Environmental Influences on Academic Proficiency

Purpose of 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.