Greenspace and park use associated with less emotional distress among college students in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected many people's psychological health. Impacts may be particularly severe among socially vulnerable populations such as college students, a group predisposed to mental health problems. Outdoor recreation and visits to greenspaces such as parks offer promising pathways for addressing the mental health challenges associated with COVID-19. During the early stages of the pandemic (March–May 2020), we surveyed 1280 college students at four large public universities across the United States (U.S.) to assess how, and why, outdoor recreation and park use changed since the emergence of COVID-19. We also measured students' self-reported levels of emotional distress (a proxy for psychological health) and assessed potential demographic and contextual correlates of distress, including county-level per capita park area and greenness, using generalized linear models. We found that 67% of students reported limiting outdoor activities and 54% reported reducing park use during the pandemic. Students who reduced their use of outdoor spaces cited structural reasons (e.g., lockdowns), concerns about viral transmission, and negative emotions that obstructed active lifestyles. Students who maintained pre-pandemic park use levels expressed a desire to be outdoors in nature, often with the explicit goal of improving mental and physical health. Emotional distress among students was widespread. Models showed higher levels of emotional distress were associated with reducing park use during the pandemic and residing in counties with a smaller area of parks per capita. This study of U.S. college students supports the value of park-based recreation as a health promotion strategy for diverse populations of young adults during a time of crisis.

Does Spending Time in Nature Help Students Cope with the COVID-19 Pandemic?

“…This is consistent with research suggesting that the well-being markers returned to pre-pandemic levels by the fall of 2020 [30]. Moreover, some studies indicate that the participants were not spending more time in nearby greenspaces [54,55]. For example, students from four universities in the United States reported that they were limiting their park use in order to avoid people, to reduce the threat of contracting COVID-19, or because of restrictions beyond their control [54].…”

“…Moreover, some studies indicate that the participants were not spending more time in nearby greenspaces [54,55]. For example, students from four universities in the United States reported that they were limiting their park use in order to avoid people, to reduce the threat of contracting COVID-19, or because of restrictions beyond their control [54]. Despite this, the people who did report spending more time in greenspaces were more likely to report higher senses of well-being (through life satisfaction and subjective happiness) [55] and lower emotional distress [54], which is similar to our results.…”

“…For example, students from four universities in the United States reported that they were limiting their park use in order to avoid people, to reduce the threat of contracting COVID-19, or because of restrictions beyond their control [54]. Despite this, the people who did report spending more time in greenspaces were more likely to report higher senses of well-being (through life satisfaction and subjective happiness) [55] and lower emotional distress [54], which is similar to our results. With the continuation of the pandemic and our slow move back to "normal", it is important to sustain this line of research in order to explore whether people are still seeking nature contact, and whether this is beneficial for coping with the ongoing uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

Who Started, Stopped, and Continued Participating in Outdoor Recreation during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States? Results from a National Panel Study

“…On the other hand, it is also encouraging from the public health perspective that amidst one of the more challenging periods in recent history, that a new group of U.S. outdoor recreationists (20%) have emerged during the pandemic, likely benefiting from the health outcomes they receive from these activities [16][17][18][19][20]28]. This creates a tremendous opportunity to engage this group of new recreationists in life-long healthy recreation and conservation behaviors that promote the preservation of the resources, sustaining outdoor recreation.…”

“…Motivations for pursuing outdoor recreation during this period have been largely driven by needs associated with personal health and well-being [15], such as relieving stress and supporting mental health, and facilitating physical health through outdoor exercise [16]. And, research in the U.S. indicates that outdoor recreation during the pandemic has in fact, led to improved mental health outcomes [17,18]. Similar health-related trends have been discovered internationally [5,19,20].…”