95
5.3 Results
The relationship between urban green spaces and potential health effects is a growing research field, with an increasing number of publications, particularly since
2013 (Fig. 5.1). The research discussed here focusses on those studies that considered differences in the socio-economic and socio-demographic context of the population groups studied. In addition, the particular green space metrics, buffers and
data used in the study are considered as it was assumed that there might be a difference in health outcome results when different measures are used. Only 25 papers
were directly related to a health outcome linked to urban green space use or availability. The remaining papers indirectly address a health outcome by mentioning a
potential health benefit of green space exposure for different population groups in
the abstract but not analysing health outcome as a main aim. Papers that address
health directly mostly deal with mental health outcomes followed by studies on
physical activity, birth outcome, overweight, general health and cardiovascular diseases. Results are presented in Table 5.1 and summarised with main associations
indicated in Fig. 5.4.
5.3.1 Mental Health and General Health
Cohen-Cline et al. (2015) studied potential associations between access to green
space and self-reported depression, stress and anxiety. When adjusted for confounding factors such as income, the association between urban green space and less
depression remained significant. Mukherjee et al. (2017) found a similar association
between the nearest park size and depression even when controlling for confounders
such as household wealth and education. They showed that a smaller size of the
nearest park was associated with higher odds of depression. Controlling for socioeconomic status, Triguero-Mas et al. (2015) identified that surrounding green spaces
were associated with better mental health. Mitchell et al. (2015) found improved
mental health in lower income groups when access to green space and recreational
areas improved. A similar relationship was found by Feda et al. (2015), who showed
an inverse association between accessibility of urban parks and perceived stress
among adolescents when controlled for socio-economic status. Thompson et al.
(2016) identified that higher quantity and better access to green spaces including
gardens and allotments were significantly related to decreased stress levels in
deprived communities.
For 3- to 5-year-old children, Flouri et al. (2014) found that in lower income
groups, children with a higher percentage of green space in their neighbourhood
had fewer emotional problems. For a study of 4- to 6-year-old children, those with
comparatively more park and natural area space around their homes had better
mental health outcomes. Interestingly, Astell-Burt et al. (2014) showed that the
green space-mental health association varies across the life course and between
5 The Influence of Socio-economic and Socio-demographic Factors in the Association…
5.3 Results
The relationship between urban green spaces and potential health effects is a growing research field, with an increasing number of publications, particularly since
2013 (Fig. 5.1). The research discussed here focusses on those studies that considered differences in the socio-economic and socio-demographic context of the population groups studied. In addition, the particular green space metrics, buffers and
data used in the study are considered as it was assumed that there might be a difference in health outcome results when different measures are used. Only 25 papers
were directly related to a health outcome linked to urban green space use or availability. The remaining papers indirectly address a health outcome by mentioning a
potential health benefit of green space exposure for different population groups in
the abstract but not analysing health outcome as a main aim. Papers that address
health directly mostly deal with mental health outcomes followed by studies on
physical activity, birth outcome, overweight, general health and cardiovascular diseases. Results are presented in Table 5.1 and summarised with main associations
indicated in Fig. 5.4.
5.3.1 Mental Health and General Health
Cohen-Cline et al. (2015) studied potential associations between access to green
space and self-reported depression, stress and anxiety. When adjusted for confounding factors such as income, the association between urban green space and less
depression remained significant. Mukherjee et al. (2017) found a similar association
between the nearest park size and depression even when controlling for confounders
such as household wealth and education. They showed that a smaller size of the
nearest park was associated with higher odds of depression. Controlling for socioeconomic status, Triguero-Mas et al. (2015) identified that surrounding green spaces
were associated with better mental health. Mitchell et al. (2015) found improved
mental health in lower income groups when access to green space and recreational
areas improved. A similar relationship was found by Feda et al. (2015), who showed
an inverse association between accessibility of urban parks and perceived stress
among adolescents when controlled for socio-economic status. Thompson et al.
(2016) identified that higher quantity and better access to green spaces including
gardens and allotments were significantly related to decreased stress levels in
deprived communities.
For 3- to 5-year-old children, Flouri et al. (2014) found that in lower income
groups, children with a higher percentage of green space in their neighbourhood
had fewer emotional problems. For a study of 4- to 6-year-old children, those with
comparatively more park and natural area space around their homes had better
mental health outcomes. Interestingly, Astell-Burt et al. (2014) showed that the
green space-mental health association varies across the life course and between
5 The Influence of Socio-economic and Socio-demographic Factors in the Association…