Abstract
Greenspace is widely related to mental health benefits, but this relationship may vary by social group. Gentrification, as linked to processes of unequal urban development and conflict, potentially impacts health outcomes. This study explores the relationships between greenspace and mental health and between gentrification and mental health associations. It also further examines gentrification as an effect modifier in the greenspace–mental health association and SES as an effect modifier in the gentrification-mental health association. We used cross-sectional Barcelona (Spain) data from 2006, which included perceived mental health status and self-reported depression/anxiety from the Barcelona Health Survey. Greenspace exposure was measured as residential access to (1) all greenspace, (2) greenways and (3) parks in 2006. Census-tract level gentrification was measured using an index including changes in sociodemographic indicators between 1991 and 2006. Logistic regression models revealed that only greenways were associated with better mental health outcomes, with no significant relationship between mental health and parks or all greenspace. Living in gentrifying neighborhoods was protective for depression/anxiety compared to living in non-gentrifying neighborhoods. However, only residents of gentrifiable census tracts benefited from the exposure to greenways. SES was not found to be an effect modifier in the association between gentrification and mental health. Future research should tackle this study’s limitations by incorporating a direct measure of displacement in the gentrification status indicator, accounting for qualitative aspects of greenspace and user’s perceptions. Gentrification may undermine the health benefits provided by greenspace interventions.
Highlights
IntroductionTwo of the main challenges that cities face are the climate crisis and unequal urban development and their related social tensions, two processes that are connected and can affect health equity [1]
This study aims to understand the interrelations between greenspaces, health and gentrification in the European context by: (1) exploring the associations between greenspace and mental health, (2) investigating the relationships between gentrification and mental health, (3) if the previous associations exist, assessing whether gentrification plays a role in modifying the association between greenspace exposure and mental health, on the one hand, and (4) examining if socioeconomic status (SES) interacts in the association between gentrification and mental health, on the other hand
The literature has reported greenspace to be strongly related to mental health benefits
Summary
Two of the main challenges that cities face are the climate crisis and unequal urban development and their related social tensions, two processes that are connected and can affect health equity [1]. Popular trends in urban policy include “health in all policies”—that is, acknowledging that all types of policies can improve and affect human health, and that cities should promote environmental improvements as health interventions [2]. To tackle the climate crisis, and implicitly improving health for urban residents, cities are incorporating and reinforcing green interventions such as.
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