What is the Urban green spaces and mental health?
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Summary
10 papers analyzed
These studies suggest that urban green spaces are generally associated with improved mental health outcomes, including reduced anxiety, depression, and stress, though effects can vary by factors such as gender, education, and childhood nature experience.
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Introduction
Urban green spaces, such as parks and gardens, are increasingly recognized for their potential benefits to mental health. As urbanization continues to rise globally, understanding the relationship between green spaces and mental well-being is crucial for urban planning and public health strategies.
Key Insights
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Positive Association with Mental Health:
- Numerous studies have found that access to and time spent in urban green spaces are positively associated with better mental health outcomes, including reduced anxiety, depression, and stress, as well as improved mood and vitality .
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Proximity and Accessibility:
- Proximity to green spaces, particularly useable green spaces within a certain distance (e.g., 3 km), is linked to lower rates of anxiety and mood disorders. However, very close proximity (e.g., within 300 m) does not show significant associations .
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Long-Term Exposure:
- Long-term exposure to residential green spaces is associated with mental health benefits, although evidence for a causal relationship remains limited and further research is needed .
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Variability Across Lifecourse and Demographics:
- The mental health benefits of green spaces can vary across different stages of life and between genders. For example, men may benefit more in early to mid-adulthood, while older women may experience benefits with moderate green space availability. Additionally, factors such as level of education and childhood nature experiences can moderate these associations.
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Perceptions of Green Space:
- Perceptions of the quantity and quality of green spaces are significantly associated with psychological well-being. Changes in these perceptions over time also correlate with changes in well-being.
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Urban vs. Rural Settings:
- While most studies focus on urban settings, green spaces in non-urban areas also show significant mental health benefits, suggesting that "greening" strategies could be effective across different environments.
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Types of Green Space Visits:
- Visits to urban green spaces and the countryside both contribute to mental well-being, but they may affect different components of well-being. Urban green space visits are more strongly associated with reduced anxiety, while countryside visits are linked to higher life satisfaction.
Conclusion
Urban green spaces play a crucial role in promoting mental health and well-being. Access to and time spent in these areas are generally associated with reduced symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress, and improved mood and vitality. The benefits can vary across different demographics and life stages, and perceptions of green space quality are also important. While more research is needed to establish causal relationships, the existing evidence supports the integration of green spaces into urban planning as a strategy to enhance public mental health.
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