Scientific Articles

The following is a list of work by lab director Frances E. Kuo and colleagues that was conducted at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  The list is organized by topic; papers may appear under more than one heading.

Human Health Benefits Of Natural Landscapes

General Overview

Kuo, F.E. (2003).  The role of arboriculture in a healthy social ecology: Invited review article for a Special Section. Journal of Arboriculture 29(3), 148-155.

Kuo, F.E. (2004).  Horticulture, well-being, and mental health:  From intuitions to evidence.   In Relf, D. (Ed.), “A proceedings of the XXVI International Horticulture Congress:  Expanding roles for horticulture in improving human well-being and life quality.”  Acta Horticulturae, 639, 27-36.

Children And Nature

Taylor, A.F., Wiley, A., Kuo, F.E., & Sullivan, W.C.  (1998).  Growing up in the inner city:  Green spaces as places to grow.  Environment & Behavior, (30)1, 3-27.

Faber Taylor, A., Kuo, F.E., & Sullivan, W.C.  (2001).  Coping with ADD:  The surprising connection to green play settings.  Environment & Behavior, 33(1), 54-77.

Faber Taylor, A., Kuo, F.E., & Sullivan, W.C. (2002). Views of nature and self-discipline: Evidence from inner-city children. Journal of Environmental Psychology, Special Issue: Environment and Children, 22, 49-63.

Kuo, F.E., & Faber Taylor, A. (2004). A potential natural treatment for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Evidence from a national study.  American Journal of Public Health,  94(9), 1580-1586 .

Faber Taylor, A. & Kuo, F.E. (2006).  Is contact with nature important for healthy child development?  State of the evidence.  In Spencer, C. & Blades, M. (Eds.), Children and Their Environments: Learning, Using and Designing Spaces.  Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K.

Faber Taylor, A. & Kuo, F.E. Children with attention deficits concentrate better after walk in the park. Journal of Attention Disorders, 12, 402-409.

Crime, Aggression, And Nature

Kuo, F.E., & Sullivan, W.C.  (2001).  Environment and crime in the inner city:  Does vegetation reduce crime?   Environment & Behavior, 33(3), 343-367.

Kuo, F.E., & Sullivan, W.C.  (2001).  Aggression and violence in the inner city:  Effects of environment via mental fatigue.  Environment & Behavior, Special Issue 33(4), 543-571.

Inner City And Nature

Coley, R.L., Kuo, F.E., & Sullivan, W.C.  (1997).  Where does community grow?  The social context created by nature in urban public housing.  Environment & Behavior, 29(4), 468-494.

Kuo, F.E., Bacaicoa, M., & Sullivan, W.C.  (1998).  Transforming inner-city neighborhoods:  Trees, sense of safety, and preference.  Environment & Behavior, 30(1), 28-59.

Kuo, F.E., Sullivan, W.C., Coley, R.L., & Brunson, L.  (1998).  Fertile ground for community:  Inner-city neighborhood common spaces. American Journal of Community Psychology, 26(6), 823-851.

Taylor, A.F., Wiley, A., Kuo, F.E., & Sullivan, W.C.  (1998).  Growing up in the inner city:  Green spaces as places to grow.  Environment & Behavior, (30)1, 3-27.

Kuo, F.E., & Sullivan, W.C.  (2001).  Environment and crime in the inner city:  Does vegetation reduce crime?   Environment & Behavior, 33(3), 343-367.

Kuo, F.E.  (2001).  Coping with poverty:  Impacts of environment and attention in the inner city.  Environment & Behavior, 33(1), 5-34.

Kuo, F.E., & Sullivan, W.C.  (2001).  Aggression and violence in the inner city:  Effects of environment via mental fatigue.  Environment & Behavior, Special Issue 33(4), 543-571.

Brunson, L.B., Kuo, F.E., & Sullivan, W.C.  (2001).  Resident appropriation of defensible space in public housing:  Implications for safety and community. Environment & Behavior 33(5), 626-652.

Faber Taylor, A., Kuo, F.E., & Sullivan, W.C. (2002). Views of nature and self-discipline: Evidence from inner-city children. Journal of Environmental Psychology, Special Issue: Environment and Children, 22, 49-63.

Sullivan, W.C., Kuo, F.E., & DePooter, S.F. (2004).  The fruit of urban nature: Vital neighborhood spaces.  Environment & Behavior, 36(5), 678-700.

Sense Of Community And Nature

Coley, R.L., Kuo, F.E., & Sullivan, W.C.  (1997).  Where does community grow?  The social context created by nature in urban public housing.  Environment & Behavior, 29(4), 468-494.

Taylor, A.F., Wiley, A., Kuo, F.E., & Sullivan, W.C.  (1998).  Growing up in the inner city:  Green spaces as places to grow.  Environment & Behavior, (30)1, 3-27.

Kuo, F.E., Sullivan, W.C., Coley, R.L., & Brunson, L.  (1998).  Fertile ground for community:  Inner-city neighborhood common spaces. American Journal of Community Psychology, 26(6), 823-851.

Brunson, L.B., Kuo, F.E., & Sullivan, W.C.  (2001).  Resident appropriation of defensible space in public housing:  Implications for safety and community. Environment & Behavior 33(5), 626-652.

Sullivan, W.C., Kuo, F.E., & DePooter, S.F. (2004).  The fruit of urban nature: Vital neighborhood spaces.  Environment & Behavior, 36(5), 678-700.

Other Topics

Communicating Environmental Issues Effectively

Sullivan, W.C., Kuo, F.E., & Prabhu, M.  (1996).  Assessing the impact of Environmental Impact Statements on citizens.  Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 15(3), 171-182.

Sullivan, W.C., Kuo, F.E., & Prabhu, M.  (1997).  Communicating with citizens:  The power of photosimulation and simple editing.  Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 17(3), 295-310.

Methodology

Kuo, F.E.  (2002).  Bridging the gap:  How scientists can make a difference.  In Bechtel, R. & Churchman, A.  (Eds.), New Handbook of Environmental Psychology.  Wiley & Sons.

Personal Benefits Of Ecological Restoration Volunteering

Miles, I., Sullivan, W.C.,  & Kuo, F.E. (2000).  Restoring the restorationist.  Ecological Restoration, 18(4), 218-227.

Miles, I., Sullivan, W.C., & Kuo, F.E.  (1998).  Restoration volunteers:  The benefits of participation.  Urban Ecosystems, 2(1), 27-41.