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The relationship between greenspace and the mental wellbeing of adults : a systematic review
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Houlden, Victoria, Weich, Scott, Albuquerque, João Porto de , Jarvis, Stephen A. and Rees, Karen (2018) The relationship between greenspace and the mental wellbeing of adults : a systematic review. PLoS One, 13 (9). e0203000. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0203000 ISSN 1932-6203.
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0203000
Abstract
Introduction
The view that interacting with nature enhances mental wellbeing is commonplace, despite a dearth of evidence or even agreed definitions of ‘nature’. The aim of this review was to systematically appraise the evidence for associations between greenspace and mental wellbeing, stratified by the different ways in which greenspace has been conceptualised in quantitative research.
Methods
We undertook a comprehensive database search and thorough screening of articles which included a measure of greenspace and validated mental wellbeing tool, to capture aspects of hedonic and/or eudaimonic wellbeing. Quality and risk of bias in research were assessed to create grades of evidence. We undertook detailed narrative synthesis of the 50 studies which met the review inclusion criteria, as methodological heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis.
Results
Results of a quality assessment and narrative synthesis suggest associations between different greenspace characteristics and mental wellbeing. We identified six ways in which greenspace was conceptualised and measured: (i) amount of local-area greenspace; (ii) greenspace type; (iii) visits to greenspace; (iv) views of greenspace; (v) greenspace accessibility; and (vi) self-reported connection to nature. There was adequate evidence for associations between the amount of local-area greenspace and life satisfaction (hedonic wellbeing), but not personal flourishing (eudaimonic wellbeing). Evidence for associations between mental wellbeing and visits to greenspace, accessibility, and types of greenspace was limited. There was inadequate evidence for associations with views of greenspace and connectedness to nature. Several studies reported variation in associations between greenspace and wellbeing by life course stage, gender, levels of physically activity or attitudes to nature.
Conclusions
Greenspace has positive associations with mental wellbeing (particularly hedonic wellbeing), but the evidence is not currently sufficient or specific enough to guide planning decisions. Further studies are needed, based on dynamic measures of greenspace, reflecting access and uses of greenspace, and measures of both eudaimonic and hedonic mental wellbeing.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||||
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Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine |
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Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Computer Science Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences Faculty of Social Sciences > Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences > Statistics and Epidemiology Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School |
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Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Well-being, Mental health, Quality of life, Greenways, Open spaces, Nature | ||||||
Journal or Publication Title: | PLoS One | ||||||
Publisher: | Public Library of Science | ||||||
ISSN: | 1932-6203 | ||||||
Official Date: | 12 September 2018 | ||||||
Dates: |
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Volume: | 13 | ||||||
Number: | 9 | ||||||
Article Number: | e0203000 | ||||||
DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pone.0203000 | ||||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||||
Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access | ||||||
Date of first compliant deposit: | 14 September 2018 | ||||||
Date of first compliant Open Access: | 14 September 2018 | ||||||
RIOXX Funder/Project Grant: |
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