Study: Living in green(er) spaces improves mental health

Living in areas with more greenery or in close proximity to natural environments like parks, lakes, or beaches is associated with enhanced mental well-being. However, there is limited longitudinal evidence on the influence of prior exposure to green and blue spaces (GBS) on subsequent adult mental health, particularly when considering health inequalities.

This study aimed to investigate how the presence of green spaces and improved access to natural environments (in residential areas) influenced the long-term mental well-being of adults, with a particular emphasis on tackling health inequalities.

The authors found the following:

After adjustment, exposure to greater ambient greenness over time (+0·1 increased EVI on a 0–1 scale) was associated with lower odds of subsequent CMD (adjusted odds ratio 0·80, 95% CI 0·80–0·81), where CMD was based on a combination of current diagnoses or symptoms (treated or untreated in the preceding 1-year period), or treatments. Ten percentile points more access to GBS was associated with lower odds of a later CMD (0·93, 0·93–0·93). Every additional 360 m to the nearest GBS was associated with higher odds of CMD (1·05, 1·04–1·05). We found that positive effects of GBS on mental health appeared to be greater in more deprived quintiles.

To surmise, it was found that greater exposure to natural surroundings (i.e., parks) is linked to the most significant reduction in the risk of common mental disorders (CMD), especially for individuals residing in disadvantaged communities. This study allows us to reimagine urban planning and housing construction as a public health and social investment, providing a chance to rebalance our relationship with nature, help address our climate change challenges, and protect against mental health challenges.