Abstract
ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE To investigate the association between exposure to green areas in the surroundings of the residence and the presence of common mental disorders among adults, according to different income strata.METHODS Cross-sectional study with 2,584 participants from the Pró-Saúde Study (2006), residing in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Common Mental Disorders were measured using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and exposure to green areas was measured using the normalized difference vegetation index, in buffers with radiuses between 100 and 1,500 meters around the residence. We used the mean and maximum normalized difference vegetation index categorized into quartiles. The study population was divided into three subgroups, according to the income: low, intermediate, and high. Odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were estimated with logistic regression models. The models were adjusted by sex and age, with and without inclusion of physical activity practice.RESULTS The proportion of common mental disorders was 30% and 39% among men and women, respectively. The results of the adjusted models showed an inverse association between the presence of green areas in the surroundings of the residence and the occurrence of common mental disorders, in the buffer of 200 meters in the intermediate-income group and in the buffers of 400 and 1,500 meters in the low-income group. The odds ratio ranged from 0.52 (buffer of 1,500 meters) to 0.68 (buffer of 200 meters). The association found was independent of physical activity practice.CONCLUSIONS The evidence found suggests the existence of a beneficial effect of urban green areas on the mental health of lower-income individuals. These findings can help in understanding how the urban environment can affect the mental health of the population.
Highlights
The physical environment of the neighborhood, including aspects such as neighborhood landscape, agglomeration and noise level, school and health establishments, recreational public facilities and public transportation, contributes to the quality of life and the feeling of satisfaction of residents in relation to the neighborhood, house, and community[1,2]
The evidence found suggests the existence of a beneficial effect of urban green areas on the mental health of lower-income individuals
Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city in the country, has a natural environment that, albeit exuberant, is unevenly distributed throughout the city[14]. Considering this context, this study aimed to investigate the association between the presence of green areas in the surroundings of the residence and the occurrence of common mental disorders (CMD) among adult residents and between different economic strata
Summary
The physical environment of the neighborhood, including aspects such as neighborhood landscape, agglomeration and noise level, school and health establishments, recreational public facilities and public transportation, contributes to the quality of life and the feeling of satisfaction of residents in relation to the neighborhood, house, and community[1,2]. Life satisfaction is related to mental disorders[3] and the physical characteristics of the neighborhood environment may have the potential to influence mental health by the improvement of the quality of life of its residents. Studies have shown a high prevalence of common mental disorders (CMD) in urban areas in the country[8,9]. These disorders are characterized by the presence of symptoms of anxiety and depression that, insufficient for the characterization of a psychiatric diagnosis, can cause substantial suffering and impairment in the lives of individuals[10]. Measures aimed at promoting the improvement of physical characteristics in urban centers could impact the mental health of the most deprived portion of the Brazilian population, helping to reduce inequality in relation to quality of life
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