Residential Greenness Positively Associated with the Cortisol to DHEA Ratio among Urban-Dwelling African American Women at Risk for HIV

Abstract

As ecosystems that support human health, societies, and civilization change in the era of the Anthropocene, individuals with disproportionate balance of salivary hormones may be at greatest risk of morbidity and mortality. Vulnerable communities, in particular, are overburdened by inequities in features of built environments linked to health disparities. This study examined the cross-sectional association of greenness in the built environment with the ratio of cortisol to dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in an urban-dwelling high-risk community sample of African American women (n = 84, age 18-44 years). Saliva samples, collected across 2 consecutive days, were assayed for cortisol and DHEA. Controlling for sexual violence, perceived stress, education, and income, as well as crime, traffic density, and vacant properties, we observed a significant positive cross-sectional association between greenness and the cortisol to DHEA ratio, (β = 7•5, 95% CI: 0.89, 14.19). The findings highlight environmental influence on stress response at waking when there is the greatest individual variation. Implications for advancing our understanding of the waking ratio of cortisol to DHEA as a potential marker of physiological resilience are discussed.

Population-weighted greenspace exposure tied to lower COVID-19 mortality rates: A nationwide dose-response study in the United States

“…Patients with increased contact with nature or nature views from home during the pandemic were found to have decreased depression and anxiety (Soga et al, 2021). Previous theoretical and empirical studies support nature’s stress- reducing effect (Gidlow et al, 2016; Jiang et al, 2014; Lee et al, 2011; Mancus et al, 2020; Ulrich et al, 1991). It is possible that patients can have strengthened immune function and healthier inflammation level benefit from the stress-reduction effect of contact with forest.…”

Generating Data Visualizations of Longitudinal Cohort Ambient Air Pollution Exposure

“…Additional nursing interventions relevant to increased ambient air pollutants include community environmental management, 39 environmental management for worker safety, patient education, 40 health policy monitoring, 41,42 risk identification, 43,44 and public health nursing surveillance. 45 Examples of community health management nursing interventions may include biomarker or physiologic screening for health risks from environmental exposures; participating in multidisciplinary initiatives, programs, or coalitions to reduce environmental health hazards; promoting health protective government policy; community health education; and care coordination for at-risk groups and communities.…”

Greenness and the Potential Resilience to Sexual Violence: “Your Neighborhood Is Being Neglected Because People Don’t Care. People With Power Don’t Care”

“…Exposure to greenness has been suggested as a protective factor against psychological stressors faced by Black adolescents (Mennis et al, 2018). Additionally, the ratio of cortisol to dehydroepiandrosterone at waking, a potential biomarker of physiological resilience, has been found to be greater among Black women living with more greenness (Mancus et al, 2020).…”

“…Several studies have linked exposure to green spaces with resilience (Dzhambov et al, 2019; Mancus et al, 2020). For instance, greenness has been associated with resilient mental health among a representative probability sample of Wisconsin residents (Beyer et al, 2014).…”

“…Community resilience is the capacity to prepare for, avoid, and adapt to structural conditions that may compromise well-being (Mancus et al, 2020; Szanton & Gill, 2010). We posit that greenness is a factor of community resilience to environments that have high risk of violence.…”