Neighbourhood Green Space Research Articles

Assessing the perceived changes in neighborhood physical and social environments and how they are associated with Chinese internal migrants\u2019 mental health

BackgroundMigrants experience substantial changes in their neighborhood physical and social environments along their migration journeys, but little is known about how perceived changes in their neighborhood environment pre- and post-migration correlate with their mental health. Our aim was to examine the associations between recalled changes in the perceived neighborhood physical and social environments and migrants’ mental health in the host city.MethodsWe used cross-sectional data on 591 migrants in Shenzhen, China. We assessed their risk of mental illness using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Neighborhood perceptions were collected retrospectively pre- and post-migration. We used random forests to analyze possibly non-linear associations between GHQ scores and changes in the neighborhood environment, variable importance, and for exploratory analysis of variable interactions.ResultsPerceived changes in neighborhood aesthetics, safety, and green space were non-linearly associated with migrants’ mental health: A decline in these characteristics was associated with poor mental health, while improvements in them were unrelated to mental health benefits. Variable importance showed that change in safety was the most influential neighborhood characteristic, although individual-level characteristics—such as self-reported physical health, personal income, and hukou (i.e., the Chinese household registration system)—appeared to be more important to explain GHQ scores and also strongly interacted with other variables. For physical health, we found different associations between changes in the neighborhood provoked by migration and mental health.ConclusionOur findings suggest that perceived degradations in the physical environment are related to poorer post-migration mental health. In addition, it seems that perceived changes in the neighborhood environment play a minor role compared to individual-level characteristics, in particular migrants’ physical health condition. Replication of our findings in longitudinal settings is needed to exclude reverse causality.

Coping with post-hurricane mental distress: The role of neighborhood green space

BackgroundAlthough increases in the prevalence of mental distress have been reported after natural disasters, less is known about the role the environment may play in mitigating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in hurricane-impacted communities. AimThis study aims to investigate the extent to which concentration and perceived quality of neighborhood greenness are associated with lower levels of PTSD, along with potential mechanisms through which these effects occur. MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey of individuals (N=272) from 30 Houston neighborhoods that were affected during Hurricane Harvey. Perceived quality of neighborhood green space was measured using a scale adapted from the Neighborhood Open Space (NOS) scale, and concentration of greenness was measured objectively using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Probable PTSD was measured using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and hurricane-related distress using the Impact of Event Scale (IES-R). Generalized linear mixed models were used to fit individual models. Based on the results, structural equation models were employed to test direct and indirect pathways simultaneously. Models were adjusted for neighborhood- and individual-level confounders. ResultsGreater perceived quality of neighborhood green space was significantly associated with lower likelihoods of probable PTSD and hurricane-related distress. The effects of perceived green space quality on hurricane-related distress were mediated by higher levels of emotional resilience. Social cohesion, although significantly correlated with PTSD and distress, did not mediate the effect of perceived green space quality on either. Neighborhood NDVI was significantly associated with hurricane-related distress, but not with PTSD. ConclusionWe conclude that living in neighborhoods with greater perceived quality of green space was associated with lower levels of post-hurricane distress, with mediation especially through the emotional resilience pathway. These findings suggest that in disaster recovery policy frameworks, more attention should be paid to the benefits of high-quality neighborhood green infrastructure.

Modifications to residential neighbourhood characteristics and risk of 79 common health conditions: a prospective cohort study

SummaryBackgroundObservational studies have identified a link between unfavourable neighbourhood characteristics and increased risk of morbidity, but it is unclear whether changes in neighbourhoods affect future disease risk. We used a data-driven approach to assess the impact of neighbourhood modification on 79 health outcomes.MethodsIn this prospective cohort study, we used pooled, individual-level data from two Finnish cohort studies: the Health and Social Support study and the Finnish Public Sector study. Neighbourhood characteristics (mean educational level, median income, and employment rate of residents, and neighbourhood green space) and individual lifestyle factors of community-dwelling individuals were assessed at baseline (at different waves starting between 1998 and 2013). We repeated assessment of neighbourhood characteristics and lifestyle factors approximately 5 years from each baseline assessment, after which follow-up began for health conditions diagnosed according to the WHO International Classification of Diseases for 79 common health conditions using linkage to electronic health records. We used Cox proportional hazard regression models to compute adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of incident disease associated with neighbourhood characteristics and changes in neighbourhood characteristics over time and logistic regression analysis to compute adjusted odds of association between changes in neighbourhood characteristics and individual lifestyle factors.Findings114 786 individuals (87 012 [75·8%] women; mean age 44·4 years [SD 11·1]) had complete data and were included in this cohort study. During 1·17 million person-years at risk, we recorded 164 368 new-onset health conditions and 3438 deaths. Favourable changes in neighbourhood characteristics were associated with reduced risk of all-cause mortality and incidence of 19 specific health conditions. Unfavourable changes were correspondingly associated with increased risk of mortality and 27 specific health conditions. Among participants who did not move residence during the observation period, relative to individuals who continually lived in disadvantaged neighbourhoods, those who experienced favourable modifications in neighbourhood characteristics had a lower risk of future diabetes (HR 0·84, 95% CI 0·75–0·93), stroke (0·49, 0·29–0·83), skin disease (0·72, 0·53–0·97), and osteoarthritis (0·87, 0·77–0·99). Living in a neighbourhood with improving characteristics was also associated with improvements in individual-level health-related lifestyle factors. Among participants who lived in advantaged residential environments at baseline, unfavourable changes in neighbourhood characteristics were associated with an increased risk of diabetes, stroke, skin disease, and osteoarthritis compared with individuals who lived in advantaged neighbourhoods throughout the study period.InterpretationFavourable modifications to residential neighbourhoods showed robust, longitudinal associations with a range of improvements in health outcomes, including improved health behaviours and reduced risk of cardiometabolic, infectious, and orthopaedic conditions.FundingUK Medical Research Council, US National Institute on Aging, NordForsk, and Academy of Finland.

Neighbourhood blue space and mental health: A nationwide ecological study of antidepressant medication prescribed to older adults

As global populations age rapidly, older adult mental health is becoming an increasingly important public health issue. The consequences of poor mental health in later life are severe and include reduced physical and cognitive functioning and greater risk of morbidity and mortality. Neighbourhood characteristics, such as the presence of aquatic environments - or ‘blue spaces’ - can positively impact mental health. However, evidence supporting the potential of neighbourhood blue space to promote mental health among older adults remains tentative. This study used negative binomial regression modelling to quantify the association between multiple metrics of neighbourhood blue space availability and antidepressant medication prevalence among older adults in Scotland. The study combined nationwide antidepressant prescription data for over two million older adults and geospatial data of blue space availability for over six thousand neighbourhoods and adjusted for a range of demographic and socioeconomic covariates. The availability of both freshwater and coastal blue space was associated with lower antidepressant medication prevalence among older adults in Scotland. Specifically, high neighbourhood freshwater coverage (>3%) (p < 0.001) and residing in close proximity (<1 km) to the coast (p < 0.001) and large freshwater lakes (p < 0.05) was associated with lower antidepressant medication prevalence. Our findings also suggest that neighbourhood blue space availability may have a greater impact on antidepressant medication prevalence among older adults than neighbourhood green space availability. Freshwater and coastal blue space, therefore, merit greater consideration in public health and urban planning policy and in the design of environments that aim to promote mental health and healthy aging.

Residential proximity to tree canopy and preterm birth in Black women

There are marked racial disparities in obstetrical outcomes, with the incidence of preterm birth being the highest among non-Hispanic Black women. The presence of green space, such as forests and parks, is now widely viewed as a health-promoting characteristic of residential environments. This study aimed to examine the association between the proximity of tree canopies to a prenatal residential address and the rates of preterm birth among non-Hispanic Black women in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This was a retrospective, case-control study utilizing hospital pregnancy records of self-identified non-Hispanic Black women. The addresses of the women, who delivered from 2011 to 2019, were geocoded to characterize the percentage of tree canopy surrounding the prenatal address using the National Land Cover Database. Circular residential buffers of 100, 150, 250, and 500 m were used to assess the exposure to tree canopy coverage in proximity to a prenatal address. Univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted to determine whether tree canopy percentage at 4 different proximity buffers, examined both in means and quartiles, was associated with preterm birth (birth at <37 weeks' gestation). Of the 2771 non-Hispanic Black women included in the study, 333 (12.0%) experienced preterm births. Less tree canopy coverage was significantly (P < .05) associated with preterm birth, irrespective of whether the coverage was quantified as a mean or by quartile. In the unadjusted and adjusted models, which adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical risk factors for preterm birth, a 10% increase in tree canopy coverage was associated with lower odds of preterm birth at all 4 buffers examined. When examining the green space by quartile, higher quartiles were associated with lower odds of preterm birth at the 100-, 150-, and 250 m buffers, but not at the 500 m buffer. A higher percentage of tree canopy coverage in close proximity to the prenatal residential address is associated with lower odds of preterm birth among non-Hispanic Black women. These findings suggest that access to neighborhood green space is an important factor associated with preterm birth.

Neighborhood street activity and greenspace usage uniquely contribute to predicting crime

Crime is a costly societal issue. While many factors influence urban crime, one less-studied but potentially important factor is neighborhood greenspace. Research has shown that greenspace is often negatively associated with crime. Measuring residents’ use of greenspace, as opposed to mere physical presence, is critical to understanding this association. Here, we used cell phone mobility data to quantify local street activity and park visits in Chicago and New York City. We found that both factors were negatively associated with crime, while controlling for socio-demographic factors. Each factor explained unique variance, suggesting multiple pathways for the influence of street activity and greenspace on crime. Physical tree canopy had a smaller association with crime, and was only a significant predictor in Chicago. These findings were further supported by exploratory directed acyclic graph modeling, which found separate direct paths for both park visits and street activity to crime.

Influence of Neighborhood Characteristics and Weather on Movement Behaviors at Age 3 and 5 Years in a Longitudinal Birth Cohort.

Movement behaviors (physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep) established in early childhood track into adulthood and interact to influence health outcomes. This study examined the associations between neighborhood characteristics and weather with movement behaviors in preschoolers. A subset of Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development birth cohort (n = 385, 50.6% boys) with valid movement behaviors data were enrolled at age 3years and followed through to age 5years. Objective measures of neighborhood characteristics were derived by ArcGIS software, and weather variables were derived from the Government of Canada weather website. Random forest and linear mixed models were used to examine predictors of movement behaviors. Cross-sectional analyses were stratified by age and season (winter and nonwinter). Neighborhood safety, temperature, green space, and roads were important neighborhood characteristics for movement behaviors in 3- and 5-year-olds. An increase in temperature was associated with greater light physical activity longitudinally from age 3 to 5years and also in the winter at age 5years in stratified analysis. A higher percentage of expressways was associated with less nonwinter moderate to vigorous physical activity at age 3years. Future initiatives to promote healthy movement behaviors in the early years should consider age differences, neighborhood characteristics, and season.

The Contribution of Neighborhood Tree and Greenspace to Asthma Emergency Room Visits: An Application of Advanced Spatial Data in Los Angeles County.

This paper aims to investigate the role of neighborhood tree and greenspace on asthma morbidity, especially asthma emergency room visits. We employed advanced spatial data which allow for precisely capturing both the quantity and the features of tree and greenspace within a neighborhood environment. The results from the spatial regression models in Los Angeles County revealed that the features of trees and greenspace, such as the configuration of the tree canopy, the level of tree clustering, and private neighborhood greenspaces contribute to decreasing asthma morbidity, in addition to the quantity of tree and greenspace acreages. Notably, however, large scale greenspace, such as golf courses, school playgrounds, and parks fails to reduce the number of asthma emergency room visits at the statistically significant level. These findings imply that the creation of dense or clustered tree patches and small-scale neighborhood greenspaces might play a substantial role in mitigating air quality and consequently reducing asthma emergency room visits.

Associations between Greenspace and Gentrification-Related Sociodemographic and Housing Cost Changes in Major Metropolitan Areas across the United States.

Neighborhood greenspace may attract new residents and lead to sociodemographic or housing cost changes. We estimated relationships between greenspace and gentrification-related changes in the 43 largest metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) of the United States (US). We used the US National Land Cover and Brown University Longitudinal Tracts databases, as well as spatial lag models, to estimate census tract-level associations between percentage greenspace (years 1990, 2000) and subsequent changes (1990–2000, 2000–2010) in percentage college-educated, percentage working professional jobs, race/ethnic composition, household income, percentage living in poverty, household rent, and home value. We also investigated effect modification by racial/ethnic composition. We ran models for each MSA and time period and used random-effects meta-analyses to derive summary estimates for each period. Estimates were modest in magnitude and heterogeneous across MSAs. After adjusting for census-tract level population density in 1990, compared to tracts with low percentage greenspace in 1992 (defined as ≤50th percentile of the MSA-specific distribution in 1992), those with high percentage greenspace (defined as >75th percentile of the MSA-specific distribution) experienced higher 1990–2000 increases in percentage of the employed civilian aged 16+ population working professional jobs (β: 0.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.11, 0.26) and in median household income (β: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.31). Adjusted estimates for the 2000–2010 period were near the null. We did not observe evidence of effect modification by race/ethnic composition. We observed evidence of modest associations between greenspace and gentrification trends. Further research is needed to explore reasons for heterogeneity and to quantify health implications.

Association between caregiver perceived green space quality and the development of prosocial behaviour from childhood to adolescence: Latent class trajectory and multilevel longitudinal analyses of Australian children over 10 years

BackgroundStudies investigating the potential role of neighbourhood green space quality on the development of prosocial behaviour among children are sparse. This study aimed to investigate the longitudinal association between caregiver perceived green space quality and child prosocial behaviour, and identify potential effect modifiers of the association. MethodsThis was a longitudinal study using data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, involving 4,969 children aged 4–5 years that were biannually followed-up from 2004 to 2014. Prosocial behaviour was assessed using a prosocial scale from Goodman's Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Green space quality was measured based on caregiver perception of the availability of neighbourhood parks, playgrounds, and play spaces of good quality. Latent class analysis was used to partition children into groups denoting different levels of caregiver perceptions of green space quality accumulated over 10 years. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the likelihood of being in groups with favourable perception of green space quality. Multilevel linear regression was used to examine associations between trajectory groups and prosocial behaviour. Separate multivariate models were developed to assess the potential role of quality green space in reducing prosocial behaviour related inequalities. Furthermore, two-way interaction terms were added into the models to identify potential effect moderation. ResultsThere were six trajectory classes of green space quality perceived by caregivers. The likelihood of being in groups with better green space quality varied by neighbourhood circumstances. Children with consistently very good quality green space had higher prosocial behaviour (β = 0.35; 95%CI = 0.23, 0.47) than those with low quality green space. Better prosocial behaviour was also observed among children whose caregiver perception of green space quality trended from good to very good (β = 0.23; 95%CI = 0.11, 0.35) and from very good to good (β = 0.31; 95%CI = 0.20, 0.42) compared to children with consistently low quality green space. Very good quality green space perceived by caregivers over time potentially reduces socioeconomic inequalities in prosocial behaviour. Green space quality-prosocial behaviour association was stronger among boys, children speaking only English at home, those living in more affluent areas, and remote areas. ConclusionTrajectory of caregiver perceived green space quality was positively associated with child prosocial behaviour. The findings suggest that improving the quality of green space to be very good quality, particularly in deprived and less accessible areas may help improve prosocial behaviour in children.

Residential exposure to air pollution and access to neighborhood greenspace in relation to hair cortisol concentrations during the second and third trimester of pregnancy

BackgroundExposure to air pollution during pregnancy has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in studies worldwide, other studies have described beneficial effects of residential greenspace on pregnancy outcomes. The biological mechanisms that underlie these associations are incompletely understood. A biological stress response, which implies release of cortisol, may underlie associations of air pollution exposure and access to neighborhood greenspaces with health.MethodsWe explored residential exposure to air pollution and residential access to neighborhood greenspaces in relation to hair cortisol concentrations of participants in a prospective pregnancy cohort study in Flanders, Belgium. Hair samples were collected at the end of the second pregnancy trimester (n = 133) and shortly after delivery (n = 81). Cortisol concentrations were measured in 3-cm scalp-near hair sections, to reflect second and third pregnancy trimester cortisol secretion. We estimated long-term (3 months before sampling) residential exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and black carbon (BC), assessed residential distance to major roads and residential access to neighborhood greenspaces (NHGS). Associations between residential exposures and hair cortisol concentrations were studied using linear regression models while adjusting for season of sampling.ResultsThree-month mean residential NO2 and BC concentrations were positively associated with third pregnancy trimester hair cortisol concentrations (p = 0.008 and p = 0.017). Access to a large NHGS (10 ha or more within 800 m from residence) was negatively associated with third trimester hair cortisol concentrations (p = 0.019). Access to a large NHGS significantly moderated the association between residential proximity to major roads and second trimester hair cortisol concentrations (p = 0.021). Residential distance to major roads was negatively associated with second trimester hair cortisol concentrations of participants without access to a large NHGS (p = 0.003). The association was not significant for participants with access to a large NHGS. The moderation tended towards significance in the third pregnancy trimester (p < 0.10).ConclusionsOur findings suggest a positive association between long-term residential exposure to air pollution and biological stress during pregnancy, residential access to neighborhood greenspaces may moderate the association. Further research is needed to confirm our results.Trial registrationThe IPANEMA study is registered under number NCT02592005 at clinicaltrials.gov.

Neighbourhood and path-based greenspace in three European countries: associations with objective physical activity

BackgroundGreenspace has been associated with health benefits in many contexts. An important pathway may be through outdoor physical activity. We use a novel approach to examine the link between greenspace microenvironments and outdoor physical activity levels in the HEALS study conducted in Edinburgh (UK), the Netherlands, and Athens and Thessaloniki (Greece).MethodsUsing physical activity tracker recordings, 118 HEALS participants with young children were classified with regard to daily minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA); 60 were classified with regard to the metabolic equivalent task (MET)-minutes for each of the 1014 active trips they made. Greenspace indicators were generated for Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), tree cover density (TCD), and green land use (GLU). We employed linear mixed-effects models to analyse (1) daily MVPA in relation to greenspace within 300 m and 1000 m of residential addresses and (2) trip MET-minutes in relation to average greenspace within a 50 m buffer of walking/cycling routes. Models were adjusted for activity, walkability, bluespace, age, sex, car ownership, dog ownership, season, weekday/weekend day, and local meteorology.ResultsThere was no clear association between MVPA-minutes and any residential greenspace measure. For example, in fully adjusted models, a 10 percentage point increase in NDVI within 300 m of home was associated with a daily increase of 1.14 (95% CI − 0.41 to 2.70) minutes of MVPA. However, we did find evidence to indicate greenspace markers were positively linked to intensity and duration of activity: in fully adjusted models, 10 percentage point increases in trip NDVI, TCD, and GLU were associated with increases of 10.4 (95% CI: 4.43 to 16.4), 10.6 (95% CI: 4.96 to 16.3), and 3.36 (95% CI: 0.00 to 6.72) MET-minutes, respectively. The magnitude of associations with greenspace tended to be greater for cycling.ConclusionsMore strenuous or longer walking and cycling trips occurred in environments with more greenspace, but levels of residential greenspace did not have a clear link with outdoor MVPA. To build on our research, we suggest future work examine larger, more diverse populations and investigate the influence of greenspace for trip purpose and route preference.

19 Social determinants of health in preterm birth of non-Hispanic black women

Examine differences in social determinants of health (SDH) between non-Hispanic black women who delivered a preterm birth compared to those with a term birth. Nested case-control study from a prospective cohort analyzing SDH in 261 postpartum Black women at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, 2011-2020. Sociodemographic, pregnancy and infant outcome data were collected from participants’ medical records. Structured interviews measured participants’ health, physical environment, social support and structural drivers. χ2 quantified differences between Black women with term (≥37 week) and preterm (<37 week) births (PTB). Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the influence of social determinants on PTB with adjustment for unmarried status, education less than a high school diploma, and Medicaid insurance. 14.5% of participants had a PTB. The social determinants that differed between preterm and term Black mothers were indicators of social, emotional and financial support, joy and resilience, early prenatal care and neighborhood green spaces. Feeling like someone makes decisions for them without consulting them, dust or mold in the home, and food insecurity were associated with preterm birth in Black women adjusting for marital status, less than a high school education, and Medicaid utilization (Tables 1 & 2). Non-Hispanic black women with less social support, less recreation spaces in neighborhood, less joy and resilience, and food insecurity, and who felt like someone made decisions for them, did not receive prenatal care as early as wanted, and lived with dust or mold in the air in their home, had increased risk of PTB. Prior studies examining PTB risk factors compared non-Hispanic black women to non-Hispanic white women. Our study focuses specifically on understanding the lives of Black women. Public health initiatives focusing on social determinants may attenuate the racial disparity of PTB in the US.View Large Image Figure ViewerDownload Hi-res image Download (PPT)

Neighbourhood green and blue spaces and allergic sensitization in children: A longitudinal study based on repeated measures from the Generation XXI cohort

Evidence on the effect of natural environments on atopy in children is limited and inconsistent, disregarding the time-varying and cumulative exposures throughout the life course. To assess critical periods of exposure as well as the effect of longitudinal trajectories of exposure to green and blue spaces on the development of allergic sensitization in children at the age of 10 years. A longitudinal study was conducted involving 730 children enrolled in Generation XXI, a population-based birth cohort from the Porto Metropolitan Area (Portugal). Food and aeroallergens sensitization were evaluated at 10 years of age using Phadiatop Infant, Phadiatop fx1 and fx22 ImmunoCAP (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Uppsala, Sweden). Residential Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and distance to the nearest blue space (sea, river) were assessed using a Geographic Information System. Latent class linear mixed models were fitted to determine longitudinal trajectories of exposure. Associations were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression models and expressed using hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Residing in neighbourhoods surrounded by more vegetation at 10 years, as well as lifetime exposure to a trajectory of higher levels of NDVI, were associated with a lower risk of allergic sensitization [HR (95% CI) = 0.095 (0.011, 0.823) and HR (95% CI) = 0.539 (0.301, 0.965), respectively]. Our findings support a role for both longitudinal, but particularly late-childhood, exposure to green spaces, in the prevention of allergic sensitization in children.

Residing in urban areas with higher green space is associated with lower mortality risk: A census-based cohort study with ten years of follow-up

BackgroundEpidemiological studies suggest that residing close to green space reduce mortality rates. We investigated the relationship between long-term exposure to residential green space and non-accidental and cardio-respiratory mortality. MethodsWe linked the Belgian 2001 census to population and mortality register follow-up data (2001–2011) among adults aged 30 years and older residing in the five largest urban areas in Belgium (n = 2,185,170 and mean follow-up time 9.4 years). Residential addresses were available at baseline. Exposure to green space was defined as 1) surrounding greenness (2006) [normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and modified soil-adjusted vegetation index (MSAVI2)] within buffers of 300 m, 500 m, and 1000 m; 2) surrounding green space (2006) [Urban Atlas (UA) and CORINE Land Cover (CLC)] within buffers of 300 m, 500 m, and 1000 m; and 3) perceived neighborhood green space (2001). Cox proportional hazards models with age as the underlying time scale were used to probe into cause-specific mortality (non-accidental, respiratory, COPD, cardiovascular, ischemic heart disease (IHD), and cerebrovascular). Models were adjusted for several sociodemographic variables (age, sex, marital status, country of birth, education level, employment status, and area mean income). We further adjusted our main models for annual mean (2010) values of ambient air pollution (PM2.5, PM10, NO2 and BC, one at a time), and we additionally explored potential mediation with the aforementioned pollutants. ResultsHigher degrees of residential green space were associated with lower rates of non-accidental and respiratory mortality. In fully adjusted models, hazard ratios (HR) per interquartile range (IQR) increase in NDVI 500 m buffer (IQR: 0.24) and UA 500 m buffer (IQR: 0.31) were 0.97 (95%CI 0.96–0.98) and 0.99 (95%CI 0.98–0.99) for non-accidental mortality, and 0.95 (95%CI 0.93–0.98) and 0.97 (95%CI 0.96–0.99) for respiratory mortality. For perceived neighborhood green space, HRs were 0.93 (95%CI 0.92–0.94) and 0.94 (95%CI 0.91–0.98) for non-accidental and respiratory mortality, respectively. The observed lower mortality risks associated with residential exposure to green space were largely independent from exposure to ambient air pollutants. ConclusionWe observed evidence for lower mortality risk in associations with long-term residential exposure to green space in most but not all studied causes of death in a large representative cohort for the five largest urban areas in Belgium. These findings support the importance of the availability of residential green space in urban areas.

Associations between neighborhood greenspace and brain imaging measures in non-demented older adults: the Cardiovascular Health Study.

Greater neighborhood greenspace has been associated with brain health, including better cognition and lower odds of Alzheimer's disease in older adults. We investigated associations between neighborhood greenspace and brain-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures and potential effect modification by sex or apolipoprotein E genotype (APOE), a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. We obtained a sample of non-demented participants 65years or older (n = 1125) from the longitudinal, population-based Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS). Greenspace data were derived from the National Land Cover Dataset. Adjusted multivariable linear regression estimated associations between neighborhood greenspace five years prior to the MRI and left and right hippocampal volume and 10-point grades of ventricular size and burden of white matter hyperintensity. Interaction terms tested effect modification by APOE genotype and sex. CHS data (1989-1999) were obtained/analyzed in 2020. Participants were on average 79years old [standard deviation (SD) = 4], 58% were female, and 11% were non-white race. Mean neighborhood greenspace was 38% (SD = 28%). Greater proportion of greenspace in the neighborhood five years before MRI was borderline associated with lower ventricle grade (estimate: -0.30; 95% confidence interval: -0.61, 0.00). We observed no associations between greenspace and the other MRI outcome measures and no evidence of effect modification by APOE genotype and sex. This study suggests a possible association between greater greenspace and less ventricular enlargement, a measure reflecting global brain atrophy. If confirmed in other longitudinal cohort studies, interventions and policies to improve community greenspaces may help to maintain brain health in older age.

Mapping mental barriers that prevent the use of neighborhood green spaces

Mapping mental barriers that prevent the use of neighborhood green spaces

Understanding the relationship between neighbourhood green space and mental wellbeing: A case study of Beijing, China

The past few decades have seen increasing academic interest in the association between green space and mental health. However, the existing studies have largely been undertaken in developed countries, while less attention has been paid to rapidly urbanizing countries. Based on a 2015 survey of 701 residents in 16 typical neighbourhoods of Beijing, this study aims to partially fill this gap by investigating the complex relationship between neighbourhood green space and residents' mental health in urban China. We developed multilevel regression models to test the associations among green space, social cohesion, physical activity, and mental health. The findings reveal the positive association between green space and mental health in a high-density and compact urban environment and suggest that physical activity and social cohesion might play a mediating role in the association. The study provides an empirical evidence for the potential benefit of green space on mental health from an Asian perspective and sheds light on the ways to promote public mental health through effective urban planning and design.

What Types of Greenspaces Are Associated with Depression in Urban and Rural Older Adults? A Multilevel Cross-Sectional Study from JAGES.

Depression in older adults is a public health challenge. We aimed to clarify the relationship between depression in older adults and three types of neighborhood greenspaces: trees, grasslands, and fields. We utilized data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) performed in 2016. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was used for non-stratified and stratified analyses for the urban–rural regions. The target population comprised 126,878 older adults (age ≥ 65 years) who responded to the depression questions and were living in 881 neighborhoods in Japan. Depression was diagnosed based on a Geriatric Depression Scale score ≥5, and 20.4% of the study population had depression. In the pre-stratification analysis, areas with more greenspaces revealed lower odds of depression (odds ratio (OR) 0.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.85–0.95). In urban areas, more trees correlated with lower odds of depression (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.89–1.00). In rural areas, moderate amounts of grassland were associated with lower odds of depression compared to areas with fewer grasslands (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.83–1.00). We found that urban areas with higher tree density and rural areas with moderate amounts of grassland were associated with lower odds of depression.

Residential Greenspace is Associated with CRP levels in Older Adults

Introduction:Environmental pollutants have been previously associated with increased biomarkers of inflammation. Little is known however about how, and to what extent, neighborhood greenspace and urbanicity may impact inflammation.Methods:We used mixed effects multiple regression models to evaluate contemporaneous neighborhood greenspace and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels among 4,121 individuals &gt;57 years of age enrolled in the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. We also examined for effect modification by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, health status, BMI, and age. Secondary analyses examined whether associations were mediated by PM2.5, NO2, and physical activity. Greenspace estimates were based upon the Normalized Difference Vegetative Index (NDVI) obtained from NASAs Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer satellites within a 1 km buffer around each participants residence. CRP levels were measured from dried blood spots. All models were adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, health behavior, medical history, and current medications which have been previously shown to affect CRP levels.Results:Each IQR increase in NDVI was associated with an 14.9% (95% CI -19.9, -9.5) decrease in CRP levels. Significant dose response was observed, such that those in the highest quartile of neighborhood greenspace had 23.4% lower CRP than those in the lowest quartile (Ptrend &lt;0.001). In effect modification models, the associations were found to be strongest among Hispanics (-30.9%, 95% CI: -46.4, -10.9) and Asians (-55%, 95% CI: -76.4, -14.2). No significant effect modification was observed for other investigated variables. In mediation analyses, borderline significant mediation of the association between neighborhood greenness and CRP was observed by physical activity (% mediated: 8.3%, p=0.073).Conclusions:In a cohort of older US men and women, neighborhood greenness was significantly associated with CRP, with differential effects by race/ethnicity. These associations suggest that neighborhood may be important determinants of health in older adults.