Exploring mechanisms underlying the relationship between the natural outdoor environment and health and well-being – Results from the PHENOTYPE project

Kruize, Hanneke; Kamp, Irene van; Berg, Magdalena van den; Kempen, Elise van; Wendel-Vos, Wanda; Ruijsbroek, Annemarie; Swart, Wim; Maas, Jolanda; Gidlow, Christopher; Smith, Graham; Ellis, Naomi; Hurst, Gemma; Masterson, Daniel; Triguero-Mas, Margarita; Cirach, Marta; Gražulevičienė, Regina; Hazel, Peter van den; Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2019.105173

Cited by 69 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…passing through a park when commuting to work (28). To date the strongest evidence in support of mental health benefits has been for direct contact in natural settings, with benefits to general (29,30) and clinical (31,32) populations. A large UK study with over 20,000 people estimated two hours/week outdoors in bluegreen spaces as a critical threshold, below which well-being decreases significantly (33).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maintaining contact with blue-green spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic associated with positive mental health

Pouso¹,

Borja²,

Fleming³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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There is growing evidence that exposure to the natural world (blue-green spaces) has potential benefits for mental health and well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic and the measures adopted to control it provide a natural experiment to investigate the links between nature exposure and mental health under extreme conditions. Using a survey distributed online and based on 6,080 responses, we tested three hypotheses: (1) people will show different levels of symptoms of depression and anxiety depending on the level of lockdown (severity) and ability to maintain contact with outdoor spaces; and (2) where access to outdoor public spaces was restricted, those with access to private outdoor spaces (2a) or even a green-blue nature view (2b) will show fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety and a more positive mood. Lockdown severity significantly affected mental health, while contact with nature helped people to cope with these impacts. The buffering effect of nature was especially relevant for those under strict lockdowns. People perceived that nature helped them to cope with lockdown measures; and emotions were more positive among individuals with accessible outdoor spaces and blue-green elements in their views. These findings can help decision-makers in developing potential future lockdown measures to mitigate the negative impacts, helping people to be more resilient and maintain better mental health.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maintaining contact with blue-green spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic associated with positive mental health

Pouso¹,

Borja²,

Fleming³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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show abstract

“…However, some physiological mechanisms remain unknown, and some are controversial, thus, more research is needed to fully understand human physiology in an outdoor environment and propose better prevention tools and guidelines. Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that natural environment activities are associated with health benefits, but the mechanisms still not fully understood [85].…”

Section: Conclusion and Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One of these health benefits is that outdoor activities can increase physical activity time [85][86][87], that can help decrease cardiovascular disease, metabolic complications and some cancer risks and improve physical capacity [88]. In a society where physical inactivity and sedentarily time is a major health problem, like sitting at a desk for long hours, outdoor recreative activities can be beneficial even for a short bout like walking in a park during breaks [88][89][90].…”

Section: Conclusion and Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a society where physical inactivity and sedentarily time is a major health problem, like sitting at a desk for long hours, outdoor recreative activities can be beneficial even for a short bout like walking in a park during breaks [88][89][90]. Furthermore, several studies have observed the positive effects of nature on health, stress and recovery [85][86][87]. This exposure to nature, even from a picture, could promote recovery and restore stress levels [91].…”

Section: Conclusion and Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Physiological Responses to Outdoor Recreation: How it Can Help you Prepare your Outdoor Activity and How to Intervene

Parent¹,

Gadais²

2021

Outdoor Recreation - Physiological and Psychological Effects on Health

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Outdoor activity can help to promote an active lifestyle; however, it is often associated with risks from its surrounding environment. Understanding physiological responses to several outdoor activities and how to use simple monitoring tips to reduce risks will provide real-life applications in the preparation of outdoor recreation. The purpose of this chapter focuses on common stressful conditions: thermoregulation, energy demand, musculoskeletal injuries risks, sleep and recovery. These are some constraints that can be encountered in any outdoor context. The physiological responses and recommendations based on up-to-date research will provide useful methods for risk assessment and how to manage them. Finally, the health benefits from outdoor activity in different populations will complete this chapter in order to help specialists structured and adapted their intervention planning.

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“…Epidemiological studies have shown that contact with green space has beneficial effects such as reduced risks of cardiovascular disease, obesity, or diabetes, and lower risks of all-cause mortality [9,10]. There is growing scientific evidence that both physical activity and contact with urban green spaces have the potential to contribute positively to citizens' health [11][12][13]. Meanwhile, urban planning, city transport system, and neighborhood characteristics may have a significant negative influence on human health and well-being by affecting the environmental quality, or, indirectly, by influencing behaviors such as physical activity-which, in turn, affects chronic disease [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Quality Perceptions and Health: A Cross-Sectional Study of Citizens of Kaunas, Lithuania

Gražulevičienė

Dėdelė

Gražulevičius

et al. 2020

IJERPH

Self Cite

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The perception of urban environmental quality is an important contributor when identifying local problems in sustainable development and environmental planning policy. This study examined the associations between environmental and social residential characteristics, physical activity, obesity, and hypertension in Kaunas city, Lithuania. This cross-sectional study analyzed 580 citizens’ demographic-, socioeconomic-, health-, and lifestyle-related factors, environmental health concerns, and environmental quality perceptions. Using Geographic Information Systems and the multivariate logistic regression, we found that the less physically active group more often presented lower than mean ratings of the quality of pathways and cycling routes (32.9% and 45.6%, p = 0.042) and only irregularly visited the natural environment. Obese participants presented poorer ratings of air pollution, the quality of pathways and cycling routes, their possibility to reach green spaces by walking, and the available relaxing areas. The environmental issues associated with hypertension were poor possibilities to reach green spaces by walking (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.14–3.32) and the availability of relaxation areas (OR 2.30, 95% 1.34–3.95). The quality of the neighborhood and individual-level characteristics were the factors that influenced a higher prevalence of health problems at the district level. Our findings suggest that a public health policy to improve the physical and social environment of the neighborhood would have a potential to increase citizens’ physical activity and health.

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Exploring mechanisms underlying the relationship between the natural outdoor environment and health and well-being – Results from the PHENOTYPE project

Cited by 69 publications

References 38 publications

Maintaining contact with blue-green spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic associated with positive mental health

Maintaining contact with blue-green spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic associated with positive mental health

Physiological Responses to Outdoor Recreation: How it Can Help you Prepare your Outdoor Activity and How to Intervene

Environmental Quality Perceptions and Health: A Cross-Sectional Study of Citizens of Kaunas, Lithuania

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