Quantifying Nature: Introducing NatureScore<sup>TM</sup> and NatureDose<sup>TM</sup> as Health Analysis and Promotion Tools

Browning, Matthew H. E. M.; Hanley, Jared R.; Bailey, Christopher R.; Beatley, Timothy; Gailey, Samantha; Hipp, J. Aaron; Larson, Lincoln R.; James, Peter; Jennings, Viniece; Jimenez, Marcia Pescador; Kahn, Peter H.; Li, Dongying; Reuben, Aaron; Rigolon, Alessandro; Sachs, Naomi A.; Pearson, Amber L.; Minson, Christopher T.

doi:10.1177/08901171231210806b

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 77 publications

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“…The datasets include a broad array of environmental features, including satellite images of vegetation to land use cover and classifications, parks, tree canopy cover, noise levels, artificial light, air pollution, buildings, roads, and aerial and street view images. The data are weighted and summed to create an overall NatureScore TM value based on machine learning models [20]. The NatureScore values range from zero (poor NatureScore, lacking beneficial natural elements) to 100 (high NatureScore, abundant beneficial natural elements) (File S2).…”

Section: Exposure Of Interest: Naturescorementioning

confidence: 99%

“…A Box-Cox distribution and modified Park tests were used to determine the appropriate link function and family to use in the model, respectively. A log-link function and the inverse Gaussian family were used in all the GLM models [20]. To adjust for the individuals' similarities within a certain zipcode (clustering), robust standard errors were used.…”

Section: Statistical Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nature and Mental Health in Urban Texas: A NatureScore-Based Study

Makram,

Pan,

Maddock

et al. 2024

IJERPH

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In this cross-sectional study, we examined the impact of access to nature on mental health utilization in urban neighborhoods using Texas outpatient encounters data merged with NatureScoreTM (0–100; low to high nature levels) and US census data (household income, education, employment, poverty, and insurance coverage) at the zipcode level. Our sample size included 61 million outpatient encounters across 1169 zipcodes, with 63% women and 30% elderly. A total of 369,344 mental health encounters were identified, with anxiety/stress and depression encounters representing 68.3% and 23.6%, respectively. We found that neighborhoods with a NatureScore of 60+ had lower overall mental health utilization than those below 40 (RR 0.51, 95%CI 0.38–0.69). This relationship persisted for depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety/stress and in neighborhoods with a NatureScore above 80 (p < 0.001). Compared to neighborhoods with a NatureScore below 40, those above 80 had significantly lower depression (aRR 0.68, 95%CI 0.49–0.95) and bipolar (aRR 0.59, 95%CI 0.36–0.99) health encounters after adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic factors. This novel approach, utilizing NatureScore as a proxy for urban greenness, demonstrates the correlation between a higher NatureScore and reduced mental health utilization. Our findings highlight the importance of integrating nature into our healthcare strategies to promote well-being and mental health.

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Section: Exposure Of Interest: Naturescorementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Statistical Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nature and Mental Health in Urban Texas: A NatureScore-Based Study

Makram,

Pan,

Maddock

et al. 2024

IJERPH

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“…However, I wish there was more interactive content between the ginkgo tree park and the art museum; it feels like a missed opportunity." (Ma, aged [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] The scenic park has the potential to foster cultural fusion and stimulate the possibility of spatial reorganization [91] within its surroundings. This suggests that as people from various backgrounds and age groups converge in this communal area, there is an opportunity for diverse cultural influences to intermingle.…”

Section: The Implications For Daily Lifementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Urban landscapes are frequently discussed, and pocket parks in cities are also commonly addressed. Research has also indicated that parks play a significant role in promoting health [21][22][23], social well-being [24][25][26][27], community communication [28], community activities [29], and low-carbon conservation [30,31]. With the development of digital technology, research on intelligence has emerged internationally, such as the integration of smart cyberparks, which has enhanced the functionality of parks [32,33].…”

Section: Introduction 1backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Utilization and Comfort in a Village Scenic Park: Implications for Rural Revitalization

Yao,

Zhang,

Fukuda

et al. 2024

Buildings

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Scenic parks in rural areas occupy crucial positions, serving as vital hubs for the daily lives of villagers and important leisure destinations for tourists. This research is dedicated to assessing the significance of the scenic park in Wawuzhuang Village from the perspectives of both villagers and tourists. Employing a comprehensive research approach, this study examines the current state of the scenic park and its ability to meet the requirements of villagers and tourists. Villagers, mainly elderly individuals with low levels of education, rely heavily on green spaces for leisure and social interaction. In contrast, younger tourists and villagers require spaces that offer more comfort and aesthetic appeal. This study highlights the possibility of designing rural scenic parks to meet the basic needs of both tourists and villagers. In addition, mixed-use designs and public participation designs are suggested to promote the use of rural parks, potentially creating an attractive community environment that attracts new villagers and more tourists. Although this study is limited to a single case, it lays the groundwork for further research in other rural areas. This research contributes to the sustainable development of rural revitalization.

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Interplay Between Residential Nature Exposure and Walkability and Their Association with Cardiovascular Health

Makram,

Nwana,

Pan

et al. 2025

JACC: Advances

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Quantifying Nature: Introducing NatureScore^TM and NatureDose^TM as Health Analysis and Promotion Tools

Cited by 7 publications

References 77 publications

Nature and Mental Health in Urban Texas: A NatureScore-Based Study

Nature and Mental Health in Urban Texas: A NatureScore-Based Study

Assessing Utilization and Comfort in a Village Scenic Park: Implications for Rural Revitalization

Interplay Between Residential Nature Exposure and Walkability and Their Association with Cardiovascular Health

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Quantifying Nature: Introducing NatureScoreTM and NatureDoseTM as Health Analysis and Promotion Tools

Cited by 7 publications

References 77 publications

Nature and Mental Health in Urban Texas: A NatureScore-Based Study

Nature and Mental Health in Urban Texas: A NatureScore-Based Study

Assessing Utilization and Comfort in a Village Scenic Park: Implications for Rural Revitalization

Interplay Between Residential Nature Exposure and Walkability and Their Association with Cardiovascular Health

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Quantifying Nature: Introducing NatureScore^TM and NatureDose^TM as Health Analysis and Promotion Tools