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Johansson G, Johansson J, Engström Å, Juuso P. Stakeholders' perceptions of value of nature-based interventions in promoting health in people with stress-related illness: a qualitative study. Int J Circumpolar Health 2024; 83:2349330. [PMID: 38726478 PMCID: PMC11089910 DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2024.2349330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Stress-related illness is a common and increasing cause for sick leave in Sweden. Spending time in nature reduces stress and promotes health and well-being. Accordingly, nature-based interventions (NBI) for people with stress-related illness have been developed and implemented in southern Scandinavia; however, such interventions are uncommon in the Circumpolar North. Previous studies have examined the effects and experiences of participating in NBI, but research about different stakeholders' perspectives on NBI is lacking. The aim of this study was to explore different key stakeholders' perceptions of the value of NBI in promoting health in people with stress-related illness. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 11 persons with stress-related illness experience, 14 healthcare professionals, and 11 entrepreneurs offering NBI. Qualitative content analysis resulted in four categories: Providing opportunity for recovery, Offering new perspectives and opportunity for reflection, Empowering balance and control in life, and Enabling one to overcome barriers. Although the study was conducted in a region where NBI is not widely implemented, the different stakeholders expressed similar perceptions of the value of NBI, indicating that NBI may be a valuable complement to health care which reaches people with stress-related illness needs and promotes their health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunilla Johansson
- Division of Nursing and Medical Technology, Department of Health, Education and Technology, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden
| | - Jeaneth Johansson
- Division of Business Administration and Industrial Engineering, Department of Social Science, Technology and Arts, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden
- School of Business, Innovation and Sustainability, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden
| | - Åsa Engström
- Division of Nursing and Medical Technology, Department of Health, Education and Technology, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden
| | - Päivi Juuso
- Division of Nursing and Medical Technology, Department of Health, Education and Technology, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden
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Hatala AR, Morton D, Deschenes C, Bird-Naytowhow K. Access to land and nature as health determinants: a qualitative analysis exploring meaningful human-nature relationships among Indigenous youth in central Canada. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:2540. [PMID: 39294619 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-20007-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 09/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human relationships with and connections to nature and the "land" are a commonly accepted Social Determinant of Health. Greater knowledge about these relationships can inform public health policies and interventions focused on health equity among Indigenous populations. Two research questions were explored: (1) what are the experiences of meaningful human-nature relationships among Indigenous youth within central Canada; and (2) how do these relationships function as a determinant of health and wellness within their lives. METHODS Drawing from three community-based participatory research (CBPR) projects within two urban centers in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, the integrated qualitative findings presented here involved 92 interviews with 52 Indigenous youth that occurred over a period of nine years (2014-2023). Informed by "two-eyed seeing," this analysis combined Indigenous Methodologies and a Constructivist Grounded Theory approach. RESULTS Our integrative analysis revealed three cross-cutting themes about meaningful human-nature relationships: (1) promoting cultural belonging and positive identity; (2) connecting to community and family; and (3) supporting spiritual health and relationships. The experiences of young people also emphasized barriers to land and nature access within their local environments. DISCUSSION Policies, practices, and interventions aimed at strengthening urban Indigenous young peoples' relationships to and connections with nature and the land can have a positive impact on their health and wellness. Public Health systems and healthcare providers can learn about leveraging the health benefits of human-nature relationships at individual and community levels, and this is particularly vital for those working to advance health equity among Indigenous populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R Hatala
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, 750 Bannatyne Ave, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0W2, Canada.
| | - Darrien Morton
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, 750 Bannatyne Ave, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0W2, Canada
| | - Cindy Deschenes
- Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 107 Wiggins Rd, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Kelley Bird-Naytowhow
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, 750 Bannatyne Ave, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0W2, Canada
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3
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Singh N, Baumbach C, Compa M, Buczyłowska D, Bratkowski J, Mysak Y, Wierzba-Łukaszyk M, Sitnik-Warchulska K, Skotak K, Lipowska M, Izydorczyk B, Szwed M, Markevych I. Nurturing Attention through Nature. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024:120024. [PMID: 39293753 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.120024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 08/30/2024] [Accepted: 09/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous research suggests an association between exposure to nature and improved attention. However, no observational studies explored the underlying mechanisms or considered bluespace, and none used Polish data. We investigated the association between exposure to nature and attention, and whether it was mediated by nature perception, physical activity and sleep duration. METHODS Data derived from the case-control NeuroSmog study comprised 195 participants with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 457 participants without ADHD, all aged 10 to 13. Attention was evaluated using the computerized attention network test and the continuous performance test. Lifelong and current exposure to nature, determined by percentage of grass and tree cover and water presence within 500m buffer around residences, as well as domestic garden, were examined through linear, log-linear and negative binomial regressions. Potential pathways were explored using structural equation modelling. RESULTS Participants with ADHD with higher exposure to tree cover tended to have improved orienting ability, shorter reaction time and fewer correct rejections, while participants without ADHD tended to show decreased alertness and improved orienting ability. Participants with ADHD with higher exposure to grass cover tended to have longer reaction time, decreased alertness, improved orienting ability, reduced target discrimination ability, fewer correct rejections and less risky response style, while participants without ADHD tended to show decreased orienting ability, more mistakes, longer reaction time, better hit rate and more risky response style. Participants without ADHD with water in their neighbourhood tended to have improved orienting ability, fewer mistakes and better hit rate. Participants without ADHD with a garden tended to show improved target discrimination ability, better hit rate and more risky response style. No mediating pathways were revealed. CONCLUSION Tree cover and presence of garden and water tended to be associated with improved attention in Polish adolescents while grass tended to have negative impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitika Singh
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; Doctoral School of Social Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Clemens Baumbach
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Mikołaj Compa
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; Doctoral School of Social Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Dorota Buczyłowska
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jakub Bratkowski
- Institute of Environmental Protection-National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Yarema Mysak
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | | | - Katarzyna Sitnik-Warchulska
- Faculty of Management and Social Communication, Institute of Applied Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Skotak
- Institute of Environmental Protection-National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Lipowska
- Faculty of Management and Social Communication, Institute of Applied Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; Institute of Psychology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | | | - Marcin Szwed
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Iana Markevych
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; Research Group "Health and Quality of Life in a Green and Sustainable Environment", Strategic Research and Innovation Program for the Development of MU - Plovdiv, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria; Environmental Health Division, Research Institute at Medical University of Plovdiv, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
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Zhang S, Breitner S, Stafoggia M, Donato FD, Samoli E, Zafeiratou S, Katsouyanni K, Rao S, Diz-Lois Palomares A, Gasparrini A, Masselot P, Nikolaou N, Aunan K, Peters A, Schneider A. Effect modification of air pollution on the association between heat and mortality in five European countries. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 263:120023. [PMID: 39293751 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.120023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 08/24/2024] [Accepted: 09/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence suggests that air pollution modifies the association between heat and mortality. However, most studies have been conducted in cities without rural data. This time-series study examined potential effect modification of particulate matter (PM) and ozone (O3) on heat-related mortality using small-area data from five European countries, and explored the influence of area characteristics. METHODS We obtained daily non-accidental death counts from both urban and rural areas in Norway, England and Wales, Germany, Italy, and the Attica region of Greece during the warm season (2000-2018). Daily mean temperatures and air pollutant concentrations were estimated by spatial-temporal models. Heat effect modification by air pollution was assessed in each small area by over-dispersed Poisson regression models with a tensor smoother between temperature and air pollution. We extracted temperature-mortality relationships at the 5th (low), 50th (medium), and 95th (high) percentiles of pollutant distributions. At each air pollution level, we estimated heat-related mortality for a temperature increase from the 75th to the 99th percentile. We applied random-effects meta-analysis to derive the country-specific and overall associations, and mixed-effects meta-regression to examine the influence of urban-rural and coastal typologies and greenness on the heat effect modification by air pollution. RESULTS Heat-related mortality risks increased with higher PM levels, rising by 6.4% (95% CI: -2.0%-15.7%), 10.7% (2.6%-19.5%), and 14.1% (4.4%-24.6%) at low, medium, and high PM levels, respectively. This effect modification was consistent in urban and rural regions but more pronounced in non-coastal regions. In addition, heat-mortality associations were slightly stronger at high O3 levels, particularly in regions with low greenness. CONCLUSION Our analyses of both urban and rural data indicate that air pollution may intensify heat-related mortality, particularly in non-coastal and less green regions. The synergistic effect of heat and air pollution implies a potential pathway of reducing heat-related health impacts by improving air quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Zhang
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, United States.
| | - Susanne Breitner
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany; Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Massimo Stafoggia
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service - ASL ROMA 1, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca De' Donato
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service - ASL ROMA 1, Rome, Italy
| | - Evangelia Samoli
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Sofia Zafeiratou
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Klea Katsouyanni
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Shilpa Rao
- Department of Air Pollution and Noise, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Antonio Gasparrini
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Pierre Masselot
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Nikolaos Nikolaou
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany; Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Kristin Aunan
- CICERO Center for International Climate Research, Norway
| | - Annette Peters
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany; Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology, LMU, Munich, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
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Han X, Li Z, Cao Y, Zhou Z, Zhao H. Correlation of unobserved factors of old town street walkability using SEM: Case study of old southern area, Nanjing. Heliyon 2024; 10:e36761. [PMID: 39281642 PMCID: PMC11399680 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 08/03/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Contemporary research on the walking environment focuses closely on the construction logic and internal correlation. Walkability is one of the vital characteristics of the old town street space. To understand how to improve the old town street space effectively, the investigation of the correlation mechanism of street walkability is essential. This study utilizes structural equation model (SEM) to construct a street walkability measurement model composed of four unobserved factors. Then, take Old Southern Area in Nanjing as an example, integrate Depthmap, ArcGIS and Python to obtain multi-source data, and establish a database of observed factors on street space. Finally, the matrix of the observed factors is set by SEM to calculate the correlation of the unobserved factors. This paper provides a novel technical approach for the correlation study of spatial construction logic as well as a reference for strengthening the spatial quality of the contemporary built environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Han
- Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Architecture, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Zhe Li
- Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Architecture, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Yinyin Cao
- Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Architecture, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Zheng Zhou
- Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Architecture, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Hengyi Zhao
- Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Architecture, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
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He Y, Roberts A, Tam V, Ziegler E, Fitzgibbons J, Stills A, Smith N, Ike C, Wood J, South E. Association between neighborhood greenspace and child protective services involvement. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2024:107030. [PMID: 39266403 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.107030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Child maltreatment and child protective service (CPS) involvement negatively impacts families, and disproportionately impact families of color. Urban neighborhood greenspace is associated with improved mental health and decreased community violence, however correlations between greenspace and CPS involvement have not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE To examine the association between greenspace and CPS involvement. METHODS This is a secondary analysis of City of Philadelphia CPS report data from 2008 to 2018. Logistic regression was used to determine associations between greenspace and 3 CPS outcomes (substantiated reports, cases accepted for CPS services, and foster care placements) at the census block level, adjusting for sociodemographic information and area deprivation index, a composite measure combining education, employment, housing, and poverty characteristics at the census block group level. 13,336 census blocks were included, which had key exposure, covariate, and outcome data, and had a child population of at least 1. RESULTS 66,043 CPS reports were included. In the adjusted model, compared to blocks with >30 % greenspace, blocks with <10 % greenspace had 1.52 times the odds of a substantiated report (95 % CI 1.30-1.76, p < 0.001) and 1.52 times the odds of a case accepted for CPS services (95 % CI 1.30-1.77, p < 0.001). Blocks with less greenspace had increased odds of foster care placement than blocks with >30 % greenspace, however the correlation was less strong. CONCLUSION Increased density of neighborhood greenspace is associated with decreased risk of substantiated child maltreatment and cases accepted for CPS services, suggesting that greenspace may confer protection against CPS involvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan He
- Division of General Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America; PolicyLab, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America; Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America.
| | - Amy Roberts
- Data Science and Biostatistics Unit, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Vicky Tam
- Data Science and Biostatistics Unit, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Eliza Ziegler
- City of Philadelphia Office of Children and Families, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - John Fitzgibbons
- City of Philadelphia Office of Children and Families, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | | | | | - Cristle Ike
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Joanne Wood
- Division of General Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America; PolicyLab, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America; Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America; Safe Place: Center for Child Protection and Health, Division of General Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Eugenia South
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America; Penn Medicine Center for Health Justice, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America; Department of Emergency Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
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Vilalta Capdevila T, McLellan BA, Loosen A, Forshner A, Pigeon K, Jacob AL, Wright P, Ehlers L. Advancements in monitoring: a comparison of traditional and application-based tools for measuring outdoor recreation. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17744. [PMID: 39282110 PMCID: PMC11397128 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 09/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Outdoor recreation has experienced a boom in recent years and continues to grow. While outdoor recreation provides wide-ranging benefits to human well-being, there are growing concerns about the sustainability of recreation with the increased pressures placed on ecological systems and visitor experiences. These concerns emphasize the need for managers to access accurate and timely recreation data at scales that match the growing extent of the recreation footprint. Here, we compare spatial and temporal patterns of winter and summer recreation using traditional (trail cameras, infrared counters, aerial surveys, participatory mapping) and application-based tools (Strava Metro, Strava Global Heatmap, Wikiloc) across the Columbia and Canadian Rocky Mountains of western Canada. We demonstrate how recreation use can be estimated using traditional and application-based tools, although their accuracy and utility varies across space, season and activity type. We found that trail cameras and infrared counters captured similar broad-scale patterns in count estimates of pedestrians and all recreation activities. Aerial surveys captured areas with low recreation intensity and participatory mapping captured coarser information on the intensity and extent of recreation across large spatial and temporal scales. Application-based data provided detailed spatiotemporal information on recreation use, but datasets were biased towards specific activities. Strava Metro data was more suited for capturing broad-scale spatial patterns in biking than pedestrian recreation. Application-based data should be supplemented with data from traditional tools to identify biases in data and fill in data gaps. We provide a comparison of each tool for measuring recreation use, highlight each tools' strengths and limitations and applications to address real-world monitoring and management scenarios. Our research contributes towards a better understanding of which tool, or combinations of tools, to use that can expand the rigor and scope of recreation research. These findings support decision-making to mitigate pressures on wildlife and their habitats while allowing for high-quality recreation experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brynn A McLellan
- Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, Canmore, Alberta, Canada
| | - Annie Loosen
- Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, Canmore, Alberta, Canada
- University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Anne Forshner
- Banff, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks, Parks Canada, Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada
| | - Karine Pigeon
- Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, Canmore, Alberta, Canada
- University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
- British Columbia Ministry of Water, Lands, and Resource Stewardship, Government of British Columbia, Smithers, British Columbia, Canada
- IUCN SSC Bear Specialist Group
| | - Aerin L Jacob
- Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, Canmore, Alberta, Canada
- University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
- Nature Conservancy of Canada, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Pamela Wright
- University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Libby Ehlers
- Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, Canmore, Alberta, Canada
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Araújo LD, Zanotta DC, Ray N, Veronez MR. Earth observation data uncover green spaces' role in mental health. Sci Rep 2024; 14:20933. [PMID: 39251711 PMCID: PMC11384788 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-72008-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of mental health disorders, a key disability cause, is linked to demographic and socioeconomic factors. However, limited data exists on mental health and the urban environment. Urbanization exposes populations to environmental stressors, particularly affecting low-middle-income countries with complex urban arrangements. We used remote sensing and census data to investigate potential connections between environmental factors and mental health disorders. Land cover variables were assessed using the European Space Agency (ESA) global WorldCover product at 10 m resolution together with the database of mental health diagnosed cases (n = 5769) from the Brazilian Unified Health System's Department of Informatics (DATASUS) from every health facility of the city of Porto Alegre. The association of mental health data with land cover was established with machine learning algorithms and polynomial regression models. The results suggest that higher trees cover at neighborhood level was associated with better mental health index. A lower mental health index was also found to be associated with an higher Human Development Index. Our results highlight the potential of greenness in the city environment to achieve substantially better mental health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo D Araújo
- Laboratory of Advanced Visualization and Geoinformatics (VizLab), Universidade Do Vale Do Rio Dos Sinos, Av. Unisinos 950, Cristo Rei, São Paulo, RS, 93022-750, Brazil.
| | - Daniel C Zanotta
- Laboratory of Advanced Visualization and Geoinformatics (VizLab), Universidade Do Vale Do Rio Dos Sinos, Av. Unisinos 950, Cristo Rei, São Paulo, RS, 93022-750, Brazil
| | - Nicolas Ray
- Geo Health GroupInstitute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Chemin des Mines 9, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 Boulevard Carl-Vogt, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Maurício R Veronez
- Laboratory of Advanced Visualization and Geoinformatics (VizLab), Universidade Do Vale Do Rio Dos Sinos, Av. Unisinos 950, Cristo Rei, São Paulo, RS, 93022-750, Brazil
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Poje M, Vukelić A, Židovec V, Prebeg T, Kušen M. Perception of the Vegetation Elements of Urban Green Spaces with a Focus on Flower Beds. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:2485. [PMID: 39273968 PMCID: PMC11397140 DOI: 10.3390/plants13172485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Revised: 08/25/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024]
Abstract
Urban vegetation plays a crucial role in meeting the challenges posed by rapid urbanization and climate change. The presence of plants and green spaces in urban areas provides a variety of environmental, social, and economic benefits. Understanding how users perceive ornamental plants in public green spaces and what their preferences are for certain vegetation elements is extremely important for planning and designing functional and aesthetically interesting urban landscapes. Although landscape experts sometimes use their creativity to create new trends, it is important not to ignore the attitudes and preferences of the public, who sometimes have a different opinion from that of the experts. The aim of the study was to determine the perceptions and preferences of the public and landscape experts for different vegetation elements and the differences in attitudes between these two groups. The study was conducted in Croatia in April 2012 using an online survey (n = 348). The results showed that trees were the most preferred vegetation element and that the public preferred flower beds and lawns to a greater extent than the professionals. All respondents perceived vegetation elements as volumes (trees, shrubs, and hedges) and plains (flower beds and lawns). In addition, respondents perceived two basic types of flower beds according to the features that characterize them: conventional and sustainable. The results show that users perceive the functional and spatial characteristics of the different vegetation elements, which is very important for the design of functional and sustainable urban green spaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miroslav Poje
- Department of Ornamental Plants, Landscape Architecture and Garden Art, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Anton Vukelić
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Ivana Lučića 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Vesna Židovec
- Department of Ornamental Plants, Landscape Architecture and Garden Art, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Tatjana Prebeg
- Department of Ornamental Plants, Landscape Architecture and Garden Art, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Mihael Kušen
- Department of Ornamental Plants, Landscape Architecture and Garden Art, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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Bauwelinck M, De Boever P, Dons E, Standaert A, Ambros A, Laeremans M, Avila-Palencia I, Carrasco-Turigas G, Wegener S, Anaya E, Orjuela JP, de Nazelle A, Nieuwenhuijsen MJ, Panis LI, Dadvand P. Greenspace exposure and the retinal microvasculature in healthy adults across three European cities. Health Place 2024; 89:103342. [PMID: 39236517 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 08/13/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging evidence points to the beneficial role of greenspace exposure in promoting cardiovascular health. Most studies have evaluated such associations with conventional cardiovascular endpoints such as mortality, morbidity, or macrovascular markers. In comparison, the microvasculature, a crucial compartment of the vascular system where early subclinical signs of cardiovascular problems appear, has not been studied in association with greenspace exposure. The current study assessed the association between surrounding greenness and microvascular status, as assessed by retinal vessel diameters. METHODS This study included a sample of healthy adults (n = 114 and 18-65 years old) residing in three European cities [Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona (Spain), and London (UK)]. The exposures to greenspace at the home and work/school locations were characterized as average surrounding greenness [normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)] within buffers of 100 m, 300 m, and 500 m. The central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE) and central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE) were calculated from fundus pictures taken at three different time points. We developed linear mixed-effect models to estimate the association of greenspace exposure with indicators of retinal microvasculature, adjusted for relevant individual and area-level covariates. RESULTS We observed the most robust associations with CRVE. Higher levels of greenspace at work/school were associated with smaller retinal venules [(seasonal NDVI) 300m: 3.85, 95%CI -6.67,-1.03; 500m: 5.11, 95%CI -8.04, -2.18]. Findings for surrounding greenness and CRAE were not conclusive. CONCLUSION Our study suggests an association of greenspace exposure with better microvascular status, specifically for retinal venules. Future research is needed to confirm our findings across different contextual settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariska Bauwelinck
- Brussels Institute for Social and Population Studies (BRISPO), Department of Sociology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Patrick De Boever
- Hasselt University, Centre for Environmental Sciences, Diepenbeek, Belgium; Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek (VITO), Mol, Belgium; Antwerp University Hospital (UZA), 2650, Edegem, Belgium.
| | - Evi Dons
- Hasselt University, Centre for Environmental Sciences, Diepenbeek, Belgium; Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Arnout Standaert
- Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Albert Ambros
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Michelle Laeremans
- Hasselt University, Centre for Environmental Sciences, Diepenbeek, Belgium; Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Ione Avila-Palencia
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Glòria Carrasco-Turigas
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra Wegener
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Institute for Transport Studies, Vienna, Austria
| | - Esther Anaya
- Centre for Environmental Policy (CEP), Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Juan Pablo Orjuela
- Centre for Environmental Policy (CEP), Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; Transport Studies Unit, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Audrey de Nazelle
- Centre for Environmental Policy (CEP), Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mark J Nieuwenhuijsen
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Luc Int Panis
- Hasselt University, Centre for Environmental Sciences, Diepenbeek, Belgium; Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Payam Dadvand
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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11
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Carver A, Rachele JN, Sugiyama T, Corti BG, Burton NW, Turrell G. Public greenspace and mental wellbeing among mid-older aged adults: Findings from the HABITAT longitudinal study. Health Place 2024; 89:103311. [PMID: 39032205 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024]
Abstract
We explored temporal associations between public greenspace and adults' mental wellbeing. Participants (n = 5,906) aged 40-65 years at baseline had data at >2 post-baseline waves of HABITAT, a multilevel longitudinal study (2007-16) in Brisbane, Australia. Participants self-reported mental wellbeing (short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale) and neighbourhood self-selection reasons at Waves 2-5 (2009-11-13-16). We examined associations between Δgreenspace (within 1 km of home) and Δmental wellbeing using a linear fixed effects model, adjusting for time-varying confounders. Mental wellbeing increased (β = 1.75; 95% Confidence Interval:0.25-3.26) with greenspace exposure, adjusting for self-selection. Urban planning and policy initiatives to increase public greenspace may benefit mental wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Carver
- National Centre for Healthy Ageing, Frankston, VIC, Australia; School of Translational Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Jerome N Rachele
- College and Health and Biomedicine & Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Takemi Sugiyama
- Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia; Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Billie-Giles Corti
- Centre for Urban Research, RMIT, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Nicola W Burton
- School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt, QLD, Australia; Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia; Centre for Mental Health, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Gavin Turrell
- Centre for Urban Research, RMIT, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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12
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Olivera León LD, Thompson RL, Wyka KE, Huang TTK. Associations of Park Use with Physical Activity in Renovated Parks Serving Low-Income Communities in New York City: Insights from the Community Parks Initiative. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024:10.1007/s40615-024-02095-w. [PMID: 39177725 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-024-02095-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
Parks have the potential to encourage physical activity among urban communities. However, existing research on the link between park use and physical activity has produced inconsistent results. Mixed findings in the past may be due in part to differences in park quality across studies. The aim of this study was to explore the association between park use and physical activity among New York City adults in low-income communities that recently received city-sponsored park renovation as part of the Community Parks Initiative (CPI). Using population-weighted survey data from eight neighborhoods with recent park renovation (n = 2,000), we measured associations between park use frequency (≥ once/week vs. < once/week) and self-reported physical activity (high vs. low-moderate based on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire). We adjusted models for age, sex, education, race/ethnicity, income, study site, and use of other (non-CPI) parks, and conducted stratified analysis for demographic variables with significant interactions with park use. After adjusting for covariates, we observed a positive association between park use and physical activity (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.16-1.46). Greater frequency of park use was more strongly associated with high physical activity among adults ≤ 50 y (PR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.14-1.69), individuals with annual household income < $25,000 (PR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.13-2.08), and Latinos (PR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.44-2.18). Our findings suggest that high-quality parks might be particularly beneficial for promoting physical activity among those with a lower socioeconomic background and in younger and Latino adults, emphasizing the importance of continued investment in park revitalization among urban communities of color.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis David Olivera León
- Center for Systems and Community Design, and NYU-CUNY Prevention Research Center, Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, 55 West 125th Street, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Rachel L Thompson
- Center for Systems and Community Design, and NYU-CUNY Prevention Research Center, Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, 55 West 125th Street, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Katarzyna E Wyka
- Center for Systems and Community Design, and NYU-CUNY Prevention Research Center, Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, 55 West 125th Street, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Terry T-K Huang
- Center for Systems and Community Design, and NYU-CUNY Prevention Research Center, Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, 55 West 125th Street, New York, NY, 10027, USA.
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13
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Segreti A, Celeski M, Guerra E, Crispino SP, Vespasiano F, Buzzelli L, Fossati C, Papalia R, Pigozzi F, Grigioni F. Effects of Environmental Conditions on Athlete's Cardiovascular System. J Clin Med 2024; 13:4961. [PMID: 39201103 PMCID: PMC11355938 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13164961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2024] [Revised: 08/13/2024] [Accepted: 08/17/2024] [Indexed: 09/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Environmental factors such as extreme temperatures, humidity, wind, pollution, altitude, and diving can significantly impact athletes' cardiovascular systems, potentially hindering their performance, particularly in outdoor sports. The urgency of this issue is heightened by the increasing prevalence of climate change and its associated conditions, including fluctuating pollution levels, temperature variations, and the spread of infectious diseases. Despite its critical importance, this topic is often overlooked in sports medicine. This narrative review seeks to address this gap by providing a comprehensive, evidence-based evaluation of how athletes respond to environmental stresses. A thorough assessment of current knowledge is essential to better prepare athletes for competition under environmental stress and to minimize the harmful effects of these factors. Specifically, adaptative strategies and preventative measures are vital to mitigating these environmental influences and ensuring athletes' safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Segreti
- Cardiology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Roma, Italy; (M.C.); (S.P.C.); (F.V.); (L.B.); (F.G.)
- Research Unit of Cardiovascular Science, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Roma, Italy
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, Piazza Lauro de Bosis, 15, 00135 Roma, Italy; (C.F.); (F.P.)
| | - Mihail Celeski
- Cardiology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Roma, Italy; (M.C.); (S.P.C.); (F.V.); (L.B.); (F.G.)
- Research Unit of Cardiovascular Science, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Roma, Italy
| | - Emiliano Guerra
- Cardiology Division, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Policlinico di Modena, Via del Pozzo, 71, 41124 Modena, Italy;
| | - Simone Pasquale Crispino
- Cardiology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Roma, Italy; (M.C.); (S.P.C.); (F.V.); (L.B.); (F.G.)
- Research Unit of Cardiovascular Science, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Roma, Italy
| | - Francesca Vespasiano
- Cardiology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Roma, Italy; (M.C.); (S.P.C.); (F.V.); (L.B.); (F.G.)
- Research Unit of Cardiovascular Science, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Roma, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Buzzelli
- Cardiology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Roma, Italy; (M.C.); (S.P.C.); (F.V.); (L.B.); (F.G.)
- Research Unit of Cardiovascular Science, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Roma, Italy
| | - Chiara Fossati
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, Piazza Lauro de Bosis, 15, 00135 Roma, Italy; (C.F.); (F.P.)
| | - Rocco Papalia
- Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Roma, Italy;
- Research Unit of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Roma, Italy
| | - Fabio Pigozzi
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, Piazza Lauro de Bosis, 15, 00135 Roma, Italy; (C.F.); (F.P.)
| | - Francesco Grigioni
- Cardiology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Roma, Italy; (M.C.); (S.P.C.); (F.V.); (L.B.); (F.G.)
- Research Unit of Cardiovascular Science, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Roma, Italy
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14
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Jin Y, Yu Z, Yang G, Yao X, Hu M, Remme RP, van Bodegom PM, Morpurgo J, Huang Y, Wang J, Cui S. Quantifying physiological health efficiency and benefit threshold of greenspace exposure in typical urban landscapes. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 362:124726. [PMID: 39173868 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 08/11/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
Although greenspace exposure has physiological health benefits, there is insufficient research on the threshold effect of health benefits in typical urban landscapes. Here we selected five typical urban landscapes (open greenspace, semi-closed greenspace, closed greenspace, bluespace, grey space) in 15 urban parks in Xiamen, China, and applied the physiological health threshold model to calculate the efficiency threshold and benefit threshold of greenspace exposure by continuously monitoring the changes of two physiological indicators-electroencephalography (EEG) and heart rate (HR). (1) The EEG threshold results show that compared with greenspace exposure, bluespace exposure can reach the physiological health efficiency threshold faster (4-5 min) but does not show an advantage in terms of benefit threshold. The more open the greenspace, the faster it can reach the efficiency threshold (5-6 min), but the higher the canopy density of the (closed) greenspace, the shorter the time to reach the efficiency threshold (8-9 min). (2) The HR threshold shows that bluespace and open greenspace are the fastest to reach the efficiency threshold (1 min), with the remaining greenspace reaching it after 6-7 min. The benefit threshold was reached faster in the bluespace (11 min) than in the greenspace (18-21 min), and the degree of openness of the greenspace has no significant effect on the speed of benefit thresholds. (3) Combining the results of EEG and HR thresholds, it can be seen that bluespace is better at reducing stress, while open greenspace can reach efficiency thresholds more quickly. This study confirms the physiological health threshold model, offering a reference for urban greenspace planning to enhance residents' stress management and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuenan Jin
- Xiamen Key Lab of Urban Metabolism, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinses Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China; College of JunCao Science and Ecology (College of Carbon Neutrality), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350002, China
| | - Zhaowu Yu
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China.
| | - Gaoyuan Yang
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234, China
| | - Xihan Yao
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Mingming Hu
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - R P Remme
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - P M van Bodegom
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Joeri Morpurgo
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Yunfeng Huang
- Environmental Engineering Department, Jimei University, Xiamen, 36102, China
| | - Jingyi Wang
- Xiamen Key Lab of Urban Metabolism, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinses Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Shenghui Cui
- Xiamen Key Lab of Urban Metabolism, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinses Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China.
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15
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Swami V. Associations between nature exposure and body image: A critical, narrative review of the evidence. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2024; 248:104355. [PMID: 38870689 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers are having to deal with the negative impact of body image concerns in populations globally. One cost-effective way of promoting healthier body image outcomes is through exposure to natural environments. A growing body of research has shown that spending time in, interacting with, and even just looking at natural environments can promote healthier body image outcomes. In this narrative review, I consider the different forms of evidence documenting an association between nature exposure and body image (i.e., cross-sectional and mediational, experimental and quasi-experimental, comparative, prospective, experience sampling, and qualitative research). Beyond this, I shine a critical light on the available evidence, highlighting concerns with methodological (i.e., who research has focused on and what types of natural environments have been considered), psychometric (i.e., how body image and nature exposure are measured), and conceptual issues (how the association is explained). I conclude that, although there are issues affecting the way the existing body of research is to be understood, there are reasons to be hopeful that nature exposure can be leveraged to promote healthier body image outcomes in diverse populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viren Swami
- School of Psychology, Sport, and Sensory Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Centre for Psychological Medicine, Perdana University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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16
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Bratman GN, Mehta A, Olvera-Alvarez H, Spink KM, Levy C, White MP, Kubzansky LD, Gross JJ. Associations of nature contact with emotional ill-being and well-being: the role of emotion regulation. Cogn Emot 2024; 38:748-767. [PMID: 38362747 DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2024.2316199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Nature contact has associations with emotional ill-being and well-being. However, the mechanisms underlying these associations are not fully understood. We hypothesised that increased adaptive and decreased maladaptive emotion regulation strategies would be a pathway linking nature contact to ill-being and well-being. Using data from a survey of 600 U.S.-based adults administered online in 2022, we conducted structural equation modelling to test our hypotheses. We found that (1) frequency of nature contact was significantly associated with lesser emotional ill-being and greater emotional well-being, (2) effective emotion regulation was significantly associated with lesser emotional ill-being and greater emotional well-being, and (3) the associations of higher frequency of nature contact with these benefits were partly explained via emotion regulation. Moreover, we found a nonlinear relationship for the associations of duration of nature contact with some outcomes, with a rise in benefits up to certain amounts of time, and a levelling off after these points. These findings support and extend previous work that demonstrates that the associations of nature contact with emotional ill-being and well-being may be partly explained by changes in emotion regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory N Bratman
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ashish Mehta
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Chaja Levy
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Mathew P White
- Cognitive Science Hub, University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | - Laura D Kubzansky
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - James J Gross
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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17
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de Bell S, Alejandre JC, Menzel C, Sousa-Silva R, Straka TM, Berzborn S, Bürck-Gemassmer M, Dallimer M, Dayson C, Fisher JC, Haywood A, Herrmann A, Immich G, Keßler CS, Köhler K, Lynch M, Marx V, Michalsen A, Mudu P, Napierala H, Nawrath M, Pfleger S, Quitmann C, Reeves JP, Rozario K, Straff W, Walter K, Wendelboe-Nelson C, Marselle MR, Oh RRY, Bonn A. Nature-based social prescribing programmes: opportunities, challenges, and facilitators for implementation. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 190:108801. [PMID: 38909402 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence on the health benefits of spending time in nature has highlighted the importance of provision of blue and green spaces where people live. The potential for health benefits offered by nature exposure, however, extends beyond health promotion to health treatment. Social prescribing links people with health or social care needs to community-based, non-clinical health and social care interventions to improve health and wellbeing. Nature-based social prescribing (NBSP) is a variant that uses the health-promoting benefits of activities carried out in natural environments, such as gardening and walking. Much current NBSP practice has been developed in the UK, and there is increasing global interest in its implementation. This requires interventions to be adapted for different contexts, considering the needs of populations and the structure of healthcare systems. METHODS This paper presents results from an expert group participatory workshop involving 29 practitioners, researchers, and policymakers from the UK and Germany's health and environmental sectors. Using the UK and Germany, two countries with different healthcare systems and in different developmental stages of NBSP practice, as case studies, we analysed opportunities, challenges, and facilitators for the development and implementation of NBSP. RESULTS We identified five overarching themes for developing, implementing, and evaluating NBSP: Capacity Building; Accessibility and Acceptability; Networks and Collaborations; Standardised Implementation and Evaluation; and Sustainability. We also discuss key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for each overarching theme to understand how they could be developed to support NBSP implementation. CONCLUSIONS NBSP could offer significant public health benefits using available blue and green spaces. We offer guidance on how NBSP implementation, from wider policy support to the design and evaluation of individual programmes, could be adapted to different contexts. This research could help inform the development and evaluation of NBSP programmes to support planetary health from local and global scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siân de Bell
- Exeter HSDR Evidence Synthesis Centre, University of Exeter, 79 Heavitree Rd, Exeter EX2 4TH, United Kingdom.
| | | | - Claudia Menzel
- Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität Kaiserslautern-Landau, Landau, Germany
| | - Rita Sousa-Silva
- Young Academy for Sustainability Research, Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Freiburg, Albertstraße 19, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany; Institute of Environmental Sciences, Department of Environmental Biology, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9518, 2300 RA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Tanja M Straka
- Institute of Ecology, Technische Universität Berlin, 12165 Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne Berzborn
- Black Forest National Park, Schwarzwaldhochstraße 2, 77889 Seebach, Germany
| | - Max Bürck-Gemassmer
- KLUG (German Alliance for Climate Change and Health), Hainbuchenstr. 10a, 13465, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Chris Dayson
- Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S1 2LX, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica C Fisher
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NR, United Kingdom
| | - Annette Haywood
- Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research (SCHARR), School of Medicine and Population Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DA, United Kingdom
| | - Alina Herrmann
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany; Institute for General Practice, University Hospital Cologne, Medical Faculty University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Gisela Immich
- Chair of Public Health and Health Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Germany; Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian S Keßler
- Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Department of Internal Medicine and Nature-based Therapies, Immanuel Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Mary Lynch
- Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Viola Marx
- Dundee City Council, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Andreas Michalsen
- Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Department of Internal Medicine and Nature-based Therapies, Immanuel Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Pierpaolo Mudu
- WHO Regional Office for Europe, European Centre for Environment and Health, Bonn, Germany
| | - Hendrik Napierala
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Maximilian Nawrath
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Økernveien 94, 0579 Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Claudia Quitmann
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Kevin Rozario
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Institute of Biodiversity, Dornburger Straße 159, 07743 Jena, Germany; Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Ecosystem Services, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Leipzig University, Wilhelm Wundt Institute for Psychology, Neumarkt 9, 04109 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Straff
- Umweltbundesamt (German Environment Agency), Wörlitzer Pl. 1, 0684 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
| | - Katie Walter
- Ullapool Medical Practice, NHS Highland, Ullapool, United Kingdom
| | | | - Melissa R Marselle
- Environmental Psychology Research Group, School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel Rui Ying Oh
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Ecosystem Services, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Aletta Bonn
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Institute of Biodiversity, Dornburger Straße 159, 07743 Jena, Germany; Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Ecosystem Services, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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Caryl F, McCrorie P, Olsen JR, Mitchell R. Use of natural environments is associated with reduced inequalities in child mental wellbeing: A cross-sectional analysis using global positioning system (GPS) data. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 190:108847. [PMID: 38936067 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Exposure to natural environments may benefit child mental wellbeing whilst offering a lever to reduce health inequalities. However, understanding of these relationships is limited by evidence from indirect measures of exposure. We objectively measured children's direct use of natural environments-and use in low or high physical activity (PA) states-and associated this with their mental wellbeing. We then examined moderation by sex and household income. Using global positioning system and accelerometry data from children (n = 640), we measured mean daily time in natural environments ('total use'), which we stratified by PA level as 'passive use' (sedentary and light PA) and 'active use' (moderate and vigorous PA). Logistic regression associated exposures with dichotomised Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire outcomes (internalising difficulties; externalising difficulties; prosocial behaviour), with interactions to examine moderation. A 10-minute increase in total use was associated with 10.5 % lower risk of abnormal internalising outcomes (OR: 0.895; 95 % CI 0.809, 0.990), and 13.2 % lower risk of abnormal externalising outcomes (OR: 0.868; 95 % CI 0.776, 0.990). This suggests that ∼ 60 min of daily total use was associated with 50 % lower risk of abnormal internalising and externalising outcomes. The relative effects of passive and active use were equal, but their associations were moderated by income independently for specific outcomes. For externalising outcomes, the risk of abnormal scores in lower-income children reduced as passive use increased (P = 0.027) but remained constant for higher-income children. For prosocial outcomes, the likelihood of normal scores increased with active use in lower-income children, but not higher-income children (P = 0.005). Sex did not moderate these associations. The findings suggest that targeted interventions supporting disadvantaged children to use natural environments could help address inequalities in mental wellbeing. Further, the moderated associations with types of use suggest the equigenic effects of natural environments may operate through multiple pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Caryl
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences, University of Glasgow, Clarice Pears Building, 90 Byres Road, Glasgow, UK.
| | - Paul McCrorie
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences, University of Glasgow, Clarice Pears Building, 90 Byres Road, Glasgow, UK
| | - Jonathan R Olsen
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences, University of Glasgow, Clarice Pears Building, 90 Byres Road, Glasgow, UK
| | - Richard Mitchell
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences, University of Glasgow, Clarice Pears Building, 90 Byres Road, Glasgow, UK
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Bonthoux S, Chollet S. Wilding cities for biodiversity and people: a transdisciplinary framework. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:1458-1480. [PMID: 38514244 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Accelerating urbanisation and associated lifestyle changes result in loss of biodiversity and diminished wellbeing of people through fewer direct interactions and experiences with nature. In this review, we propose the notion of urban wilding (the promotion of autonomous ecological processes that are independent of historical land-use conditions, with minimal direct human maintenance and planting interventions) and investigate its propensity to improve biodiversity and people-nature connections in cities. Through a large interdisciplinary synthesis, we explore the ecological mechanisms through which urban wilding can promote biodiversity in cities, investigate the attitudes and relations of city dwellers towards urban wild spaces, and discuss the integration of urban wilding into the fabric of cities and its governance. We show that favouring assembly spontaneity by reducing planting interventions, and functional spontaneity by limiting maintenance practices, can promote plant diversity and provide ecological resources for numerous organisms at habitat and city scales. These processes could reverse biotic homogenisation, but further studies are needed to understand the effects of wilding on invasive species and their consequences. From a socio-ecological perspective, the attitudes of city dwellers towards spontaneous vegetation are modulated by successional stages, with grassland and woodland stages preferred, but dense shrubby vegetation stages disliked. Wild spaces can diversify physical interactions with nature, and enrich multi-sensory, affective and cognitive experiences of nature in cities. However, some aspects of wild spaces can cause anxiety, feeling unsafe, and the perception of abandonment. These negative attitudes could be mitigated by subtle design and maintenance interventions. While nature has long been thought of as ornamental and instrumental in cities, urban wilding could help to develop relational and intrinsic values of nature in the fabric of cities. Wildness and its singular aesthetics should be combined with cultural norms, resident uses and urban functions to plan and design urban spatial configurations promoting human-non-human cohabitation. For urban wilding to be socially just and adapted to the needs of residents, its implementation should be backed by inclusive governance opening up discussion forums to residents and urban workers. Scientists can support these changes by collaborating with urban actors to design and experiment with new wild spaces promoting biodiversity and wellbeing of people in cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Bonthoux
- Ecole de la Nature et du Paysage - INSA CVL, CNRS UMR 7324 CITERES, 3 rue de la Chocolaterie, CS, Blois, 23410 41034, France
- LTSER, Zone Atelier Loire, UMR 7324 - CITERES, BP 60449, 37204, TOURS, 03, France
| | - Simon Chollet
- Université de Rennes, CNRS UMR 6553 ECOBIO [Ecosystèmes, biodiversité, évolution], Campus de Beaulieu - Bat 14A, 263 Av Gal Leclerc, Rennes, 35700, France
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20
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Kellstedt DK, Suess CS, Maddock JE. Influences of Outdoor Experiences During Childhood on Time Spent in Nature as an Adult. AJPM FOCUS 2024; 3:100235. [PMID: 39005966 PMCID: PMC11245967 DOI: 10.1016/j.focus.2024.100235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Time spent in nature provides myriad physical and mental health benefits for both adults and children. Despite these benefits, most people spend too little time in nature to realize the maximal effect. Different types of childhood experiences may have differential influence on adult time in nature. This study assessed the influences of different kinds of childhood outdoor experiences on time spent in nature as an adult. The first aim was to utilize 20 childhood nature experience items to construct summative scales. The second aim was to examine the influence of each scale and other factors on adult time in nature. Methods A 2-factor scale measuring wild and domesticated childhood nature experiences was developed using principal and confirmatory factor analyses. An online study of 2,109 American adults was conducted. Multiple linear regression examined the influences of the 2 childhood nature experiences scales, attitude and self-efficacy scales, and sex and age covariates on adult time spent in nature. Results Significant predictors of adult time in nature were wild childhood nature experiences (β=0.279, p<0.001), positive attitudes about nature (β=0.12, p<0.05), negative attitudes about nature (β= -0.23, p<0.001), and self-efficacy (β=0.71, p<0.001). Conclusions Wild childhood nature experiences (e.g., camping, hiking, and fishing) that include skill building, that are immersive and engaging, and that involve opportunity for social interaction may translate better into adult nature activities. Programs that introduce and support wild experiences may increase lifelong time spent in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debra K. Kellstedt
- Family & Community Health, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, College Station, Texas
| | - Courtney S. Suess
- Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism, College of Agricultural & Life Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Jay E. Maddock
- Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M University School of Public Health, College Station, Texas
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21
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Anderson AR, Ostermiller L, Lastrapes M, Hales L. Does sunlight exposure predict next-night sleep? A daily diary study among U.S. adults. J Health Psychol 2024:13591053241262643. [PMID: 39077837 DOI: 10.1177/13591053241262643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Poor sleep is becoming increasingly prevalent and is associated with adverse health outcomes. Sunlight exposure may improve sleep by regulating circadian rhythms, increasing vitamin D, and influencing melatonin production. However, research on the sunlight-sleep association is limited, especially outside of cross-sectional designs. This study examined associations between daily self-reported sunlight exposure and next-night sleep quality in 103 adults for up to 70 days. The timing of sunlight exposure predicted next-night sleep quality. Specifically, morning sunlight exposure, relative to no sunlight, predicted better sleep quality based on responses to the brief Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index. Duration of sunlight exposure was generally not associated with sleep quality. Morning sunlight may regulate circadian rhythms, subsequently improving sleep. Findings have potential implications for sleep interventions and daylight savings time policies. Future research should test whether morning sunlight exposure can enhance the effectiveness of sleep interventions.
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22
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Zhao J, Ren R, Beeraka NM, PA M, Xue N, Lu P, Bai W, Mao Z, PR HV, Bulygin KV, Nikolenko VN, Fan R, Liu J. Correlation of time trends of air pollutants, greenspaces and tracheal, bronchus and lung cancer incidence and mortality among the adults in United States. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1398679. [PMID: 39119087 PMCID: PMC11306054 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1398679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Tracheal, Bronchus, and Lung (TBL) cancer continues to represent the majority of cancer-related incidence and mortality in United States (U.S.). While air pollutants are considered essential risk factors, both global and national average concentrations of major harmful air pollutants have significantly decreased over the decades. Green space may have a beneficial effect on human health. Methods We obtained data on national and state-level burden of TBL cancer, the annual average concentration of main air pollutants, and levels of green spaces in 2007, 2013, and 2019. According to generalized estimating equation (GEE), we examine the associations among incidence and mortality of TBL cancer, air pollutants, and greenspaces, represented by the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) in different age groups with models adjusted with meteorological, and socio-demographic. We observed additional effects of the interaction between the NDVI, Ozone, PM2.5, and other factors, which helped us to interpret and understand our results. Also, we collated states that witnessed net increments in forest coverage and conducted the same analysis separately. Results In our analysis, the majority of associations between NDVI and air pollutants with TBL cancer remained significantly positive, particularly noticeable among individuals aged 20 to 54. However, our findings did not explore air pollution as a potential mediator between greenspace exposure and TBL cancer. While the associations of PM2.5 with TBL cancer remained positive, the other four pollutants showed positive but statistically insignificant associations. Our interaction analysis yielded that there were positive associations between NDVI and ozone, PM2.5, and tobacco use. Max NDVI acts as a protective factor along with high HDI. Additionally, PM2.5 and HDI also showed a negative association. In 18 states with more forest, NDVI acts as a protective factor along with higher health care coverage, better health status, and participation in physical activities. Conclusion In the state-level of U.S., the effects of total greenspace with TBL cancer are mixed and could be modified by various socio-economic factors. PM2.5 has a direct correlation with TBL cancer and the effects can be influenced by underlying socioeconomic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Zhao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ruihang Ren
- Department of Radiation Oncology & Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Narasimha M. Beeraka
- Department of Pharmacology, Raghavendra Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (RIPER), Andhra Pradesh, Ananthapuramu, India
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
- Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Mahesh PA
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, JSS Medical College, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research (JSS AHER), Mysuru, Karnataka, India
| | - Nannan Xue
- Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) and CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pengfei Lu
- Cancer Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Wenhua Bai
- Department of Radiation Oncology & Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhihan Mao
- Department of Radiation Oncology & Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hemanth Vikram PR
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research (JSS AHER), Mysuru, Karnataka, India
| | - Kirill V. Bulygin
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir N. Nikolenko
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
| | - Ruitai Fan
- Department of Radiation Oncology & Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Junqi Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology & Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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Visintin C, Garrard GE, Weisser WW, Baracco M, Hobbs RJ, Bekessy SA. Designing cities for everyday nature. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024:e14328. [PMID: 39045810 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
The motivations for incorporating nature into the design of cities have never been more compelling. Creating experiences with nature that occur every day (everyday nature) in cities could help reverse the fate of many threatened species and connect people with nature and living cultural traditions. However, this requires more than just urban greening; it involves ensuring daily doses of nature in a way that also supports nonhuman organisms. A major shift in the way nature is conceived of and is made part of the design of cities is required. Principles include reconsidering nature as a development opportunity rather than a constraint and eliminating offsetting of biodiversity site values. Processes include using biodiversity-sensitive design frameworks and establishing meaningful professional engagement among ecologists, planners, and designers. Challenges include design obstacles, conflicts between nature and people (e.g., safety, disease, and noise) that require careful management, and socioeconomic and political considerations (e.g., Global North vs. Global South). Research to interrogate the multiple benefits of nature in cities can complement experimental interventions, ultimately supporting better urban design and creating much more resiliently built environments for people and nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey Visintin
- Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Group, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Georgia E Garrard
- School of Ecosystem & Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Wolfgang W Weisser
- Department of Life Science Systems, School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Mauro Baracco
- Baracco+Wright, Collingwood, Victoria, Australia
- School of Architecture & Urban Design, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Richard J Hobbs
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Sarah A Bekessy
- Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Group, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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24
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Ong AD, Cintron DW, Fuligni GL. Engagement with nature and proinflammatory biology. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 119:51-55. [PMID: 38555989 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.03.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prior evidence indicates that contact with nature improves physical health, but data explicitly linking engagement with nature to biological processes are limited. DESIGN Leveraging survey and biomarker data from 1,244 adults (mean age = 54.50 years, range = 34-84 years) from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS II) study, we examined associations between nature engagement, operationalized as the frequency of pleasant nature encounters, and systemic inflammation. Concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and fibrinogen were measured from fasting blood samples. Analyses adjusted for sociodemographic, health behavior, and psychological well-being covariates. RESULTS More frequent positive nature contact was independently associated with lower circulating levels of inflammation. CONCLUSIONS These findings add to a growing literature on the salubrious health effects of nature by demonstrating how such experiences are instantiated in downstream physiological systems, potentially informing future interventions and public health policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony D Ong
- Department of Psychology, Cornell University, New York; Center for Integrative Developmental Science, Cornell University, New York; Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York.
| | - Dakota W Cintron
- Department of Psychology, Cornell University, New York; Center for Integrative Developmental Science, Cornell University, New York
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25
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Vilcins D, Sly PD, Scarth P, Mavoa S. Green space in health research: an overview of common indicators of greenness. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2024; 39:221-231. [PMID: 36372560 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2022-0083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Human environments influence human health in both positive and negative ways. Green space is considered an environmental exposure that confers benefits to human health and has attracted a high level of interest from researchers, policy makers, and increasingly clinicians. Green space has been associated with a range of health benefits, such as improvements in physical, mental, and social wellbeing. There are different sources, metrics and indicators of green space used in research, all of which measure different aspects of the environment. It is important that readers of green space research understand the terminology used in this field, and what the green space indicators used in the studies represent in the real world. This paper provides an overview of the major definitions of green space and the indicators used to assess exposure for health practitioners, public health researchers, and health policy experts who may be interested in understanding this field more clearly, either in the provision of public health-promoting services or to undertake research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dwan Vilcins
- Children's Health and Environment Program, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Peter D Sly
- Children's Health and Environment Program, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Peter Scarth
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Suzanne Mavoa
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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26
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Zhang X, Tang J, Wang Y, Yang W, Wang X, Zhang R, Yang J, Lu W, Wang F. Visual environment in schools and student depressive symptoms: Insights from a prospective study across multiple cities in eastern China. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 258:119490. [PMID: 38925465 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of the school visual environment on depressive symptoms in children and adolescents based on cohort study in eastern China. The school visual environment-related indicators included in this study comprise personal factors (visual impairment) and school-related factors (classroom lighting, school green spaces and school air quality). METHOD The follow-up cohort comprises 15,348 students from 283 primary and secondary schools in eastern China. This represents the one-year outcomes of a school-based myopia-mental health cohort study. Data collection includes basic demographics (age, gender, region, etc.), physical examination indicators, behavioral indicators, and school visual environment-related indicators. RESULT After a one-year follow-up, we found that compared to the more severe vision impairment group (≤4.0), healthy vision group (≥5.0) had a positive effect against the occurrence of depressive symptoms during consecutive follow-ups, with an RR value of 0.61 (95% CI: 0.57-0.66). Higher values of blackboard illumination appear to be associated with greater positive effects, with an RR (Q75%∼Q100% range) value of 0.87(95% CI: 0.81-0.93). School green spaces seem to exhibit relatively good positive effects when in the Q25%∼Q75% range. The combination of physical activity (Weekly high-intensity exercise) with school air quality(PM2.5≤50%)showed a better positive effect, with an RR value of 0.51(95%CI:0.48-0.55). CONCLUSION When addressing students' depressive symptoms, it is crucial to improve the visual environment both at the school level and in students' personal level. Paying appropriate attention to modifiable behaviors, like regular participation in high-intensity exercise sessions, can help alleviate students' depressive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiyan Zhang
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health Promotion, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, China; School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiawen Tang
- School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health Promotion, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenyi Yang
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health Promotion, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health Promotion, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, China
| | - Ran Zhang
- Early Intervention Unit, Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Functional Brain Imaging Institute, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jie Yang
- School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Wei Lu
- School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Fei Wang
- Early Intervention Unit, Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Functional Brain Imaging Institute, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Department of Mental Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
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Jennings V, Rigolon A, Thompson J, Murray A, Henderson A, Gragg RS. The Dynamic Relationship between Social Cohesion and Urban Green Space in Diverse Communities: Opportunities and Challenges to Public Health. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 21:800. [PMID: 38929046 PMCID: PMC11204079 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Social cohesion is a key factor within social determinants of health and well-being. Urban green spaces can provide environments that potentially facilitate meaningful and positive social interactions that promote social cohesion, equity, human health, and well-being. However, the lack of integration of existing research on social cohesion, urban green spaces, and public health in diverse (e.g., racially and ethnically) communities limits culturally relevant strategies to address health disparities. In this manuscript, we synthesize research on the potential of urban green spaces to promote social cohesion and public health in historically excluded communities. Particularly, we explore the development of social cohesion as it relates to the social environment, built environment, leisure opportunities, green space maintenance, safety, and green gentrification. We highlight key factors and their application to meet opportunities and challenges to social and public health. A conceptual framework is presented to provide an overview and illustrate connections found in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viniece Jennings
- School of the Environment, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Tallahassee, FL 32307, USA;
| | - Alessandro Rigolon
- Department City and Metropolitan Planning, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Jasmine Thompson
- Department of Public Health, Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA 30030, USA
| | - Athena Murray
- Department of Public Health, Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA 30030, USA
| | - Ariel Henderson
- Department of Public Health, Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA 30030, USA
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28
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Hassan A, Deshun Z. How taking pictures of landscapes affects the mental stress of young adults. Psych J 2024. [PMID: 38860783 DOI: 10.1002/pchj.773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
In today's fast-paced society, escalating work and academic pressures have led to rising stress levels. While numerous studies have explored adolescent mental health, there has been a lack of focus on "educational stress" among Chinese students. This study sought to understand the psychological and physiological effects of educational stress in Chinese university students. We studied the impact of a 5-min nature photography session on campus compared with a control activity of photographing urban settings near campus. Data were collected using blood pressure measurements, electroencephalography (EEG), the Semantic Differential Method (SDM), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) in order to understand psychophysiological reactions. The findings from the SDM and STAI assessments indicated that students felt slightly more at ease and considerably more relaxed, had a heightened sense of naturalness, and experienced reduced anxiety after engaging in nature photography compared with urban photography. Notably, we observed that both systolic and diastolic blood pressure dropped by many values and there were noticeable EEG changes among participants. The results suggest that a brief 5-min nature photography activity can effectively reduce mental stress in Chinese university students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Hassan
- College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhang Deshun
- College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
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29
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Buxton RT, Hudgins EJ, Lavigne E, Villeneuve PJ, Prince SA, Pearson AL, Halsall T, Robichaud C, Bennett JR. Mental health is positively associated with biodiversity in Canadian cities. COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT 2024; 5:310. [PMID: 38873360 PMCID: PMC11166573 DOI: 10.1038/s43247-024-01482-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Cities concentrate problems that affect human well-being and biodiversity. Exploring the link between mental health and biodiversity can inform more holistic public health and urban planning. Here we examined associations between bird and tree species diversity estimates from eBird community science datasets and national forest inventories with self-rated mental health metrics from the Canadian Community Health Survey. We linked data across 36 Canadian Metropolitan Areas from 2007-2022 at a postal code level. After controlling for covariates, we found that bird and tree species diversity were significantly positively related to good self-reported mental health. Living in a postal code with bird diversity one standard deviation higher than the mean increased reporting of good mental health by 6.64%. Postal codes with tree species richness one standard deviation more than the mean increased reporting of good mental health by 5.36%. Our results suggest that supporting healthy urban ecosystems may also benefit human well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel T. Buxton
- Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Emma J. Hudgins
- Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON Canada
- School of Agriculture, Food, and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC Australia
| | - Eric Lavigne
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Paul J. Villeneuve
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, University, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Stephanie A. Prince
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON Canada
- Centre for Surveillance and Applied Research, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Amber L. Pearson
- CS Mott Department of Public Health, Michigan State University, Flint, MI USA
| | - Tanya Halsall
- University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research at the Royal, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Courtney Robichaud
- Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Joseph R. Bennett
- Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON Canada
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Sterckx A, Delbaere B, De Blust G, Spacova I, Samson R, Van den Broeck K, Remmen R, Keune H. Fine-tuning the practical relevance of a quality framework for integrated nature-based interventions in healthcare facilities. A qualitative interview study. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1379230. [PMID: 38898895 PMCID: PMC11186510 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1379230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Integrated nature-based interventions in healthcare facilities are gaining importance as promising health and biodiversity promotion strategies. This type of interventions combines the restoration of biodiversity in the vicinity of the healthcare facility with guiding patients in that natural environment for health outcomes. However, quality appraisal of these interventions is still poorly developed. Based on a recent scoping review, the authors developed a preliminary quality framework in support of healthcare facilities designing, implementing and evaluating integrated nature-based interventions. This present study aims to fine-tune the practical relevance of the quality framework within the emerging practice. Methods A qualitative interview study was conducted in seven healthcare facilities in Belgium. Using a combination of snowball and purposive sampling, 22 professionals, involved in the integrated nature-based intervention in their facility, participated in the study. The semi-structured interviews were transcribed and imported into NVivo. A deductive and inductive thematic analysis was used to explore the practical relevance of the quality framework. A stakeholders' assembly review and a member checking of the findings were also part of the study. Findings Twenty-two interviews with nature management coordinators, healthcare professionals, and healthcare managers were conducted by three principal investigators in seven healthcare facilities implementing integrated nature-based interventions. The contextualization and complexity of integrated nature-based interventions in the participating healthcare facilities demonstrated the need for an evidence-based quality framework describing nature-based interventions. The study led to nine quality criteria, confirming the eight quality criteria derived from a previous scoping review, and the identification of a new quality criterion 'Capacity building, leverage and continuity'. These quality criteria have been refined. Finally, a proposal for a quality framework was developed and operationalized in a checklist. Deployment of the quality framework should be embedded in a continuous cyclical, adaptive process of monitoring and adjusting based on evaluations at each phase of an integrated nature-based intervention. Discussion Bridging the domains of healthcare and nature management in the context of an integrated nature-based intervention in a healthcare facility requires a transdisciplinary approach. Scientific frameworks such as "complex interventions," Planetary Health and One Health can support the co-design, implementation and evaluation of integrated nature-based interventions within a cyclical, adaptive process. In addition, the importance of the quality of the interactions with nature could gain from more sophisticated attention. Finally, the implications for healthcare facilities, policymakers and education are discussed, as well as the strengths and limitations of the study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Sterckx
- Chair Care and the Natural Living Environment, Department of Primary and Interdisciplinary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ben Delbaere
- Chair Care and the Natural Living Environment, Department of Primary and Interdisciplinary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Geert De Blust
- Chair Care and the Natural Living Environment, Department of Primary and Interdisciplinary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Irina Spacova
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Roeland Samson
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Kris Van den Broeck
- Chair Public Mental Health, Department of Primary and Interdisciplinary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Roy Remmen
- Department of Primary and Interdisciplinary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Hans Keune
- Chair Care and the Natural Living Environment, Department of Primary and Interdisciplinary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Kondo MC, Locke D, Hazer M, Mendelson T, Fix RL, Joshi A, Latshaw M, Fry D, Mmari K. A greening theory of change: How neighborhood greening impacts adolescent health disparities. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY 2024; 73:541-553. [PMID: 38303603 DOI: 10.1002/ajcp.12735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Neighborhoods are one of the key determinants of health disparities among young people in the United States. While neighborhood deprivation can exacerbate health disparities, amenities such as quality parks and greenspace can support adolescent health. Existing conceptual frameworks of greening-health largely focus on greenspace exposures, rather than greening interventions. In this paper, we develop and propose a Greening Theory of Change that explains how greening initiatives might affect adolescent health in deprived neighborhoods. The theory situates greening activities and possible mechanisms of change in the context of their ability to modify distal social determinants of health factors, stemming from macrostructural and historical processes that lead to resource inequalities, affecting both the social and built environment in which adolescents live and develop. The framework illustrates both short- and long-term health, economic, and security effects of greening. We also describe how the theory informed the development of Project VITAL (Vacant lot Improvement to Transform Adolescent Lives) in Baltimore, MD, which aims to (1) build a citywide sharable database on vacant lot restoration activities, (2) evaluate the impact of greening initiatives on adolescent health outcomes, (3) conduct cost-effectiveness analyses, and (4) develop best practices for greening programs for improved adolescent health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle C Kondo
- USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Dexter Locke
- USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Meghan Hazer
- Baltimore City Department of Public Works, Office of Research and Environmental Protection, Watershed Planning + Partnerships, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Tamar Mendelson
- Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Rebecca L Fix
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ashley Joshi
- Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Megan Latshaw
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Dustin Fry
- USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kristin Mmari
- Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Martin L, White MP, Elliott LR, Grellier J, Astell-Burt T, Bratman GN, Lima ML, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Ojala A, Roiko A, van den Bosch M, Fleming LE. Mechanisms underlying the associations between different types of nature exposure and sleep duration: An 18-country analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 250:118522. [PMID: 38403148 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Whilst green space has been linked to healthier sleep outcomes, the roles of specific types of nature exposure, potential underlying mechanisms, and between-country variations in nature-sleep associations have received little attention. Drawing on cross-sectional survey data from an 18-country sample of adults (N = 16,077) the current study examined: 1) the relative associations between six different types of nature exposure (streetscape greenery, blue view from home, green space within 1 km, coast within 1 km, green space visits, blue space visits) and insufficient sleep (<6 h vs. 7-10 h per day); 2) whether these relationships were mediated by better mental wellbeing and/or physical activity; and 3) the consistency of these pathways among the different countries. After controlling for covariates, neighbourhood nature measures (green space, coast within 1 km) were not significantly associated with insufficient sleep; but nature visible from home (streetscape greenery, blue views) and recreational visits to green and blue spaces were each associated with less insufficient sleep. Significant nature-sleep associations were mediated, to varying degrees, by better mental wellbeing, but not self-reported physical activity. Country-level heterogeneity in the strength of nature-sleep associations was observed. Increasing nature visible from the home may represent a promising strategy for promoting healthier sleep duration at the population level, whilst nature-based interventions encouraging individuals to spend time in local green/blue spaces may be an appropriate target to assist individuals affected by insufficient sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanne Martin
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, UK.
| | - Mathew P White
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, UK; Cognitive Science HUB & Urban and Environmental Psychology Group, University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Lewis R Elliott
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, UK
| | - James Grellier
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, UK; Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Thomas Astell-Burt
- Population Wellbeing and Environment Research Lab (PowerLab), NSW, Australia; School of Health and Society, Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Gregory N Bratman
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, USA
| | - Maria L Lima
- Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, ISCTE - University Institute of Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ann Ojala
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Finland
| | - Anne Roiko
- School of Pharmacy & Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Australia
| | - Matilda van den Bosch
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Finland; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Canada; Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Lora E Fleming
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, UK
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Mendez R, Velazquez E, Gimenez A, Michaud M, Mendez J, Wong M, Quesada J, Márquez-Magaña L, Samayoa C. The Impact of Insider Researcher Trainees in Recruiting and Retaining Latinx in an Outdoor Health Promotion Research Study. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024; 11:1672-1684. [PMID: 37278955 PMCID: PMC10243238 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-023-01642-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Latinx represent the second largest ethnic group in the USA and remain significantly underrepresented in research studies. Efforts to better include Latinx make use of community-engaged research (CEnR) approaches, peer-navigators, and cultural humility training for research teams. While these efforts have led to slight increases in Latinx participation, studies to identify strategic practices for better inclusion of Latinx participants are needed. The objective of this study was to qualitatively examine factors leading to successful recruitment and retention of Latinx participants in the Promoting Activity and Stress Reduction in the Outdoors (PASITO) intervention. For this intervention, 99 low-income Latinx clients in a local community were contacted and 52 participants were recruited (53%). All were retained in the 3-month intervention. Of these, 12 were interviewed within 6 months of the close of PASITO by bi-cultural and bi-lingual non-research staff. They conducted one-on-one structured telephone interviews. Of the twelve participants, three (25%) were men, nine (75%) were women, and the mean age was 43.7 (SD = 8.7). Four critical themes for the recruitment and retention of Latinx populations emerged from the interviews: (1) importance of insider researchers; (2) sense of community and belonging; (3) responsive programming; and (4) health-promoting activities. These findings support the significant role insider researchers can play, and social identity theory provides a useful framework for understanding the role of insider researchers in recruiting and retaining Latinx, and likely other minoritized groups, in clinical studies. Insider researchers possess the skills, training, community cultural wealth, in-depth understanding of their communities, and structural competencies that position them to carry out more inclusive studies to address the needs of marginalized communities and advance science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Mendez
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, Hensill Hall 665, 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA.
| | - Edgar Velazquez
- Internal Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94110, USA
| | - Alyssa Gimenez
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, Hensill Hall 665, 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA
| | - Midley Michaud
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, Hensill Hall 665, 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA
| | - Jaqueline Mendez
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, Hensill Hall 665, 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA
| | - Miriam Wong
- The Latina Center, 3701 Barrett Ave, Richmond, CA, 94805, USA
| | - James Quesada
- Department of Anthropology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA
| | - Leticia Márquez-Magaña
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, Hensill Hall 665, 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA
| | - Cathy Samayoa
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, Hensill Hall 665, 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA
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Bakhsh HR, Chippendale T, Al-Haizan N, Bin Sheeha BH. Assessment of park paths and trails to promote physical accessibility among wheelchair users in Saudi Arabia. Hong Kong J Occup Ther 2024; 37:42-51. [PMID: 38912101 PMCID: PMC11192433 DOI: 10.1177/15691861241254511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Individuals with mobility disabilities are less likely to meet physical activity standards and are at greater risk of developing non-communicable chronic diseases at earlier ages. Public parks are an essential resource for participation in physical activity. However, environmental factors may limit the participation of wheelchair users. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using the Path Environment Audit Tool (PEAT) and to explore the wheelchair accessibility of five public parks in Saudi Arabia through descriptive analysis. Methods A descriptive study design was implemented to evaluate wheelchair accessibility features of five public parks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and process, resource, and management assessments were conducted. Phone GPS-App Strava was used to track the segments and measure their distances. Results Audits in multiple parks using PEAT were time-consuming despite being user-friendly. The descriptive analysis of paths and trails across the five parks showed some positive features, such as adequate bollard/gate clearance, but the path slope and condition of the path surfaces were more variable. Conclusion This study is the first to examine wheelchair accessibility in public parks in Saudi Arabia. Preliminary audits of paths/trials in five public parks revealed the strengths and weaknesses of accessibility and features that promote physical activity participation for wheelchair users. These findings can guide future use of PEAT in large-scale studies and inform environmental modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadeel R Bakhsh
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tracy Chippendale
- Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University, USA
| | - Najat Al-Haizan
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bodor H Bin Sheeha
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Saudi Arabia
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Bolanis D, Orri M, Vergunst F, Bouchard S, Robitaille É, Philippe F, Ouellet-Morin I, Girard A, Paquin V, Gauvin L, Côté S, Geoffroy MC. Increased urban greenspace in childhood associated with lower inattention deficit among adolescents. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2024; 59:947-956. [PMID: 37837487 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-023-02575-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE There is a growing interest in assessing the benefits of exposure to urban greenspace on mental health due to the increased urbanization of youth and concerns for their mental health. We investigated the prospective associations of residential greenspace in childhood and mental health in adolescence. Use of a well-characterized birth cohort permitted adjustment for a range of potential confounding factors including family and neighborhood characteristics in addition to prior mental health problems, and exploration of moderation effects by sex and family socioeconomic status. METHODS We analyzed longitudinal data collected from 742 urban-dwelling participants of the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Children Development. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) within 250, 500, and 1000 m buffer zones surrounding the home residence was used to indicate childhood exposure to greenspace. Six self-reported mental health problems at 15/17 years were examined using the Mental Health and Social Inadaptation questionnaire: inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, conduct, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. RESULTS Childhood urban greenspace was associated with lower inattention problems in both females and males. We observed a 0.14 reduced standard deviation (SD) (β = - 0.14, SE = 0.05, p < 0.01) in relation to an interquartile range (IQR) increase of NDVI (0.15) at the 250 m buffer zone, and similar results were found in 500 m and 1000 m buffer zones. These associations only slightly attenuated after adjustment for individual (sex, childhood mental health), family (family SES, maternal age at birth, parental mental health, family composition), and neighborhood (material and social deprivation) characteristics (β = - 0.13, SE = 0.06, p = 0.03). No association was found for other mental health problems, and no moderation associations of sex or family socioeconomic status were observed. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that increasing residential greenspace in cities may be associated with modest benefits in attentional capacities in youth, necessitating further research to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Despina Bolanis
- Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | | | - Samantha Bouchard
- Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Éric Robitaille
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Frederick Philippe
- Department of Psychology, University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Alain Girard
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Vincent Paquin
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Lise Gauvin
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sylvana Côté
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Patwary MM, Bardhan M, Disha AS, Dzhambov AM, Parkinson C, Browning MHEM, Labib SM, Larson LR, Haque MZ, Rahman MA, Alam MA, Tareq MF, Shuvo FK. Nature exposure and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A Navigation Guide systematic review with meta-analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 356:124284. [PMID: 38821342 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Prior reviews have highlighted that nature exposure was a valuable coping strategy enhancing mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, no existing reviews have determined the quality of evidence and risk of bias of the empirical studies supporting this claim. To address this gap, we employed a Navigation Guide systematic review and meta-analysis approach to investigate associations between nature exposure and mental health during the pandemic. Searches in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, and PsycInfo retrieved relevant articles published between January 1, 2020, and March 4, 2024. We used the Navigation Guide methodology to assess the risk of bias and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) assessments to evaluate the overall quality of evidence. Our search retrieved 113 studies that met the inclusion criteria and reported diverse types of exposure, including nature availability, nature visit frequency, green space accessibility, and green space type, alongside associations with 12 mental health outcomes. Meta-analyses found access to gardens was associated with lower odds of depression [(Pooled odds ratio [OR] = 0.71, 95%CI = 0.61, 0.82), I2 = 0%, n = 3] and anxiety [(Pooled OR = 0.73, 95%CI = 0.63, 0.84), I2 = 0%, n = 3]. Increased time in green spaces was associated with lower level of stress [(Pooled Corr = -0.11, 95%CI = -0.17, -0.05), I2 = 0%, n = 2]. Higher frequency of visits to nature was associated with improved mental well-being [(Pooled standardized beta = 0.10, 95%CI = 0.07, 0.14), I2 = 0%, n = 2] and general mental health [(Pooled standardized beta = 0.11, 95%CI = 0.03-0.38), I2 = 82%, n = 2]. However, the number of pooled studies was small and the overall quality of evidence was "very low" for all outcomes, and high levels of bias were observed (26% of studies had high, 71% probably high). Nonetheless, given the trends in the results, nature-based solutions emphasizing exposure to gardens and green spaces near the home may have promoted psychological resilience during this public health crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Mainuddin Patwary
- Environment and Sustainability Research Initiative, Khulna, Bangladesh; Environmental Science Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh.
| | - Mondira Bardhan
- Environment and Sustainability Research Initiative, Khulna, Bangladesh; Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Asma Safia Disha
- Environment and Sustainability Research Initiative, Khulna, Bangladesh; Department of Environmental Science and Management, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Angel M Dzhambov
- Research Group "Health and Quality of Life in a Green and Sustainable Environment", Strategic Research and Innovation Program for the Development of MU - Plovdiv, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria; Environmental Health Division, Research Institute at Medical University of Plovdiv, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria; Institute of Highway Engineering and Transport Planning, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria
| | - Colby Parkinson
- Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Matthew H E M Browning
- Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - S M Labib
- Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Vening Meineszgebouw A, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Lincoln R Larson
- Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Md Zahidul Haque
- Environment and Sustainability Research Initiative, Khulna, Bangladesh; Environmental Science Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - Md Atiqur Rahman
- Environment and Sustainability Research Initiative, Khulna, Bangladesh; Environmental Science Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - Md Ashraful Alam
- Department of Computational Diagnostic Radiology and Preventive Medicine, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Md Faysal Tareq
- Environment and Sustainability Research Initiative, Khulna, Bangladesh; Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, Netherlands
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van Beek JFE, Malisoux L, Klein O, Bohn T, Tharrey M, Van Lenthe FJ, Beenackers MA, Dijst M, Perchoux C. Longitudinal study of changes in greenness exposure, physical activity and sedentary behavior in the ORISCAV-LUX cohort study. Int J Health Geogr 2024; 23:14. [PMID: 38773577 PMCID: PMC11110334 DOI: 10.1186/s12942-024-00374-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Greenness exposure has been associated with many health benefits, for example through the pathway of providing opportunities for physical activity (PA). Beside the limited body of longitudinal research, most studies overlook to what extent different types of greenness exposures may be associated with varying levels of PA and sedentary behavior (SB). In this study, we investigated associations of greenness characterized by density, diversity and vegetation type with self-reported PA and SB over a 9-year period, using data from the ORISCAV-LUX study (2007-2017, n = 628). METHODS The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short form was used to collect PA and SB outcomes. PA was expressed as MET-minutes/week and log-transformed, and SB was expressed as sitting time in minutes/day. Geographic Information Systems (ArcGIS Pro, ArcMap) were used to collect the following exposure variables: Tree Cover Density (TCD), Soil-adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), and Green Land Use Mix (GLUM). The exposure variables were derived from publicly available sources using remote sensing and cartographic resources. Greenness exposure was calculated within 1000m street network buffers around participants' exact residential address. RESULTS Using Random Effects Within-Between (REWB) models, we found evidence of negative within-individual associations of TCD with PA (β = - 2.60, 95% CI - 4.75; - 0.44), and negative between-individual associations of GLUM and PA (β = - 2.02, 95% CI - 3.73; - 0.32). There was no evidence for significant associations between greenness exposure and SB. Significant interaction effects by sex were present for the associations between TCD and both PA and SB. Neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) did not modify the effect of greenness exposure on PA and SB in the 1000 m buffer. DISCUSSION Our results showed that the relationship between greenness exposure and PA depended on the type of greenness measure used, which stresses the need for the use of more diverse and complementary greenness measures in future research. Tree vegetation and greenness diversity, and changes therein, appeared to relate to PA, with distinct effects among men and women. Replication studies are needed to confirm the relevance of using different greenness measures to understand its' different associations with PA and SB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliette F E van Beek
- Department of Urban Development and Mobility, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research, 11 Porte Des Sciences, 4366, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
- Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, Department of Geography and Spatial Planning, University of Luxembourg, 11 Porte Des Sciences, 4366, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
| | - Laurent Malisoux
- Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 1A-B Rue Thomas Edison, 1445, Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Olivier Klein
- Department of Urban Development and Mobility, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research, 11 Porte Des Sciences, 4366, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Torsten Bohn
- Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 1A-B Rue Thomas Edison, 1445, Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Marion Tharrey
- Department of Urban Development and Mobility, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research, 11 Porte Des Sciences, 4366, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
- Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 1A-B Rue Thomas Edison, 1445, Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Frank J Van Lenthe
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mariëlle A Beenackers
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Martin Dijst
- Department of Urban Development and Mobility, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research, 11 Porte Des Sciences, 4366, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
- University of Luxembourg, 2 Avenue de L'Universite, 4365, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Camille Perchoux
- Department of Urban Development and Mobility, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research, 11 Porte Des Sciences, 4366, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
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Banwell N, Michel S, Senn N. Greenspaces and Health: Scoping Review of studies in Europe. Public Health Rev 2024; 45:1606863. [PMID: 38831866 PMCID: PMC11144923 DOI: 10.3389/phrs.2024.1606863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives Access to greenspaces and contact with nature can promote physical activity and have positive effects on physical and mental health. This scoping literature review aims to examine current evidence linking greenspaces and (a) behaviour change, (b) health outcomes and (c) co-benefits. Methods This review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA scoping review guidelines. Searches were conducted through PubMed and EMBASE databases for studies published between 2000 and March 2023 with a focus on Europe. Results 122 scientific articles and grey literature reports were identified. Access to greenspaces is positively associated with physical and mental health, and reduced risk of all-cause mortality and some non-communicable diseases. Greenspace quality is associated with increased physical activity and reduced risk of obesity. Nature-based therapies or green prescription are effective in improving mental health outcomes and overall health. Importantly, numerous co-benefits of greenspaces are identified. Conclusion Increasing access to greenspaces for populations with particular attention to greenspace quality is important for co-benefits. Responsible governance and use of greenspaces are crucial to minimize public health risks and human disturbance of nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Banwell
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Research in Ethics (CIRE), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Michel
- Department of Family Medicine, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Senn
- Department of Family Medicine, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Zheng Y, Lin T, Hamm NAS, Liu J, Zhou T, Geng H, Zhang J, Ye H, Zhang G, Wang X, Chen T. Quantitative evaluation of urban green exposure and its impact on human health: A case study on the 3-30-300 green space rule. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 924:171461. [PMID: 38461976 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Urban green spaces offer various health benefits, yet the impact of comprehensive green exposure criteria on multidimensional health remains unclear. The 3-30-300 green space rule represents the green exposure indicators with specific thresholds. This study aims to quantitatively evaluate urban green exposure in cities and can support investigation of its relationship with human health. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study based on 902 investigated individuals in 261 residential locations aged 11-95 years from Xiamen City, China. 3-30-300 green exposure was calculated using field surveys, GIS, and Baidu Maps Application Programming Interface (API). Physical health data was based on Occupational Stress Indicator (OSI)-2. Mental health was from the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Social health was from a self-constructed evaluation questionnaire. Statistical analyses were conducted using Geographically Weighted Regression and Geographically Weighted Logistic Regression for global and local effects on green exposure and multidimensional health. RESULT Among the investigated individuals, only 3.55 % (32/902) fully meet the 3-30-300 rule in Xiamen. Global results show that individuals achieved at least 30 % vegetation coverage (Yes) is associated with better physical (β: 0.76, p < 0.01) and social (β: 0.5, p < 0.01) health. GWLR global results indicate that individuals can "see at least 3 trees from home" meeting one (OR = 0.46, 95%CI: 0.25-0.86, p < 0.05) or two (OR = 0.41, 95%CI: 0.22,0.78, p < 0.01; OR = 0.24, 95%CI: 0.07-0.77, p < 0.05) 3-30-300 rule components are significantly associated with reduced medical visits and hospitalizations refer to not met these criterias. In the GWR local analysis, achieved 30 % vegetation cover is significantly related to improved social health at all locations. Meeting any two indicators also contribute to improved social health (n = 511, β: 0.46-0.51, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Green exposure indicators based on the 3-30-300 rule guiding healthy urban green space development. We observed multidimensional health benefits when 1/3 or 2/3 of the indicators were met.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yicheng Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; School of Geographical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham, Ningbo 315100, China.
| | - Tao Lin
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Digital Technology for Territorial Space Analysis and Simulation, Fuzhou 350108, China; CAS Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo 315800, China.
| | - Nicholas A S Hamm
- School of Geographical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham, Ningbo 315100, China.
| | - Jue Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, No. 38, Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China; Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue Boston, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Tongyu Zhou
- Department of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo 315100, China.
| | - Hongkai Geng
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Junmao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Hong Ye
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Digital Technology for Territorial Space Analysis and Simulation, Fuzhou 350108, China.
| | - Guoqin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Digital Technology for Territorial Space Analysis and Simulation, Fuzhou 350108, China.
| | - Xiaotong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; School of Geographical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham, Ningbo 315100, China.
| | - Tianyi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Digital Technology for Territorial Space Analysis and Simulation, Fuzhou 350108, China.
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Beenackers MA, Kruize H, Barsties L, Acda A, Bakker I, Droomers M, Kamphuis CBM, Koomen E, Nijkamp JE, Vaandrager L, Völker B, Luijben G, Ruijsbroek A. Urban densification in the Netherlands and its impact on mental health: An expert-based causal loop diagram. Health Place 2024; 87:103218. [PMID: 38564990 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Urban densification is a key strategy to accommodate rapid urban population growth, but emerging evidence suggests serious risks of urban densification for individuals' mental health. To better understand the complex pathways from urban densification to mental health, we integrated interdisciplinary expert knowledge in a causal loop diagram via group model building techniques. Six subsystems were identified: five subsystems describing mechanisms on how changes in the urban system caused by urban densification may impact mental health, and one showing how changes in mental health may alter urban densification. The new insights can help to develop resilient, healthier cities for all.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariëlle A Beenackers
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Hanneke Kruize
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands; HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Lisa Barsties
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
| | - Annelies Acda
- Annelies Acda Advies - public health, policy and the built environment, Bussum, the Netherlands.
| | - Ingrid Bakker
- Department of Urban Innovation, Research Centre of Social Innovations Flevoland, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, Almere, the Netherlands.
| | - Mariël Droomers
- Department of Public Health, City of Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Carlijn B M Kamphuis
- Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Eric Koomen
- Department of Spatial Economics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Jeannette E Nijkamp
- Department of Healthy Cities, Research Centre for Built Environment NoorderRuimte, Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Lenneke Vaandrager
- Health and Society, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Beate Völker
- Department Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Netherlands Centre for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR), Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Guus Luijben
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
| | - Annemarie Ruijsbroek
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
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Matthaios VN, Holland I, Kang CM, Hart JE, Hauptman M, Wolfson JM, Gaffin JM, Phipatanakul W, Gold DR, Koutrakis P. The effects of urban green space and road proximity to indoor traffic-related PM 2.5, NO 2, and BC exposure in inner-city schools. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2024:10.1038/s41370-024-00669-8. [PMID: 38615139 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-024-00669-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since there are known adverse health impacts of traffic-related air pollution, while at the same time there are potential health benefits from greenness, it is important to examine more closely the impacts of these factors on indoor air quality in urban schools. OBJECTIVE This study investigates the association of road proximity and urban greenness to indoor traffic-related fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and black carbon (BC) in inner-city schools. METHODS PM2.5, NO2, and BC were measured indoors at 74 schools and outdoors at a central urban over a 10-year period. Seasonal urban greenness was estimated using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) with 270 and 1230 m buffers. The associations between indoor traffic-related air pollution and road proximity and greenness were investigated with mixed-effects models. RESULTS The analysis showed linear decays of indoor traffic-related PM2.5, NO2, and BC by 60%, 35%, and 22%, respectively for schools located at a greater distance from major roads. The results further showed that surrounding school greenness at 270 m buffer was significantly associated (p < 0.05) with lower indoor traffic-related PM2.5: -0.068 (95% CI: -0.124, -0.013), NO2: -0.139 (95% CI: -0.185, -0.092), and BC: -0.060 (95% CI: -0.115, -0.005). These associations were stronger for surrounding greenness at a greater distance from the schools (buffer 1230 m) PM2.5: -0.101 (95% CI: -0.156, -0.046) NO2: -0.122 (95% CI: -0.169, -0.075) BC: -0.080 (95% CI: -0.136, -0.026). These inverse associations were stronger after fully adjusting for regional pollution and meteorological conditions. IMPACT STATEMENT More than 90% of children under the age of 15 worldwide are exposed to elevated air pollution levels exceeding the WHO's guidelines. The study investigates the impact that urban infrastructure and greenness, in particular green areas and road proximity, have on indoor exposures to traffic-related PM2.5, NO2, and BC in inner-city schools. By examining a 10-year period the study provides insights for air quality management, into how road proximity and greenness at different buffers from the school locations can affect indoor exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- V N Matthaios
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Public Health Policy and Systems, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
| | - I Holland
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 181 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, USA
| | - C M Kang
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - J E Hart
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 181 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - M Hauptman
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of General Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - J M Wolfson
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - J M Gaffin
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - W Phipatanakul
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - D R Gold
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 181 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - P Koutrakis
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Zaghini F, Fiorini J, Moons P, Sili A. Cardiovascular nurses and organizational well-being: a systematic review. Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs 2024; 23:213-220. [PMID: 37561990 DOI: 10.1093/eurjcn/zvad078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
AIMS This systematic review assesses the organizational well-being of nurses working in cardiovascular settings and identifies environmental variables influencing it. METHODS AND RESULTS The Joanna Briggs Institute's methodology and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines have been followed. The search was conducted, from the database inception up to and including 1 December 2022, on Medline (via PubMed), Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health, Cochrane Library, and Scopus. Critical appraisal and data extraction were conducted using standardized tools. Six articles of high quality were included. These mostly concerned cross-sectional studies, conducted in heterogeneous contexts, which highlight the peculiarity of the cardiovascular nursing setting. Three thematic areas were identified: stressors of cardiovascular settings; outcomes of stressors on nurses; and coping strategies used by cardiovascular nurses to deal with such stress factors. Identified stress factors included a lack of autonomy, conflicts between professional and family roles, high workloads, and stressful relationships with patients and caregivers. These organizational variables could generate nurses' burnout, depression, irritability, and/or sleep disorders. In trying to cope with such stressors, cardiovascular nurses used different strategies for compensating, avoiding, escaping, or ignoring the problem, or, in other cases, became somewhat aggressive. CONCLUSION Considering the limited data, cardiovascular nursing coping strategies should be further investigated, so that effective pathways for preventing or limiting stress factors can be identified and applied by the organizations. Monitoring and intervening on stress factors in this care setting could improve cardiovascular nurses' organizational well-being and accordingly patients' outcomes. REGISTRATION PROSPERO: CRD42022355669.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Zaghini
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier, 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Jacopo Fiorini
- Department of Nursing Professions, University Hospital of Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Philip Moons
- KU Leuven Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 35 PB 7001, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Institute of Health and Care Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Arvid Wallgrens backe 1, 413 46 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Klipfontein Rd, Rondebosch, 7700 Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Alessandro Sili
- Department of Nursing Professions, University Hospital of Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81, 00133 Rome, Italy
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Derrien MM, Bratman GN, Cerveny LK, Levy C, Blahna DJ, Frank P, Serio N. Public nature and health for homeless populations: Professionals' perceptions of contingent human benefits and harms. Soc Sci Med 2024; 347:116764. [PMID: 38513561 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
This article investigates relationships between public nature and health for unsheltered homeless populations. It examines perceptions of health benefits and harms for people living in public natural areas including local, state, and national forests and parks in the Seattle metropolitan area (USA). Interviews with environmental, social service, and law enforcement professionals who regularly interact with this vulnerable population were conducted and thematically analyzed to understand perceptions of physical and mental health outcomes. Results show professionals' perspectives on the health benefits and detriments of time spent in natural environments and the contextual factors perceived to influence health. Interviewees' observations about the variability of personal circumstances and biophysical, social, and weather conditions encourage the nuanced consideration of how contingent therapeutic landscapes provide deeply needed benefits, but for a population with a diminished capacity to adapt when conditions change. We conclude with insights for future research that directly assesses homeless populations' exposures and health outcomes of living in public natural areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika M Derrien
- US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Seattle, WA, 98103, USA.
| | - Gregory N Bratman
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Lee K Cerveny
- US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Seattle, WA, 98103, USA
| | - Chaja Levy
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Dale J Blahna
- US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Seattle, WA, 98103, USA
| | - Paulo Frank
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Naomi Serio
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
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Merom D, Meehan D, Phongsavan P, Gudes O. Quantifying Area-Level Physical Activity Offerings in Social Context: A Novel Concept That Goes Beyond Walkability and Access to Open Spaces. J Phys Act Health 2024; 21:350-356. [PMID: 38335942 DOI: 10.1123/jpah.2023-0418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social support is a crucial factor influencing the sustainability of physical activity (PA). This proof-of-concept study presents the development of a Social Physical Activity Index for Area (SPAIFA) an indicator reflecting opportunities for individuals to actively participate as part of a group within which opportunities for social interaction can be developed. METHODS Six government councils in the state of New South Wales, Australia, were selected encompassing 174 suburbs. Using 2 search engines' map tools, we identified PA venues for each suburb (eg, park, studios, etc). To enumerate activities per suburb, we used (1) venue websites, (2) New South Wales Office of Sport website, (3) national websites of grassroots PA for nonorganized activity (eg, parkrun, meetup, etc), and (4) social media. The database was linked to the suburb demographic profile, the area disadvantage score, walkability and open space scores, and the proportion of insufficiently active residents. Spatial analysis techniques were used to identify SPAIFA clusters. RESULTS SPAIFA councils' average was 9.9 activities per 10,000 people (ranging from 6.6/10,000 to 16.2/10,000). SPAIFA-Old (ie, activities specific to older adults) varied significantly (ranging from 11.7/10,000 to 0.8/10,000 seniors). Disadvantaged areas and a high proportion of insufficiently active residents were associated with being classified as low SPAIFA (P < .01). Three clusters of low SPAIFA were identified, and 17 high-risk areas where low SPAIFA was compounded by poor environmental support. CONCLUSIONS SPAIFA can be used by councils and policymakers as an indicator for monitoring and intervening in areas where natural and/or urban design is not conducive for PA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dafna Merom
- School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Drew Meehan
- School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Philayrath Phongsavan
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ori Gudes
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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van den Bosch M, Bartolomeu ML, Williams S, Basnou C, Hamilton I, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Pino J, Tonne C. A scoping review of human health co-benefits of forest-based climate change mitigation in Europe. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 186:108593. [PMID: 38531235 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Climate change is a pressing global challenge with profound implications for human health. Forest-based climate change mitigation strategies, such as afforestation, reforestation, and sustainable forest management, offer promising solutions to mitigate climate change and simultaneously yield substantial co-benefits for human health. The objective of this scoping review was to examine research trends related to the interdisciplinary nexus between forests as carbon sinks and human health co-benefits. We developed a conceptual framework model, supporting the inclusion of exposure pathways, such as recreational opportunities or aesthetic experiences, in the co-benefit context. We used a scoping review methodology to identify the proportion of European research on forest-based mitigation strategies that acknowledge the interconnection between mitigation strategies and human impacts. We also aimed to assess whether synergies and trade-offs between forest-based carbon sink capacity and human co-benefits has been analysed and quantified. From the initial 4,062 records retrieved, 349 reports analysed European forest management principles and factors related to climate change mitigation capacity. Of those, 97 studies acknowledged human co-benefits and 13 studies quantified the impacts on exposure pathways or health co-benefits and were included for full review. Our analysis demonstrates that there is potential for synergies related to optimising carbon sink capacity together with human co-benefits, but there is currently a lack of holistic research approaches assessing these interrelationships. We suggest enhanced interdisciplinary efforts, using for example multideterminant modelling approaches, to advance evidence and understanding of the forest and health nexus in the context of climate change mitigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilda van den Bosch
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología Y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; European Forest Institute, Biocities Facility Rome, Italy.
| | - María Lucía Bartolomeu
- Dirección Nacional de Epidemiología del Ministerio de Salud de La Nación, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sarah Williams
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología Y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Ian Hamilton
- University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología Y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Cathryn Tonne
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología Y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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Yao XI, Tong X, Shen C, Song Y, Sun S, Chen K, Shen H. Green space, genetic susceptibility, and risk of osteoporosis:a cohort study from the UK Biobank. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 353:141632. [PMID: 38442776 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the effect of residential exposure to green space on the incident osteoporosis and further explore the modification effect of genetic susceptibility. METHODS Participants from the UK Biobank were followed from 2006 to 2010 (baseline) to December 31st, 2022. Using land use coverage, we evaluated exposure to residential surrounding green space, natural environment, and domestic gardens. We used the Cox regression to examine the association between the residential environment and incident osteoporosis. The interactive effects between polygenic risk score (PRS) of osteoporosis and residential environments on incident osteoporosis were investigated. RESULTS This study included 292,662 participants. Over a median follow-up period of 13.65 years, we documented 9177 incidents of osteoporosis. Per interquartile (IQR) increase in greenness and natural environment at a 300 m buffer was associated with a 4% lower risk of incident osteoporosis [HR = 0.96 (95% CI: 0.93, 0.99)] and [HR = 0.96 (95% CI: 0.93, 0.98)], respectively. We did not identify any interactive effects between genetic risk and residential environment on incident osteoporosis. CONCLUSIONS This study found that public greenness and natural environments could reduce the risk of incident osteoporosis regardless of genetic predisposition. Developing sustainable and publicly accessible natural environments might benefit populations' bone health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxin I Yao
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, PR China; Department of Clinical Research, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, PR China
| | - Xinning Tong
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, PR China
| | - Chen Shen
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Yichang Song
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, PR China
| | - Shengzhi Sun
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, PR China; Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
| | - Keng Chen
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, PR China.
| | - Huiyong Shen
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, PR China; Department of Clinical Research, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, PR China.
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Stevens HR, Graham PL, Beggs PJ, Ossola A. Associations between violent crime inside and outside, air temperature, urban heat island magnitude and urban green space. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2024; 68:661-673. [PMID: 38189988 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-023-02613-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
There are more incidents of violence in summer and on hot days, a trend likely to be exacerbated by climate change. Urban areas experience additional temperature modulation due to the urban form, however, to date, no studies have considered the effect of the urban heat island (UHI) or green space with respect to the temperature-violence relationship. This study modelled the relationship between the number of daily violent crime incidents that occurred inside or outside between July 2013 and June 2018, and the average surface UHI or percentage greencover (including grasses, shrubs and trees) within each local government area in Greater Sydney, Australia. Panelised negative binomial time series regression models indicated that the violent crime rate was associated with higher surface UHI for crimes committed outside (p = 0.006) but not inside (p = 0.072). Greater percentage of all vegetation was associated with significantly lower rates of violent crime committed outside (p = 0.011) but was not associated with violent crimes committed inside (p = 0.430). More socio-economic disadvantage was associated with higher rates of violent crime committed inside (p = 0.002) but not outside (p = 0.145). Greater temperature was non-linearly associated with higher rates of violent crime committed both inside and outside (p < 0.001). The findings of this study are important because both violence and heat exposure are critical health issues and will be stressed by urbanisation and climate change. The expansion of green space and/or reduction in UHI may mitigate these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather R Stevens
- School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, New South Wales, 2109, Australia.
| | - Petra L Graham
- School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, New South Wales, 2109, Australia
| | - Paul J Beggs
- School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, New South Wales, 2109, Australia
| | - Alessandro Ossola
- School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, New South Wales, 2109, Australia
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
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Bereziartua A, Cabrera-León A, Subiza-Pérez M, García-Baquero G, Delís Gomez S, Ballester F, Estarlich M, Merelles A, Esplugues A, Irles MA, Barona C, Mas R, Font-Ribera L, Bartoll X, Pérez K, Oliveras L, Binter AC, Daponte A, García Mochon L, García Cortés H, Sánchez-Cantalejo Garrido MDC, Lacasaña M, Cáceres R, Rueda M, Saez M, Lertxundi A. Urban environment and health: a cross-sectional multiregional project based on population health surveys in Spain (DAS-EP project) - study protocol. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e074252. [PMID: 38553060 PMCID: PMC10982794 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-074252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The European Environment Agency estimates that 75% of the European population lives in cities. Despite the many advantages of city life, the risks and challenges to health arising from urbanisation need to be addressed in order to tackle the growing burden of disease and health inequalities in cities. This study, Urban environment and health: a cross-sectional multiregional project based on population health surveys in Spain (DAS-EP project), aims to investigate the complex association between the urban environmental exposures (UrbEEs) and health. METHODS AND ANALYSIS DAS-EP is a Spanish multiregional cross-sectional project that combines population health surveys (PHS) and geographical information systems (GIS) allowing to collect rich individual-level data from 17 000 adult citizens participating in the PHS conducted in the autonomous regions of the Basque Country, Andalusia, and the Valencian Community, and the city of Barcelona in the years 2021-2023. This study focuses on the population living in cities or metropolitan areas with more than 100 000 inhabitants. UrbEEs are described by objective estimates at participants' home addresses by GIS, and subjective indicators present in PHS. The health outcomes included in the PHS and selected for this study are self-perceived health (general and mental), prevalence of chronic mental disorders, health-related quality of life, consumption of medication for common mental disorders and sleep quality. We aim to further understand the direct and indirect effects between UrbEEs and health, as well as to estimate the impact at the population level, taking respondents' sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics, and lifestyle into consideration. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study was approved by the regional Research Ethics Committee of the Basque Country (Ethics Committee for Research Involving Medicinal Products in the Basque Country; PI2022138), Andalusia (Biomedical Research Ethics Committee of the Province of Granada; 2078-N-22), Barcelona (CEIC-PSMar; 2022/10667) and the Valencian Community (Ethics Committee for Clinical Research of the Directorate General of Public Health and Center for Advanced Research in Public Health; 20221125/04). The results will be communicated to the general population, health professionals, and institutions through conferences, reports and scientific articles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ainhoa Bereziartua
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
- Group of Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development, IIS Biogipuzkoa, Donostia-San Sebastian, Guipuzcoa, Spain
| | - Andrés Cabrera-León
- Andalusian School of Public Health, Granada, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
| | - Mikel Subiza-Pérez
- Group of Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development, IIS Biogipuzkoa, Donostia-San Sebastian, Guipuzcoa, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology and Research Methods, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Bilbao, País Vasco, Spain
- Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford, UK
| | - Gonzalo García-Baquero
- Group of Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development, IIS Biogipuzkoa, Donostia-San Sebastian, Guipuzcoa, Spain
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | | | - Ferran Ballester
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
- Faculty of Nursing and Chiropody, University of Valencia, Valencia, Comunitat Valenciana, Spain
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valèncian Region, FISABIO-Public Health, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Marisa Estarlich
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valèncian Region, FISABIO-Public Health, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
- Faculty of Nursing and Chiropody, Universitat de Valencia, Valencia, Comunitat Valenciana, Spain
| | - Antonio Merelles
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valèncian Region, FISABIO-Public Health, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
- Faculty of Nursing and Chiropody, Universitat de Valencia, Valencia, Comunitat Valenciana, Spain
| | - Ana Esplugues
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valèncian Region, FISABIO-Public Health, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
- Faculty of Nursing and Chiropody, Universitat de Valencia, Valencia, Comunitat Valenciana, Spain
| | | | - Carmen Barona
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
- General Directorate of Public Health, Valencia, Valencian Community, Spain
- Research group "Local Action on Health and Equity (ALES)", Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valèncian Region, FISABIO-Public Health, Valencia, Spain
| | - Rosa Mas
- General Directorate of Public Health, Valencia, Valencian Community, Spain
- Research group "Local Action on Health and Equity (ALES)", Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valèncian Region, FISABIO-Public Health, Valencia, Spain
| | - Laia Font-Ribera
- Agencia de Salut Publica de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacio Biomedica Sant Pau (IIB SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
| | - X Bartoll
- Agencia de Salut Publica de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacio Biomedica Sant Pau (IIB SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Katherine Pérez
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
- Agencia de Salut Publica de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacio Biomedica Sant Pau (IIB SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Oliveras
- Agencia de Salut Publica de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacio Biomedica Sant Pau (IIB SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anne-Claire Binter
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Daponte
- Andalusian School of Public Health, Granada, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
| | - Leticia García Mochon
- Andalusian School of Public Health, Granada, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Helena García Cortés
- Andalusian School of Public Health, Granada, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
| | - María Del Carmen Sánchez-Cantalejo Garrido
- Andalusian School of Public Health, Granada, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
| | - Marina Lacasaña
- Andalusian School of Public Health, Granada, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Rocío Cáceres
- Nursing Department, University of Seville, Sevilla, Spain
- Research group PAIDI CTS-1050: "Complex Care, Chronicity and Health Outcomes", University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - María Rueda
- Department of Statistics and Operational Research, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Institute of Mathematics, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Marc Saez
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
- Research Group on Statistics, Econometrics and Health (GRECS), University of Girona, Girona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Aitana Lertxundi
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
- Group of Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development, IIS Biogipuzkoa, Donostia-San Sebastian, Guipuzcoa, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
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Hooyberg A, Roose H, Lonneville B, De Henauw S, Michels N, Everaert G. Survey data linking coastal visit behaviours to socio-demographic and health profiles. Sci Data 2024; 11:315. [PMID: 38538625 PMCID: PMC10973510 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03161-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Coastal destinations are highly popular for leisure, yet the effects of spending time at the coast on mental and physical health have remained underexplored. To accelerate the research about the effects of the coast on health, we compiled a dataset from a survey on a sample (N = 1939) of the adult Flemish population about their visits to the Belgian coast. The survey queried the number of days spent at the coast in the previous year or before and the following characteristics of their visits: how often they performed specific activities, which of the 14 municipal seaside resorts they visited, who they were with, what they mentally and physically experienced, and what reasons they had for not visiting the coast more often. The respondents' geo-demographic (including residential proximity to the coast), socio-economic, and health profile was also collected. We anticipate that investigations on the data will increase our understanding about the social structuring of coastal visits and give context to the effects of the coast on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Henk Roose
- Department of Sociology, Ghent University (UGent), Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Stefaan De Henauw
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University (UGent), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Michels
- Department of Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology, Ghent University (UGent), Ghent, Belgium
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Menhas R, Yang L, Saqib ZA, Younas M, Saeed MM. Does nature-based social prescription improve mental health outcomes? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1228271. [PMID: 38590811 PMCID: PMC10999630 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1228271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Background A nature-based social prescription (NBSP) is an approach to improving mental health outcomes that involves prescribing nature-based interventions as complementary or alternative therapy to traditional ones. A variety of advantages are available from NBSP for people looking to enhance their mental well-being. The effect size of the nature-based social prescriptions (NBSPs) has not been thoroughly evaluated by systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Objectives The current study aimed to analyze existing studies and conduct a meta-analysis to determine the overall effect size of the nature-based social prescriptions (NBSP's) outcomes on mental health. Methods By choosing the relevant papers from among those that were available, a meta-analysis was carried out in the current study. A systematic search of electronic databases (Pub Med, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Embase, CINAHL, and PsychINFO) was conducted to identify relevant studies. Studies were included if they evaluated the effects of NBSP on mental health outcomes. Effect sizes were calculated using the random effects model. Results Meta-analysis of interventions statistics shows that CBT (SMD -0.0035; 95% CI: [-0.5090; 0.5020]; Tau^2: 0.1011; Tau: 0.318), digital intervention (SMD -0.3654; 95% CI: [-0.5258; 1.2566]; Tau^2: 0.2976, Tau: 0.5455), music intervention (SMD -2.1281; 95% CI: [-0.4659; 4.7221]; Tau^2: 3.4046; Tau:1.8452), and psychological interventions (SMD -0.8529; 95% CI: [0.3051; 1.4007]; Tau^2: 0.1224; Tau: 0.3499) do not significantly impact. The other interventions [social belongingness, communication training, blue intervention, nature-based education, cognitive behavior group therapy (CBGT), social prescribing coordinator, self-help intervention, participatory, organizational intervention, inpatient services, brief diet, internet-based intervention, prenatal intervention, yoga and meditation, ergonomics training program, yoga nidra intervention, and storytelling] highlighted above are significant. Conclusion The conclusion of the meta-analysis supports the idea that incorporating nature-based social prescription interventions into mental healthcare plans can effectively complement traditional therapies and improve mental health outcomes. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023412458, CRD42023412458.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashid Menhas
- Department of Nursing, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, and International School of Medicine, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu, China
| | - Lili Yang
- Department of Nursing, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, and International School of Medicine, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu, China
| | - Zulkaif Ahmed Saqib
- College of Urban Transportation and Logistics, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Muhammad Younas
- School of Educational Technology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Muhammad Muddasar Saeed
- International Education College Chinese and Western Medicine Clinic, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
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