Urban Green Space and Subjective Well-Being of Older People: A Systematic Literature Review

How neighborhood socioeconomic status, green space, and walkability are associated with risk for fracture among postmenopausal women

Although most fractures, and about half of hip fractures, occur outdoors among older women, limited research has uncovered neighborhood predictors for fractures among older women. This study assessed the independent associations of neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES), walkability, and green space with incident any and hip fracture among postmenopausal women. The Women's Health Initiative recruited a national sample of postmenopausal women (50-79 yr) across 40 U.S. clinical centers and conducted yearly assessments from 1993 to 2012 (n = 161 808). Women reporting a history of hip fracture or walking limitations were excluded from the analytic sample, yielding a final sample of 157 583 participants. Fracture events were self-reported and adjudicated annually. Walkability was calculated annually using measures of population density, land use mix, and presence/quantity of nearby high-traffic roadways. Neighborhood green space was calculated annually using measures of exposure to trees/vegetation. Neighborhood SES, walkability, and green space were categorized into tertiles: high, intermediate, and low. The time-varying relationship between neighborhood environmental factors and age at first fracture (any; hip) was examined using extended Cox proportional hazards modeling with adjustment. Neighborhood SES (intermediate vs low: hazard ratio = 1.03, 95% CI, 1.01-1.05; high vs low, hazard ratio = 1.01, 95% CI, 0.99-1.03) and green space (intermediate vs low, hazard ratio = 1.15, 95% CI, 1.12-1.18; high vs low hazard ratio = 1.18, 95% CI, 1.15-1.21) were associated with increased any incident fractures, while walkability had a mixed association (intermediate vs low hazard ratio = 1.06, 95% CI, 1.04-1.07; high vs low, hazard ratio = 0.97, 95% CI, 0.95-0.98). Neighborhood SES, walkability, and green space did not have a relationship with hip fracture after adjustment for important covariates. Results indicate that macroscale neighborhood features did not protect against fractures. Additional research is needed to investigate more granual neighborhood features that might influence injury risk and support physical activity among postmenopausal women.

Living and neighborhood environments and anxiety symptoms among older adults in Anhui, China: evidence from a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to investigate the relationships between living and neighborhood environmental factors and anxiety symptoms among older adults residing in urban and rural areas of Anhui Province, China.

METHODS

Data were collected from 5876 participants in a cross-sectional study carried out in four cities located in Anhui, China. Anxiety symptoms were evaluated via the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), and participants with scores of 5 and above were defined as having anxiety symptoms. The presence of dust and noise in the context of daily life was used to evaluate the living environment of the participants. The neighborhood environment was assessed by the availability of barrier-free facilities, proximity to facilities (supermarkets, restaurants, hospitals, and parks), and green and blue space near participants' dwellings. Multilevel linear and logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the associations between these environmental factors and anxiety symptoms.

RESULTS

The participants who lived in dusty environments had elevated GAD-7 scores and higher odds of anxiety (dust: β = 0.754, 95% CI: 0.337, 1.171; OR = 1.451, 95% CI: 1.164, 1.809). Having barrier-free facilities and the existence of a neighboring park decreased the GAD-7 scores and the likelihood of having anxiety symptoms (barrier-free facilities: β=-0.503, 95% CI: -0.992, -0.085; OR = 0.768, 95% CI: 0.656, 0.899; park: β=-0.478, 95% CI: -0.830, -0.125; OR = 0.599, 95% CI: 0.440, 0.816). However, participants residing in close proximity to the hospital presented an increased likelihood of experiencing anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.377, 95% CI: 1.162, 1.631).

CONCLUSIONS

Participants who lived in dusty and noisy environments were more likely to suffer from anxiety, whereas those who lived near barrier-free facilities and parks were at lower risk. The findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions to create age-friendly communities, suggesting an integrated approach that combines environmental health strategies with mental health strategies for older adults.

EnvironMental Health: A Framework for an Emerging Field at the Intersection of the Environment and Mental Health Crises

Understanding how the environment shapes our mental and cognitive health is imperative to support efforts that promote healthy and sustainable living conditions. The etiology of mental health conditions remains often unclear, and social factors have received more scrutiny than natural or built environments. We present a conceptual framework illustrating the emerging intersection between the environment and neuropsychological health, intended to structure and guide research and funding, as well as public health and environmental initiatives. We conducted a scoping review of reviews of existing evidence on the impacts of the environment on mental and cognitive health. We found that an extensive body of work was focused on chemical hazards and the built environment and their associations with neurological and mental health, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, dementia, and mood. We identified emerging areas of research intersecting environmental factors such as air, water, light, and green space with schizophrenia and behavioral health. Our analysis of the intersections between the environment and mental and cognitive health allows for the identification of knowledge clusters and gaps, contextualizing needs and opportunities for future research and funding strategies. These significant connections showcase the importance of understanding the relationships between the environment and mental and cognitive health. With this work, we assert that the protection of the environment and its integration into healthcare can bring cascading benefits and synergies to mental and cognitive health and well-being and address the social and economic burden of the mental health crises.

Co-benefits of nature-based solutions: A health impact assessment of the Barcelona Green Corridor (Eixos Verds) plan

INTRODUCTION

The Green Corridors Plan (Eixos Verds Plan), proposed by the Barcelona City Council, aims to enhance urban well-being, environmental sustainability, and resilience by transforming one in every three streets into green corridors. Although initially designed for city-wide implementation, only the first phase, focused on the centric Eixample district, has been completed, and the overall plan implementation has been postponed. Our aim is to evaluate the health co-benefits of implementing the Green Corridors plan citywide, focusing on the direct effects of increased exposure to greenness and the impact of temperature reduction on mortality.

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive Health Impact Assessment (HIA) considering direct effects of expanding green spaces (GS) and the impact on temperature reduction. Preventable mortality at the census tract level for adult residents was estimated, and to address uncertainties, we performed Monte Carlo iterations. We computed the percentage increase in GS (land use) and tree cover and converted them into Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to conduct the HIA, employing a Generalized Additive Model (GAM). We used the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF) coupled with the urban parameterizations "Building Effect Parameterization" (BEP) and "Building Energy Model" (BEM) for temperature modelling. Hourly temperatures from 25/06/2015 to 25/07/2015 were simulated, both with and without Green Corridors Plan implementation.

RESULTS

City-wide implementation of the Green Corridors plan would increase average GS by 3.64 % (IQR: 2.17 % - 4.40 %) and NDVI by 0.286 (IQR: 0.256-0.304) per census tract. This could potentially prevent 178 premature deaths annually (95 % CI: 116-247), equating to 13 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants (95 % CI: 9-19). The average daily temperature reduction per census tract was estimated at 0.05 °C, with a maximum reduction of 0.42 °C. Temperature reduction could potentially prevent 5 deaths during the simulated month. Additionally, we estimated a mean decrease in the thermal stress of 0.11 °C, reaching up to 1.48 °C at its peak.

CONCLUSION

The Green Corridors plan can make significant contributions to a healthier urban environment. To address climate and especially heat impacts, complementary strategies to achieve more substantial temperature reduction are needed. Overall, our findings underscore the potential of nature-based solutions (NbS), exemplified by the Green Corridors Plan, in creating more sustainable and health-promoting urban environments.

Aging towards walkable futures: insights from a multidisciplinary workshop held in Barcelona, Spain

BACKGROUND

The aging of the world's population and the increase in sedentary lifestyles are leading to an increase in walking impairments at older ages. Here, we aimed to comprehensively discuss walking in the context of an aging population; and identify and agree on a list of future research priorities and policy actions.

METHODS

We followed a participatory approach and held a multidisciplinary two-day workshop on October, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain, with experts in the fields of aging and walking, and participants from the general public.

RESULTS

A total of 56 national and international participants, from a multidisciplinary background, joined the workshop. They had a median age of 40 years (range 24-83), and 62% were female. Participants discussed the meaning of walking from different perspectives and its change with age and in the presence of diverse mobility-impairing conditions; the emotional and social components of walking; and the role of the environment in walking. Participants identified unmet needs, research priorities and policy actions related to walking in older ages.

CONCLUSIONS

This two-day workshop provided a space for professionals and public to comprehensively discuss walking at older ages. Participants highlighted the relevance of a better and more comprehensive assessment of walking; the need to shift focus towards comprehensive health that considers physical, emotional and social aspects as well as individuals' preferences and expectations; and the importance of translating research into action. Future work can draw on the discussions held during this event in a thought-provoking and hypothesis-generating way.

Neighborhood social environment and mental health of older adults in China: the mediating role of subjective well-being and the moderating role of green space

Introduction

With the continuous development of the global aging trend, the mental health of older adults has been a concern by the world. The living space of older adults is limited due to the decline of their activity function. Neighborhood environment, especially the neighborhood social environment, has become an important factor affecting the mental health of older adults. Therefore, this study explores the mechanism that influences the social environment of the neighborhood and the mental health of older adults, the mediating effect of subjective well-being (SWB), and the moderating effect of green space.

Methods

Based on the 2018 China Labor Dynamics Survey, this study used the structural equation model to explore the mediating effect of neighborhood social environment (neighborhood ties, social trust, community security) on the mental health of older adults through SWB and the moderating effect of green space.

Results

Social trust and community security are both directly and positively associated with older adults' mental health. At the same time, neighborhood ties, social trust, and community security can promote the mental health of older adults by positively affecting SWB, while green space has an enhanced moderating effect between neighborhood ties and mental health.

Discussion

This study enriches the empirical research on neighborhood social environment and mental health. First of all, older adults living in communities with good safety conditions and high social trust are less affected by negative emotions and tend to have good mental health. Second, deeper neighborhood ties, higher social trust, and safer community environments help older adults to be less disturbed by negative situations, have a positive effect on their SWB, and indirectly promote mental health. At the same time, green space can provide a place for older adults to socialize, enhance the positive impact of neighborhood ties on SWB, and further promote the mental health of older adults. Finally, this study suggests that the government and community managers pay attention to the construction of neighborhood social environment and green space, and provide support for "healthy community" and "healthy aging" planning.

Research on the aging-suitability of community outdoor spaces in Zhengzhou based on the analytic hierarchy process and semantic differential method

Background

As global populations age, the suitability of community outdoor spaces for older adult residents has become a critical urban planning concern. However, comprehensive evaluation methods for assessing these spaces are lacking. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the aging-suitability of community outdoor spaces in Zhengzhou, China, and provide optimization suggestions for urban planners and policymakers.

Methods

An evaluation index system was established using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), with aging-suitability as the goal layer. The criteria layer included outdoor behavioral activities, green space configuration, transportation and road systems, and basic service facilities. The semantic differential (SD) method was employed to conduct a comprehensive evaluation among older adult residents in three communities (A, B, and C) in Zhengzhou city.

Results

The evaluation revealed that older adult residents generally had a favorable assessment of their community spaces' aging-suitability. Community A received the highest overall rating. Green space configuration and transportation systems emerged as critical factors influencing aging-suitability.

Conclusion

The combined AHP-SD approach proved effective in evaluating the aging-suitability of community outdoor spaces. The study identified key areas for improvement in each community, with variations in strengths and weaknesses across the three sites. Implications: Based on the findings, optimization suggestions are proposed in four aspects: enhancing outdoor behavioral activities, improving green space landscapes, refining road transportation systems, and upgrading basic service facilities. These recommendations can guide urban planners and policymakers in creating more age-friendly community environments.

Exploring the equitable inclusion of diverse voices in urban green design, planning and policy development: a scoping review protocol

INTRODUCTION

Despite the increasingly evidenced positive impacts of green space on human physical and mental health, green spaces remain inequitably distributed across different socioeconomic groups. Urban planning and design should prioritise the development and maintenance of urban green spaces, especially for vulnerable and marginalised populations while thinking about protecting them from the effects of green gentrification. This scoping review will explore how the concepts of equity, diversity and inclusion are integrated into the design, the planning and policy development of urban green spaces. Also, we will explore what are the efforts made to incorporate equity, diversity, and inclusion concepts into the planning, design and policy development of urban green spaces to make them equitable for vulnerable and marginalised populations.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This protocol is based on the methodology developed by Arksey and O'Malley and improved by Levac et al. The search will be done in conjunction with a professional librarian, to include studies in all languages. The review will include multidisciplinary databases: Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science and GeoBase. The search will be done from each database's inception to February 2024. We will present our results narratively and will conduct a thematic analysis using the urban green equity framework. This framework will guide our understanding of the interplay between the spatial distribution of urban green spaces and the recognition of diverse voices in urban greening decision-making.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This scoping review will not require ethical approval since it will be collected from publicly available documents. The results of this scoping review will be presented as a scientific article, social media and public health or environmental conferences organised by environmental organisations or academic institutions.

The influence of community park characteristics on satisfaction in Guangzhou: Moderating and mediating effects analysis

Community parks in old urban areas have problems such as outdated facilities and low quality, which inhibit the development of healthy aging. However, limited research has examined the correlation between such park characteristics and park satisfaction among elderly individuals. Additionally, the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. In this investigation, a moderated mediation framework grounded in self-determination theory was formulated to probe the interplay between these variables, with a specific focus on the mediating influence of social self-efficacy among the elderly and the moderating effect of use intention. A questionnaire survey (N = 319) was conducted in Shamian Park, Guangzhou, employing structural equation modeling for data analysis. Findings indicate that, even after controlling for demographic factors, park characteristics not only exert a direct influence on satisfaction but also exhibit an indirect impact through the mediation of social self-efficacy, with both pathways being moderated by use intention. This study has implications for how to improve the design of community parks in old urban areas in developing countries to better meet the basic needs of the elderly and promote healthy aging.

Exploring the Relationship between the Sentiments of Young People and Urban Green Space by Using a Check-In Microblog

Green spaces have a positive impact on the mood of urban residents. However, previous studies have focused primarily on parks or residential areas, neglecting the influence of green spaces in different socioeconomic locations on public sentiment. This oversight fails to acknowledge that most young individuals are exposed to places beyond their homes and parks throughout the day. Using web crawlers, we collected 105,214 Sina Weibo posts from 14,651 geographical check-in points in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. We developed a mixed ordered logistic regression model to quantify the relationship between public sentiment (negative/neutral/positive) and the surrounding green space. The findings are as follows: (1) the correlation between GVI and public sentiment is stronger than that between public sentiment and NDVI; (2) among different socioeconomic regions, residential areas are associated with lower levels of public sentiment, while parks are associated with higher levels; and (3) at a scale of 1000 m, an increase of 1% in GVI significantly improves public sentiment regarding transportation hubs, with a regression coefficient of 0.0333. The relationship between green space and public sentiment is intricate and nuanced, and it is influenced by both public activities and spatiotemporal contexts. Urban green space planners should consider additional factors to enhance the effectiveness of green space in improving public sentiment.

The association of access to green space with low mental distress and general health in older adults: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Access to green space is considered beneficial to mental and physical health, though the causal pathways are not completely clear. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to examine how access to green space was associated with low mental distress and general health among older adults.

METHODS

The data in our study stems from a survey from three Norwegian counties in 2015-16, n = 2937. The main exposure variable was self-reported access to green space, and the outcome variables were self-reported mental distress and general health. Logistic regression adjusted for sex, age, education, physical activity, functional disability, access to cultural/sports facilities and economic security was performed to assess the association between the exposure variable and the outcome variables.

RESULTS

Access to green space was associated with both higher odds of low mental distress (Odds Ratio = 3.85**, 95% CI 2.04-6.02) and good general health (OR = 8.20**, 95%CI 5.88-11.49) compared to no access. In models adjusted for sex, age, and education, the ORs were only slightly changed (OR = 4.03**, 95%CI 2.52-6.45) and (OR = 7.91**, 95%CI 5.63-11.13). However, adjusting for general health with low mental distress as outcome, the association was no longer statistically significant; (OR = 1.28 95%CI 0.74-2.21). Adjusting for low mental distress with general health as outcome, the association remained statistically significant; (OR = 3.43** 95%CI 2.34-5.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that the association between access to green space and mental health may be mediated by general health. This implies that studies of associations between access to green space and mental health must take general health into consideration.

The association between nation-level social and economic indices and suicide rates: A pilot study

Ever since the pioneering work of Emile Durkheim, it has been known that regional or national suicide rates can be influenced by a variety of social and economic factors. Recent research has found a robust association between two country-level economic indices-gross national product and unemployment rate-and suicide rates, particularly in men. However, the association between other country-level social indices-such as measures of social integration, inequality, environmental preservation and political freedom-and suicide rates has not been studied at the cross-national level. In the current study, national suicide rates for men and women were examined in relation to seven indices measuring subjective wellbeing, sustainable development, type of political regime, economic and gender inequality, and social capital. It was found that the Happy Planet Index, a composite measure of subjective wellbeing and sustainable development, was negatively associated with suicide rates independent of gender, and even after adjusting for possible confounding factors. Economic inequality was associated with suicide in men, and social capital was associated with suicide in women. Moreover, the strength and direction of the associations observed between socioeconomic indices and suicide varied across income groups. These results highlight the need for a closer evaluation of the link between large-scale ("macro") social factors and individual ("micro") psychological factors, as well as the importance of integrating these factors into suicide prevention programmes at the national level.

Travelers' Subjective Well-Being as an Environmental Practice: Do Airport Buildings' Eco-Design, Brand Engagement, and Brand Experience Matter?

The physical environment of airports plays a crucial role in improving travelers' perceptions and well-being. Adopting a green physical environment may elicit customers' cognitive and emotional responses and provide a convenient consumption environment. Brand experience and engagement are other important consumer-firm interactions that influence the attributes of the passengers' well-being. The current study sought to assess the impact of the eco-design of buildings, brand experience and engagement on the well-being of travelers at an international airport in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the current study investigated the possible effects of eco-design on airport experience and engagement. The results of the structural equation modeling analysis revealed that the eco-design of airport buildings was independently associated with passengers' well-being and brand engagement, but not with brand experience. Additionally, well-being was significantly predicted by brand engagement and experience. Airport managers are advised to adopt an internal eco-design to help promote passengers' connection with the brand and improve their well-being, which would eventually be reflected in their behavioral attributes and decision-making.

Emerging Trends of Ergonomic Risk Assessment in Construction Safety Management: A Scientometric Visualization Analysis

Ergonomic risk assessment is critical for identifying working posture hazardous to the health of construction workers. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are predominant non-fatal injuries in the construction industry owing to manual handling activities and poor working conditions. However, there is a lack of scientific synopsis aiming to better understand the emerging research focus in this field. To fill the research gap, this study performed a scientometric evaluation of the bibliometric data on ergonomic risk assessment from the Web of Science database using VOSviewer software. The purpose of this study is to analyze the co-occurrence network of keywords, co-authorship network, most active countries, and the sources of publication. The results indicate that research related to risk assessment in construction has fluctuating growth, peaking in 2020 with significant advancements in the USA, China, and Canada. WMSDs, risk factors, construction workers, and ergonomics are hot research topics in this field. Furthermore, the research gaps of previous studies and suggestions for future research have been provided to bridge the knowledge gap. We believe that this scientometric review provides useful reference points for early-stage researchers as well as beneficial in-depth information to experienced practitioners and scholars in the construction industry.