Place Value Wiki - A2. Greenness and psychological well-being

A2. Greenness and psychological well-being

View through a window and recovery

Aims and method:

Examines whether assignment to a room with a window view of a natural setting might have restorative influences. It examines records of recovery after cholecystectomy of patients in a suburban Pennsylvania hospital between 1972 and 1981.

Key findings:

· Twenty-three surgical patients assigned to rooms with windows looking out on a natural scene had shorter postoperative hospital stays

· They received fewer negative evaluative comments in nurses' notes, and took fewer potent analgesics than 23 matched patients in similar rooms with windows facing a brick building wall.

Reference:

Ulrich, R. "View through a window may influence recovery." Science 224.4647 (1984): 224-225.

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/224/4647/420

Viewing green space and older people’s well-being

Aims and method:

Investigates the role of outdoor housing environments, including front and back gardens, yards, courtyards, patios and balconies, in older people’s well-being. Descriptions of the outdoor environment were collected from 2,558 individuals living in 526 distinct housing developments using a postal questionnaire. A large range of background variables were measured, mainly through the questionnaire. Characteristics of respondents’ immediate neighbourhood environments were measured from digital maps and satellite / bird’s-eye images.

Key findings:

· Statistically significant predictors of well-being were having one’s own patio and having a green view from one’s living area.

· The research supports the claim that older people benefit from green space as much by viewing it from inside as spending time in it. If older people have no or very little garden space, a green street environment is likely to increase their well-being, especially if it can be seen from their home.

Reference:

Burton, E., Mitchell, L., & Stride, C. (2015). Bed of roses? The role of garden space in older people’s well-being. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Urban Design and Planning, 168(4), 164-173.

http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/89211/

Tracking restoration in natural and urban field settings

Aims and method:

Investigates psycho-physiological stress recovery and directed attention restoration in natural and urban field settings using repeated measures of ambulatory blood pressure, emotion, and attention collected from 112 randomly assigned young adults.

Key findings:

· Sitting in a room with tree views promoted more rapid decline in diastolic blood pressure than sitting in a viewless room

· Subsequently walking in a natural environment fostered blood pressure change that indicated greater stress reduction than afforded by walking in urban surroundings.

Reference:

Hartig, T., Evans, G. W., Jamner, L. D., Davis, D. S., & Gärling, T. (2003). Tracking restoration in natural and urban field settings. Journal of environmental psychology, 23(2), 109-123.

http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/2003-05671-004

Health effects of viewing landscapes

Aims and method:

Analyses the range of landscapes used in environmental psychology studies, and the evidence of health effects related to viewing these landscapes. A review of publications linking landscapes and health effects was conducted.

Key findings:

· Generally, natural landscapes gave a stronger positive health effect compared to urban landscapes. Urban landscapes were found to have a less positive and in some cases negative effect on health.

· Three main kinds of health effects are identified in studies; short-term recovery from stress or mental fatigue, faster physical recovery from illness, and long-term overall improvement on people’s health and well-being.

Reference:

Velarde, M. D., Fry, G., & Tveit, M. (2007). Health effects of viewing landscapes–Landscape types in environmental psychology. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 6(4), 199-212.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1618866707000416

The health impact of scenic environments

Aims and method:

Attempts to quantify the relationship between the aesthetic qualities in the environment and human health. The study draws on data from Scenic-Or-Not, a website that crowdsources ratings of ‘scenicness’ for geotagged photographs across Great Britain, in combination with data on citizen-reported health from the Census for England and Wales. As of August 2014, the Scenic-Or-Not dataset contained 1.5 million votes covering 95% of the 1km grid squares of Great Britain.

Key findings:

· Inhabitants of more scenic environments report better health, across urban, suburban and rural areas. This result holds even when taking core socioeconomic indicators of deprivation, such as income, and data on air pollution into account. Importantly,

· The differences in reports of health can be better explained by the scenicness of the local environment than by measurements of green space alone.

Reference:

Seresinhe, C., Preis, T. & Moat, H.S. (2007). Quantifying the Impact of Scenic Environments on Health. Scientific Reports, 5:16899, 1-9.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284716781_Quantifying_the_Impact_of_Scenic_Environments_on_Health

Natural vs. urban scenes and emotional state

Aims and method:

Examines visual exposure to natural elements in outdoor environments. Subjects viewed sixty colour slides of either nature with water, nature dominated by vegetation, or urban environments without water or vegetation. The information rates of the three slide samples were equivalent. Measurements were taken of the effects of the slide presentations on alpha amplitude, heart rate, and emotional states.

Key findings:

· The two categories of nature views had more positive influences on psychophysiological states than the urban scenes.

· There was also a consistent pattern for nature, especially water, to have more positive influences on emotional states.

· Water, and to a lesser extent vegetation, held attention and interest more effectively than the urban scenes.

Reference:

Ulrich, R. S. (1981). Natural versus urban scenes: Some psychophysiological effects. Environment and Behavior, 13(5), 523-556.

http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0013916581135001

Environmental preference and restoration

Aims and method:

In this experimental study, the researchers tested the mediating role of restoration in environmental preferences. Participants viewed a frightening movie, and were then shown a video of either a natural or a built environment. Participants’ mood ratings were assessed before and after they viewed the frightening movie, and again after viewing the environmental video.

Key findings:

· The results indicate that participants perceived the natural environments as more beautiful than the built environments.

· Viewing natural environments elicited greater improvement in mood and marginally better concentration than viewing built environments.

· Natural scenes not only help restoration from mental fatigue but also restoration from anxiety-based stress.

Reference:

Van den Berg, A. E., Koole, S. L., & van der Wulp, N. Y. (2003). Environmental preference and restoration:(How) are they related?. Journal of environmental psychology, 23(2), 135-146.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494402001111

Emotional responses to trees and tree forms

Aims and method:

Explores the ways in which green scenes influence people. In the study, the preferences and emotional responses of 206 participants to viewing scenes with different tree forms and urban elements were examined utilising slides showing spreading, rounded, or columnar trees, or inanimate objects in two urban scenes. Blood pressure, skin temperature and other measurements were taken to measure the response.

Key findings:

· Positive emotional responses were recorded to urban scenes with trees over other inanimate objects, with people reporting feeling happier, friendlier, more attentive, less angry, less sad, and less fearful

· Lower blood pressure was recorded to trees with a spreading shape compared to trees with rounded or conical forms and a positive response and lower blood pressure when viewing dense canopies.

· Human well-being can be improved by planting trees of any form.

Reference:

Lohr, V. I., & Pearson-Mims, C. H. (2006). Responses to scenes with spreading, rounded, and conical tree forms. Environment and Behavior, 38(5), 667-688.

http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0013916506287355

Visual landscapes and psychological well‐being

Aims and method:

Two principal questions are addressed: 1) what effects, if any, does visual perception of nature have on feelings of anxiety; and 2) how do these effects compare with those produced by views of urban environments lacking natural elements. 50 slides of different urban views were shown to 46 people and their responses measured.

Key findings:

· Stressed individuals feel significantly better after exposure to natural scenes rather than to American urban scenes lacking natural elements.

· Exposure to the natural scenes led to feelings of affection, friendliness, playfulness, and elation.

· The major effect of the urban scenes (without natural elements) was to significantly increase sadness, anger and aggression.

Reference:

Ulrich, R. (1979) Visual landscapes and psychological well‐being, Landscape Research, 4:1, 17-23.

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01426397908705892?journalCode=clar20

The psychological benefits of natural views from the home

Aims and method:

Focuses on the psychological benefits of views from home windows in six apartment communities in Ann Arbor, Michigan. View contents, including both vegetation and built elements, were measured using both verbal reporting and visual materials.

Key findings:

· Natural views played a substantial role in participants’ satisfaction with their residential context. They also played a significant, although smaller, role in each of the three aspects of well-being included in the study.

· Built components significantly detracted from neighbourhood satisfaction but did not affect well-being.

· Views of gardens, flowers, and well kept landscaped areas played a strong positive role in participants’ neighbourhood satisfaction. More natural views led to stronger overall well-being.

Reference:

Kaplan, R. (2001). The nature of the view from home: Psychological benefits. Environment and behavior, 33(4), 507-542.

http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/00139160121973115

Associations between green space and stress

Aims and method:

Investigates the associations between green space and health, health-related quality of life and stress. Data was derived from the 2005 Danish Health Interview Survey based on a region-stratified random sample of 11,238 adults. Data was collected via face-to-face interviews followed by a self-administered questionnaire, including the eight (SF-36) dimensions of health, and the Perceived Stress Scale, which measures self-reported stress. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the association between distance to green space and stress.

Key findings:

· Those who are living more than 1km away from the nearest green space report poorer health and health-related quality of life across all eight SF-36 health dimensions.

· Respondents living more than 1km away from a green space have 1.42 higher odds of experiencing stress than respondents living less than 300m from a green space.

· Respondents not reporting stress are more likely to visit a green space than are respondents reporting stress.

· Respondents reporting stress are likely to use green spaces to reduce stress.

Reference:

Stigsdotter, U. K., Ekholm, O., Schipperijn, J., Toftager, M., Kamper-Jørgensen, F., & Randrup, T. B. (2010). Health promoting outdoor environments-Associations between green space, and health, health-related quality of life and stress based on a Danish national representative survey. Scandinavian Journal of Social Medicine, 38(4), 411-417.

http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1403494810367468

Street tree density and antidepressants

Aims and method:

Explores whether the presence of street trees has an impact on the prescription of antidepressants as a surrogate for mental health and wellbeing. Uses secondary data sources to examine the association between the density of street trees (trees/km street) in London boroughs and rates of antidepressant prescribing. The approach includes adjustment for potential confounders and allows for unmeasured area-effects using Bayesian mixed effects models.

Key findings:

· Reveals an inverse association, with a decrease of 1.18 prescriptions per thousand population per unit increase in trees per km of street (95% credible interval 0.00, 2.45).

· Suggests that street trees may be a positive urban asset to decrease the risk of negative mental health outcomes

Reference:

Taylor, M., Wheeler, B., White, P., Economou, T., & Osbourne, N. (2015) Research note: Urban street tree density and antidepressant prescription rates—A cross-sectional study in London, UK. Landscape and Urban Planning, 136, 174-179

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204614002941

Open space size, location and depression

Aims and method:

Examined associations between empirical measures of public open space proximity and density with walking and depression. The 2011–12 Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle study (AusDiab) wave data was used. Adults living in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia were included (n = 319). Participants reported walking for recreation and any walking within their neighbourhood during the last week. Depression was calculated using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale (CESD-10).

Key findings:

· The size of public open space was associated with residents' walking.

· Living within 400m of public open space was not associated with residents' walking.

· Those whose nearest public open space was > 1.5 ha had, respectively, 1.90 times greater odds of walking for recreation and 2.66 times for utility during the last week

· None of public open space measures (of size or distance) were associated with depression.

Reference:

Javad Koohsari, M., Badland, H., Mavoa, S., Villanueva, K., Francis, J., Hooper, P., Owen, N. & Giles-Corti, B.. (2018) Are public open space attributes associated with walking and depression?, Cities, 74: 119-125

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026427511730118X

Urban neighbourhood green space in children's emotional and behavioural resilience

Aims and method:

Explores the role of relative quantity of green space in urban English neighbourhoods in predicting parent-reported emotional and behavioural problems from early to middle childhood (ages 3, 5, 7) and in buffering the effects of multiple risk factors (neighbourhood disadvantage, family poverty and adverse life events) on child adjustment. We modelled data from 6384 Millennium Cohort Study children using multilevel growth curve modelling. Neighbourhood green space was measured with the percentage of green space within a standard small area.

Key findings:

Access to gardens and use of parks and playgrounds were related to fewer conduct, peer and hyperactivity problems.
Neighbourhood green space was generally unrelated to child adjustment, but poor children in urban neighbourhoods with more greenery had fewer emotional problems from age 3 to 5 than their counterparts in less green neighbourhoods.
Neighbourhood green space may promote emotional well-being in poor urban children in early childhood.

Reference:

Flouri, E., Midouhas, E., & Joshi, H. (2014). The role of urban neighbourhood green space in children’s emotional and behavioural resilience. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 40, 179-186

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494414000565

Mental health in winter cities: The effect of vegetation on streets

Aims and method:

This research aimed to establish the causal effect of the design of winter streets on people's psychological health. It involved a lab experiment with 63 participants randomly assigned to three different treatments (vegetation, brightness, and control) to identify the effect of vegetation and brightness in winter scenarios on people’s mental restoration.

Key findings:

· Winter vegetation has a positive effect on people’s restoration from mental fatigue.

· Lighting has no effect on people’s psychological restoration in winter scenarios.

Reference:

Hidalgo, A. K. (2021). Mental health in winter cities: the effect of vegetation on streets. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 63, 127226

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S161886672100251X

Greenspace quantity, quality, and social economic inequalities in mental health

Aims and method:

Using survey data collected from 26 neighbourhoods in Guangzhou, China, this study examines whether local greenspaces may narrow socioeconomic inequalities in health (i.e. equigenesis) in the Chinese context. The work utilised a Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Street View Greenness (SVG) and self-reported neighbourhood greenness quality as measures of residential greenness exposure.

Key findings:

· Street View Greenness quantity, quality and self-reported greenspace quality narrow the neighbourhood socioeconomic inequalities in mental health

· Greater greenspace provision may help to narrow neighbourhood socioeconomic inequalities in mental health.

Reference:

Wang, R., Feng, Z., & Pearce, J. (2022). Neighbourhood greenspace quantity, quality and socioeconomic inequalities in mental health. Cities, 129, Article 103815.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2022.103815

Urban green spaces and human well-being

Aims and method:

The study performed a systematic bibliographic review to analyse the relationships between green spaces’ specific characteristics and human well-being components.

Key findings:

· The number of green spaces and their percentage of vegetation cover and size improved all aspects of human well-being in (health, security, good social relations, and freedom of choice and action), especially in health.

· Structure (characteristics related to the form of trees, the vegetation cover, public urban green spaces connectivity and size, and the distance among public urban green spaces) and biodiversity are the characteristics most highly rated in the literature.

· Green spaces’ biodiversity and naturalness (the level of man-made elements) contribute to human well-being through improvements in health (particularly mental health) and good social relations.

Reference:

Reyes-Riveros, R., Altamirano, A., De La Barrera, F., Rozas-Vásquez, D., Vieli, L., & Meli, P. (2021). Linking public urban green spaces and human well-being: A systematic review. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 61, Article 127105.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127105

Green and blue spaces and mental health

Aims and method:

The report presents the main results of two systematic reviews on types and characteristics of green and blue spaces and mental health, conducted by the Expert Working Group (EWG) on Biodiversity and Mental Health of the EKLIPSE project. By focusing on mental health and how various kinds of mental disorders are impacted by green and blue spaces, the analysis synthesises evidence on the intersection between environment and health.

Key findings:

· In general, most green space types yielded positive effects on both short-term and long-term mental health outcomes.

· For all green space types, there were positive effects on underlying mood and emotions.

· With few exceptions, green space types also yielded beneficial effects on perceived stress, restorative outcomes and severity of mental disorder.

· For long-term mental health, most green space types yielded positive effects on overall mental health, quality of life and subjective well-being.

· Dense vegetation and shrublands were the only green space type that appeared to have no or even negative effects on mental health.

Reference:

WHO (2021) Green and blue spaces and mental health: new evidence and perspectives for action.

https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/9789289055666

Green/blue spaces and mental health

Aims and method:

Using data from an 18-country survey (n=16,307) the research explored associations between multiple measures of mental health (positive well-being, mental distress, depression/anxiety medication use) and (a) exposure (residential/recreational visits) to different natural settings (green/inland-blue/coastal-blue spaces); and (b) nature connectedness, across season and country.

Key findings:

· People who lived in greener/coastal neighbourhoods reported higher positive well-being, this association largely disappeared when recreational visits were controlled for.

· Frequency of recreational visits to green, inland-blue, and coastal-blue spaces in the last four weeks were all positively associated with positive well-being and negatively associated with mental distress.

· Nature connectedness was also positively associated with positive well-being and negatively associated with mental distress and was, along with green space visits, associated with a lower likelihood of using medication for depression.

· Inland-blue space visits were associated with a greater likelihood of using anxiety medication.

Reference:

White, M. P., Elliott, L. R., Grellier, J., Economou, T., Bell, S., Bratman, G. N., Cirach, M., Gascon, M., Lima, M. L., Lõhmus, M., Nieuwenhuijsen, M., Ojala, A., Roiko, A., Schultz, P. W., van den Bosch, M., & Fleming, L. E. (2021). Associations between green/blue spaces and mental health across 18 countries. Scientific Reports, 11(1), Article 8903.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-87675-0

Benefits of blue-green spaces for mental health during COVID-19

Aims and method:

The links between nature exposure and mental health under extreme conditions were tested using a survey distributed online, with 5218 responses from 9 countries.

Key findings:

· Lockdown severity significantly affected mental health, while contact with nature helped people to cope with these impacts, especially for those under strict lockdown.

· People under strict lockdown perceived that nature helped them to cope with lockdown measures; and emotions were more positive among individuals with accessible outdoor spaces and blue-green elements in their views.

Reference:

Pouso, S., Borja, Á., Fleming, L. E., Gómez-Baggethun, E., White, M. P., & Uyarra, M. C. (2021). Contact with blue-green spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown beneficial for mental health. The Science of the Total Environment, 756, Article 143984.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143984

Garden impacts on wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Aims and method:

The study analysed the effects of the use of green spaces on the self-reported well-being measures of life satisfaction and mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. The two groups compared were garden owners and non-garden owners. Quantitative data and data from an open-ended online questionnaire from 495 people in Germany were collected.

Key findings:

· Garden owners had substantially greater life satisfaction and mental well-being than non-garden owners.

· The vast majority of participants associated positive meanings (e.g. freedom and joy) with private gardens and public green spaces during the pandemic.

Reference:

Lehberger, M., Kleih, A.-K., & Sparke, K. (2021). Self-reported well-being and the importance of green spaces – A comparison of garden owners and non-garden owners in times of COVID-19. Landscape and Urban Planning, 212, Article 104108.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2021.104108

Indoor-outdoor green features and psychological health during COVID-19 lockdown

Aims and method:

The study examined the associations between the presence of greenness within the home and in the surrounding environment during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Italy. A cross-sectional nationwide study involving an online survey was conducted of an Italian population-based sample of 3886 respondents on the association of indoor and outdoor green features with self-reported increases in anxiety, anger, fear, confusion, moodiness, boredom, irritability, recurrent thoughts and/or dreams, poor concentration and sleep disturbance during lockdown.

Key findings:

· The presence of potted plants at home was associated with a lower self-reported increase in anxiety, anger, fear, irritability, and sleep disturbance.

· A greater amount of green view and access to private green spaces were both associated with a lower increase in each of the psychological health outcomes, except for recurrent thoughts and/or dreams.

· Natural outdoor environment was associated with anxiety, fear, boredom, irritability, and sleep disturbance.

Reference:

Spano, G., D’Este, M., Giannico, V., Elia, M., Cassibba, R., Lafortezza, R., & Sanesi, G. (2021). Association between indoor-outdoor green features and psychological health during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy: A cross-sectional nationwide study. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 62, Article 127156.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127156

Green window view and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

Aims and method:

The study investigated whether nature around the home played a key role in mitigating against adverse mental health outcomes. An online questionnaire survey (n=3000) was conducted in Tokyo Japan to quantify the association between five mental health outcomes (depression, life satisfaction, subjective happiness, self-esteem, and loneliness) and two measures of nature experiences (frequency of greenspace use and green view through windows from home).

Key findings:

· The frequency of greenspace use and the existence of green window views from within the home was associated with increased levels of self-esteem, life satisfaction, and subjective happiness and decreased levels of depression anxiety, and loneliness.

· A regular dose of nature can contribute to the improvement of a wide range of mental health outcomes.

Reference:

Soga, M., Evans, M. J., Tsuchiya, K., & Fukano, Y. (2021). A room with a green view: the importance of nearby nature for mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ecological Applications, 31(2), 1–10.

https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2248

Green space and adolescents’ mental well-being

Aims and method:

The systematic review, drawing on fourteen qualifying articles, summarised and evaluated the evidence for associations between green space and adolescents’ mental well-being.

Key findings:

· There are beneficial associations between green space exposure and reduced stress, positive mood, less depressive symptoms, better emotional well-being, improved mental health and behaviour, and decreased psychological distress in adolescents.

· The review highlighted the potential contribution of green space provision in schoolyards

Reference:

Zhang, Y., Mavoa, S., Zhao, J., Raphael, D., & Smith, M. (2020). The Association between Green Space and Adolescents’ Mental Well-Being: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(18), 6640.

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186640

Spatial distribution of urban green space and mental health

Aims and method:

The study investigated the relationship between the amount, composition, and spatial distribution of urban green space and the level of psychological distress reported by residents of Chicago. The study used mental health data collected from 6405 residents in 61 communities by the Chicago Department of Public Health as part of their Healthy Chicago Survey, and quantified landscape metrics related to the amount and configuration of green space within these community landscapes.

Key findings:

· Residents reported less psychological distress within urban landscapes that had small-size water bodies and greater distances between forested areas.

· Psychological distress levels were lower in landscapes having a disaggregated distribution of urban green spaces (many small green spaces) relative to a single (or few) large green spaces.

· The configuration of urban green space may be as important as the amount of green space to the mental health of urban residents.

Reference:

Ha, J., Kim, H. J., & With, K. A. (2022). Urban green space alone is not enough: A landscape analysis linking the spatial distribution of urban green space to mental health in the city of Chicago. Landscape and Urban Planning, 218, Article 104309.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2021.104309

Impact of nature-based solutions on health and wellbeing

Aims and method:

The study reviewed and analysed the impact of nature-based solutions on citizens’ health and wellbeing. More than fifty case studies were categorised and discussed versus their psychological and physiological effect.

Key findings:

· People’s proximity to natural environments is associated with lower stress, and faster recovery from psychological events

· It leads to improved air quality, reduced urban overheating, and increased levels of physical activity.

Reference:

Kolokotsa, D., Lilli, A. Α., Lilli, M. A., & Nikolaidis, N. P. (2020). On the impact of nature-based solutions on citizens’ health & well being. Energy and Buildings, 229, Article 110527.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2020.110527

Nature-based solutions, thermal comfort improvement and psychological wellbeing

Aims and method:

The research evaluated the effects of nature-based solutions (NBS) in improving the liveability of a district in Genoa. The study focused on the microclimatic benefits of urban heat island mitigation as well as on psychological and perceptual aspects. For each study area, the effects of different design scenarios on microclimate mitigation and thermal comfort improvement were simulated. In addition, to evaluate the perceptual benefits of the most well-performing design scenarios, a web-based survey was set up and administered to a convenience sample of Genoa residents.

Key findings:

· In terms of aesthetic satisfaction and perception of improved conditions of physical and psychological well-being, the preferred design outcomes were those which emphasised a freer and more natural environment.

· Nature-based solutions can improve the overall conditions of dense urban areas.

Reference:

Mosca, F., Dotti Sani, G. M., Giachetta, A., & Perini, K. (2021). Nature-Based Solutions: Thermal Comfort Improvement and Psychological Wellbeing, a Case Study in Genoa, Italy. Sustainability, 13(21), 11638.

https://doi.org/10.3390/su132111638

Urban greenway and older adults’ psychological well-being

Aims and method:

The study examined the relationship between the physical environment and well-being from urban greenways in Taichung, Taiwan, and studied how local older residents’ place attachment and perceived environmental stressors influence this relationship. The dataset included 13 greenways and 769 participants older than 55 living in the vicinity of these greenways.

Key findings:

· Participants perceived lower levels of environmental stress when their local greenway quality is better

· Better greenway quality enhanced levels of well-being and place attachment.

Reference:

Chang, P.-J., Tsou, C.-W., & Li, Y.-S. (2020). Urban-greenway factors’ influence on older adults’ psychological well-being: A case study of Taichung, Taiwan. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 49, Article 126606.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2020.126606

Landscape heterogeneity and psychological restoration

Aims and method:

The study tested whether landscape heterogeneity can begin to elucidate the relationship between species diversity within urban green spaces and psychological restoration of visitors. Landscape heterogeneity was measured using different landscape-level metrics, and the psychological restoration and perception of landscape heterogeneity of 390 visitors was quantified using in situ questionnaires.

Key findings:

· Within urban green spaces, visitors are able to perceive landscape compositional and configurational heterogeneity.

· Visitors gained psychological restoration from landscape configurational heterogeneity.

Reference:

Meyer-Grandbastien, A., Burel, F., Hellier, E., & Bergerot, B. (2020). A step towards understanding the relationship between species diversity and psychological restoration of visitors in urban green spaces using landscape heterogeneity. Landscape and Urban Planning, 195, Article 103728.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2019.103728

Window view of green space and wellbeing

Aims and method:

The research examined whether viewing green space through a high-rise estate window can potentially contribute to the psychological wellbeing of urban dwellers. Participants were randomly assigned to two offices in a high-rise tower, one with a window looking out onto urban space and the other looking out onto green space. During the visual stimulation, sensors took physiological measures of their stress levels by measuring Electroencephalography, heart rate variability, and skin conductance, while their psychological reactions were collected using Profile of Mood States and Semantic Differential Questionnaire.

Key findings:

· Window views can significantly lead to better mental health and psychological wellbeing for urban dwellers.

· They give rise to a significant increase in “comfortable”, “beautiful”, “attractive”, “relaxed”, and “cheerful’’ feelings, and a significant improvement in mood states.

Reference:

Elsadek, M., Liu, B., & Xie, J. (2020). Window view and relaxation: Viewing green space from a high-rise estate improves urban dwellers’ wellbeing. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 55, Article 126846.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2020.126846

View of green space and reduction of anxiety and depression

Aims and method:

The study assessed the impact that access to a green space view from home has on anxiety and depression. This cross-sectional study extracted data from the ‘2018 Green Spaces, Daily Habits and Urban Health Survey’ conducted in Carmona (Spain).

Key findings:

· Adults who enjoy a view of green spaces from home have a lower risk of anxiety and depression.

· A window view, which provides long-term contact with the natural environment, should be considered a key element in urban design

Reference:

Braçe, O., Garrido-Cumbrera, M., Foley, R., Correa-Fernández, J., Suárez-Cáceres, G., & Lafortezza, R. (2020). Is a View of Green Spaces from Home Associated with a Lower Risk of Anxiety and Depression? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(19), 7014.

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197014

Residential greenness, air pollution, and psychological well-being

Aims and method:

The study explored relationships among neighbourhood greenness, air pollution exposure and psychological well-being, using survey data on 1029 adults residing in 35 neighbourhoods in Guangzhou, China.

Key findings:

· Greenness exposure was positively associated with psychological well-being.

· Poorer air quality may exert a pejorative effect on psychological well-being.

· Street trees may be more related to lower air pollution levels and better mental health than grasses are.

Reference:

Wang, R., Yang, B., Yao, Y., Bloom, M. S., Feng, Z., Yuan, Y., Zhang, J., Liu, P., Wu, W., Lu, Y., Baranyi, G., Wu, R., Liu, Y., & Dong, G. (2020). Residential greenness, air pollution and psychological well-being among urban residents in Guangzhou, China. The Science of the Total Environment, 711, Article 134843.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134843

Greenness and stress and mental well-being

Aims and method:

The research investigated whether greenness was associated with self-reported stress, distress, and mental health among Canadian adults. It drew on data of 397900 participants of the Canadian Community Health Survey.

Key findings:

· There is an inverse association between residential greenness and self-reported stress, distress, and general mental health (the more greenness, the less stress)

· The potential benefits of residential greenness on mental health vary across personal and neighbourhood-level characteristics and are sensitive to how the outcomes are measured

Reference:

Crouse, D. L., Pinault, L., Christidis, T., Lavigne, E., Thomson, E. M., & Villeneuve, P. J. (2021). Residential greenness and indicators of stress and mental well-being in a Canadian national-level survey. Environmental Research, 192, Article 110267.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.110267

Impact of green spaces on mental health

Aims and method:

This scoping review examined “How urban green spaces can improve mental health and wellbeing among patients attending general practice and primary care?”. The review framework comprised a five-stage process developed by Arksey and O’Malley. Twenty-five studies were included in the review, mostly cross-sectional studies.

Key findings:

· Out of the 25 included studies, 23 showed positive associations between mental health and green space characteristics

· While green spaces are associated with positive mental health outcomes, most studies were cross-sectional (rather than longitudinal) in nature and provided limited evidence for association amongst patients attending general practice and primary care.

Reference:

Callaghan, A., McCombe, G., Harrold, A., McMeel, C., Mills, G., Moore-Cherry, N., & Cullen, W. (2020). The impact of green spaces on mental health in urban settings: a scoping review. Journal of Mental Health, 30(2), 179–193.

https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2020.1755027

Greenness and mental disorder

Aims and method:

The study investigates the association between residential green exposure and prevalence of major depressive disorders. This cross-sectional, observational, associational study used baseline data from the UK Biobank cohort of participants aged 37–73 years from across the UK. Environmental exposure data were derived from a modelled and linked built environment database. A series of logistic models examined associations between residential greenness and the odds of major depressive disorder after adjusting for activity-influencing environments and individual covariates.

Key findings:

· Residential greenness was consistently associated with lower odds of depression, with the results remaining robust to adjustments for other physical, built, and social environment variables.

· The beneficial effects of greenness were more pronounced among women, participants younger than 60 years, and participants residing in areas with low neighbourhood socioeconomic status or high urbanicity.

Reference:

Sarkar, C., Webster, C., & Gallacher, J. (2018). Residential greenness and prevalence of major depressive disorders: a cross-sectional, observational, associational study of 94 879 adult UK Biobank participants. The Lancet. Planetary Health, 2(4), e162–e173.

https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(18)30051-2

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