What are the health benefits of green spaces and nature?

Introduction

Green spaces and natural environments have been increasingly recognized for their potential health benefits. Research has explored various mechanisms through which exposure to green spaces can enhance physical, mental, and social well-being. This synthesis aims to consolidate findings from multiple studies to provide a comprehensive overview of the health benefits associated with green spaces and nature.

Key Insights

Mental Health Benefits:
- Exposure to green spaces is consistently associated with improved mental health, including reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety, and enhanced psychological well-being .
- Time spent in green spaces is linked to higher scores on mental health and vitality scales, independent of cultural and climatic contexts.
Physical Health Benefits:
- Green spaces are associated with lower mortality rates, reduced cardiovascular disease risk, and better general physical health .
- Increased physical activity in green spaces contributes to better cardiovascular health and reduced obesity rates .
Stress Reduction and Cognitive Restoration:
- Green spaces help in stress reduction and cognitive restoration by providing a calming environment that mitigates the effects of urban stressors like noise and pollution .
Social Interaction and Cohesion:
- Green spaces facilitate social interactions and community cohesion, which are important for mental and social well-being .
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services:
- Biodiversity within green spaces supports ecosystem services that mitigate heat, noise, and air pollution, contributing to overall health benefits .
Equity and Accessibility:
- Access to green spaces can mitigate socio-economic health inequalities by providing health benefits across different socio-economic groups .

Conclusion

The collective evidence underscores the significant health benefits of green spaces, including improved mental and physical health, stress reduction, and enhanced social cohesion. These benefits are mediated through increased physical activity, exposure to biodiversity, and the provision of a calming environment. Ensuring equitable access to green spaces can help mitigate health disparities and promote overall well-being in urban populations.

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What are the health benefits of green spaces and nature?

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

Biodiversity and human health: mechanisms and evidence of the positive health effects of diversity in nature and green spaces

Biodiversity in nature and green spaces positively impacts human health, enhancing mental and physical well-being, but more research is needed to quantify the long-term health effects of species diversity.

Nature Exposure Gets a Boost From a Cluster Randomized Trial on the Mental Health Benefits of Greening Vacant Lots.

Greening vacant lots near homes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, improves mental health by increasing contact with nature and reducing chronic stress.

Urban Green Space and Its Impact on Human Health

Urban green space exposure is associated with lower mortality, heart rate, and violence, and increased attention, mood, and physical activity, but mixed results on weight status, depression, and stress.

Role of physical activity in the relationship between urban green space and health.

Urban green space is linked to better cardiovascular and mental health, but not overweight or poor general health, and higher physical activity levels do not fully explain this relationship.

Visiting green space is associated with mental health and vitality: A cross-sectional study in four european cities.

Visiting green spaces is associated with improved mental health and vitality, with effects moderating by education and childhood nature experience.

Green Space Quality and Health: A Systematic Review

Greater tree canopy in green spaces is associated with improved health outcomes, particularly for allergic respiratory conditions, cardiovascular conditions, and psychological wellbeing.

Advantages of public green spaces in enhancing population health

Public green spaces can enhance population health by promoting physical activity, social interaction, and mitigating socio-economic inequalities.

Green Space and Health

Urban green spaces improve mental and physical health, with potential mechanisms including stress reduction, cognitive restoration, and reduced exposure to air pollution, noise, and heat.

From Green Space to Green Prescriptions: Challenges and Opportunities for Research and Practice

Regular contact with green spaces can enhance well-being and alleviate stress, but low referral rates in primary health care need improvement.

Advancing Sustainability through Urban Green Space: Cultural Ecosystem Services, Equity, and Social Determinants of Health

Urban green spaces provide cultural ecosystem services, which support physical, psychological, and social health, but often not equitably across diverse urban populations.

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