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. 2024 Mar;11(1):1-19.
doi: 10.1007/s40471-023-00324-0. Epub 2023 Jul 17.

ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES ON ACADEMIC PROFICIENCY

Sara Grineski  1 , Camden Alexander  1 , Marco L Allain  2 , Austin S Clark  2 , Timothy W Collins  2 , Eric Goodwin  2 , Casey J Mullen  1 , Mathilda Scott  1 , Yasamin Shaker  1 , Kevin D Ramos  2 , Roger A Renteria  1 , Ricardo Rubio  1
Affiliations

ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES ON ACADEMIC PROFICIENCY

Sara Grineski et al. Curr Epidemiol Rep. 2024 Mar.

Abstract

Purpose of the review: Environmental conditions impact the well-being of populations worldwide, including the academic proficiency of youth. The current review summarizes the role of environmental influences (i.e., air pollution, greenspace, noise, and disasters) on academic proficiency.

Recent findings: We identified 31 articles published since 2018, with the largest number on air pollution (n=16) and the fewest on noise (n=2). The air pollution studies find many significant associations with academic outcomes with some exceptions. Findings from the two noise studies are mixed. The eight studies on greenspace have mixed findings, depending on study specifics. All five studies on disasters find at least some significant associations with academic outcomes.

Summary: To build from recent findings, future research should consider focusing on college students, synergies between environmental conditions, social characteristics as effect modifiers, better environmental metrics, longitudinal designs, underexamined contexts, novel academic outcomes, and protective factors and interventions.

Keywords: academic proficiency; air pollution; children; disasters; greenspace; noise.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT ON INTEREST The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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