A1. Greenness and physical health
Health benefits of urban tree canopy
Aims and method:
Investigates the health-promoting potential of trees in an urbanised region of the United States. Utilises high-resolution LiDAR and imagery data to quantify tree cover within 250 yards of the residence of 7910 adult participants, and establishes the main and mediating associations between tree cover and multiple health measures care of the California Health Interview Survey.
Key findings:
· The results indicated that more neighbourhood tree cover, independent from green space access, was related to better overall health
· This is primarily mediated by lower overweight / obesity and better social cohesion, and to a lesser extent by less type two diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma.
Reference:
Ulmer, J. M., Wolf, K. L., Backman, D. R., Tretheway, R. L., Blain, C. J., O’Neil-Dunne, J. P., & Frank, L. D. (2016). Multiple health benefits of urban tree canopy: The mounting evidence for a green prescription. Health & Place, 42, 54-62.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1353829216301332
Green space benefits by socio-economic group
Aims and method:
Investigates the strength of the relation between the amount of green space in people’s living environment and their perceived general health. This relation is analysed for different ages and socioeconomic groups. It is also analysed separately for urban and more rural areas, because the strength of the relation was expected to vary with urbanity. Multilevel logistic regression analyses were performed at three levels – individual level, family level, and practice level – controlled for socio-demographic characteristics.
Key findings:
· The percentage of green space within a one kilometre and three kilometre radius had a significant relation to perceived general health. The relation was generally present at all degrees of urbanity.
· The overall relation is stronger for lower socio-economic groups.
· Elderly, youth, and secondary educated people in large cities seem to benefit more from the presence of green areas in their living environment than other groups in large cities.
Reference:
Maas, J., Verheij, R. A., Groenewegen, P. P., De Vries, S., & Spreeuwenberg, P. (2006). Green space, urbanity, and health: how strong is the relation?. Journal of epidemiology and community health, 60(7), 587-592.
Urban green spaces and health
Aims and method:
This World Health Organisation (WHO) report summarises the available evidence of beneficial effects of urban green spaces on health. It draws together a large body of evidence in support of the Global Sustainable Development Goals
Key findings:
· The finding shows how urban green spaces improved mental health, reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, obesity and risk of type two diabetes, and improved pregnancy outcomes.
· Mechanisms leading to these health benefits include psychological relaxation and stress alleviation, increased physical activity, reduced exposure to air pollutants, noise and excess heat.
Reference:
World Health Organisation. (2016). Urban Green Spaces and Health–A Review of Evidence. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO.
The health benefits of urban green spaces
Aims and method:
Reviews the evidence of health benefits of urban green spaces. A search of academic and grey literature was conducted for studies and reviews of the health effects of green space. Articles found were appraised for their relevance, critically reviewed and graded accordingly.
Key findings:
· Environmental factors such as the quality and accessibility of green space affects its use for physical activity. User determinants, such as age, gender, ethnicity and the perception of safety, are also important
· In 2010 the evidence for the links between physical, mental health and well-being, and urban green space was still weak and many studies were limited by poor study design, failure to exclude confounding, bias or reverse causality and weak statistical associations.
Reference:
Lee, A. C., & Maheswaran, R. (2011). The health benefits of urban green spaces: a review of the evidence. Journal of public health, 33(2), 212-222.
https://academic.oup.com/jpubhealth/article/33/2/212/1585136
Greenspace and self-reported health
Aims and method:
Explores a hypothesis that people are healthier in greener areas. Empirically tested by combining Dutch data on the self-reported health of over 10,000 people with land-use data on the amount of green space in their living environment.
Key findings:
· Living in a green environment was positively related to health indicators at the municipal level.
· Relationship between green space and one of the health indicators was somewhat stronger for homemakers and the elderly, two groups that are assumed to be more dependent on, and therefore exposed to, the local environment.
· For all the applied health indicators the relationship with green space was somewhat stronger for lower educated people.
Reference:
De Vries, S., Verheij, R. A., Groenewegen, P. P., & Spreeuwenberg, P. (2003). Natural environments—healthy environments? An exploratory analysis of the relationship between green space and health. Environment and planning A, 35(10), 1717-1731.
Urban park accessibility, physical activity and mental health
Aims and method:
Examines the impact of different activities engaged in during park use on positive mental health. The researchers conducted a questionnaire survey to investigate respondents' physical activity status, self-reported mental health and the relationship with urban parks.
Key findings:
· Park accessibility within 500 m of homes and park use were significantly correlated with resident’s physical activity.
· Physical activity and nature interaction in parks were positively correlated with multiple mental health benefits.
· People reported the greatest improvements in self-confidence (69.9), followed by energy levels (61.4), self-perceived health (60.0), mood restoration (52.0) and relaxation (37.8)
Reference:
Liu, H., Li, F., Li, J., & Zhang, Y. (2017). The relationships between urban parks, residents' physical activity, and mental health benefits: A case study from Beijing, China. Journal of environmental management, 190, 223-230.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479716310416