Doses of Nearby Nature Simultaneously Associated with Multiple Health Benefits.

Daniel Cox,Steven Hancock,Danielle Shanahan,Hannah Hudson,Karen Anderson,Richard Fuller,Kevin Gaston

doi:10.3390/ijerph14020172

Abstract

Exposure to nature provides a wide range of health benefits. A significant proportion of these are delivered close to home, because this offers an immediate and easily accessible opportunity for people to experience nature. However, there is limited information to guide recommendations on its management and appropriate use. We apply a nature dose-response framework to quantify the simultaneous association between exposure to nearby nature and multiple health benefits. We surveyed ca. 1000 respondents in Southern England, UK, to determine relationships between (a) nature dose type, that is the frequency and duration (time spent in private green space) and intensity (quantity of neighbourhood vegetation cover) of nature exposure and (b) health outcomes, including mental, physical and social health, physical behaviour and nature orientation. We then modelled dose-response relationships between dose type and self-reported depression. We demonstrate positive relationships between nature dose and mental and social health, increased physical activity and nature orientation. Dose-response analysis showed that lower levels of depression were associated with minimum thresholds of weekly nature dose. Nearby nature is associated with quantifiable health benefits, with potential for lowering the human and financial costs of ill health. Dose-response analysis has the potential to guide minimum and optimum recommendations on the management and use of nearby nature for preventative healthcare.

Highlights

IntroductionPopulation-level studies in developed countries have shown that people living in areas with higher levels of nature have improved mental [3], physical [4,5] and social [6] health, are more likely to undertake physical activity [7,8] and have a greater connection with nature [9,10]
Exposure to nature brings a wide range of health benefits to humankind [1,2]
We found that four of the health outcomes, namely depression, perceptions of social cohesions, levels of physical activity and nature orientation, improved with an increasing frequency and duration of exposure to nearby nature

Summary

Introduction

Population-level studies in developed countries have shown that people living in areas with higher levels of nature have improved mental [3], physical [4,5] and social [6] health, are more likely to undertake physical activity [7,8] and have a greater connection with nature [9,10]. These health benefits do not occur independently, but are delivered concomitantly as people spend time in nature.

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion