areas. The study tracked neurodevelopmental outcomes, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and behavioral disorders. Findings indicate that for each standard boost in residential greenery (an interquartile range increase of 0.12 in NDVI), the risk of several developmental disorders noticeably fell. Preconception exposure had the strongest correlation with lower intellectual disability risk (hazard ratio 0.66, 95% CI: 0.48–0.95), while prenatal exposure dropped ASD risk (hazard ratio 0.83, 95% CI: 0.73–0.95), and postnatal greenery reduced learning difficulties (hazard ratio 0.81, 95% CI: 0.68–0.97) (source).
The scientific team, led by an associate professor from Rutgers School of Public Health, points out that these protective effects persist even after controlling for both personal and neighborhood-level socioeconomic factors. Notably, they found that street-level greenery’s benefits are greatest for urban children and minority groups, potentially helping to bridge existing health gaps. “Our findings suggest that enhancing green space access in urban environments may support early childhood neurodevelopment and help reduce the burden of neurodevelopmental delays,” the senior study author is quoted as saying. Echoing that message, the team advocates for greater access to natural spaces as a simple, modifiable environmental approach to preventing cognitive and behavioral issues in young children (source, Rutgers press release).
For policy makers in Thailand, where urban planning has long prioritized transport and commercial real estate over public parks, these results hint at a new dimension of urban inequality. In central Bangkok, for example, green parkland per capita is less than half the World Health Organization’s recommended minimum—around 3.3 square meters per resident, compared to 9 square meters suggested globally (Bangkok Post, WHO Urban Green Space Guidelines). In contrast, cities such as Singapore have invested heavily in accessible parks and green corridors, and are beginning to see public health dividends.
Thailand’s child development challenges are complex. Rates of diagnosed autism spectrum disorder in Thai children have climbed, reflecting both greater awareness and shifting environmental exposures (Department of Mental Health, MoPH). Meanwhile, educators and psychologists note rising behavioral issues, ADHD diagnoses, and learning difficulties, raising questions about how built environments may play a role. This is often exacerbated in densely packed Bangkok neighborhoods or industrial areas where natural green space is rare.
Senior researchers from Rutgers highlight the critical windows in which green space appears most protective—before conception, during pregnancy, and throughout early childhood—suggesting complex biological mechanisms may be involved, from reduced maternal stress to lower air pollution exposure. “We observed protective associations between residential green space and several neurodevelopmental outcomes across distinct exposure windows—preconception, prenatal, and early childhood—suggesting the involvement of different underlying biological mechanisms,” the study’s senior author explained in the published report. These mechanisms may include reductions in chronic maternal stress, improved air quality, and exposure to beneficial microbiomes from natural environments (PubMed). Such findings are consistent with prior international research suggesting that children in greener neighborhoods show higher cognitive test scores and better emotional regulation (National Geographic, The Lancet Planetary Health).
In the Thai context, experts in child development caution that green access is not evenly distributed. Senior educators from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Education, for example, have long advocated for more “living classroom” environments, integrating nature-based learning in both urban and rural schools. Officials from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Department of Environment have begun pilot projects to “green” school yards and install small pocket parks, citing the need for practical solutions even in high-density areas.
Beyond health and developmental benefits, green spaces in Thai cities often serve as community gathering points, offering exercise opportunities, stress relief, and even spiritual significance—from the traditional lak mueang (city pillar) parks to contemporary sky gardens atop Bangkok shopping malls. Such sites are often linked to Thai cultural practices of communal recreation and religious festivities, underlining the multi-layered importance of urban greenery.
Looking ahead, the Rutgers researchers call for further studies into exactly how different forms of green space—parks, walking trails, community gardens—impact neurodevelopment, and whether policy interventions can maintain their protective effect long-term. “Future research will explore the biological and environmental mechanisms that may explain the association between green space and neurodevelopment and will examine long-term cognitive and behavioral health outcomes into adolescence,” noted the study team in their summary (Neuroscience News).
For Thai families, the message is clear: seeking out green environments before conception, during pregnancy, and in a child’s formative years can offer substantial developmental advantages. For urban planners and health authorities, the study strengthens the case for rethinking zoning laws, investing in public parks, and supporting community efforts to reclaim unused urban land for nature. “Increasing green space access could be a potentially modifiable environmental strategy to reduce the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders among children, especially in vulnerable, low-income populations,” the Rutgers study concluded.
Practical recommendations for Thai readers include regularly making use of city parks, supporting community gardening projects, advocating for more green space in residential areas, and encouraging schools to implement outdoor learning programs whenever possible. Families planning to conceive should be especially mindful of the benefits green surroundings hold for future child health. Civil society groups and local officials should consider partnerships aimed at converting vacant land into safe, green play areas—aiming to replicate the targeted, evidence-based benefits seen in the new Rutgers study.
For further reading on the underlying study and its international implications, see the original research summary at Neuroscience News, the open-access paper published in Environment International, and public health coverage by the World Health Organization.