Urban Green Space and Its Impact on Human Health

Abstract

Background: Over half of the world’s population now lives in urban areas, and this proportion is expected to increase. While there have been numerous reviews of empirical studies on the link between nature and human health, very few have focused on the urban context, and most have examined almost exclusively cross-sectional research. This review is a first step toward assessing the possibility of causal relationships between nature and health in urban settings. Methods: Through systematic review of published literature, we explored the association between urban green space and human health. Results: We found consistent negative association between urban green space exposure and mortality, heart rate, and violence, and positive association with attention, mood, and physical activity. Results were mixed, or no association was found, in studies of urban green space exposure and general health, weight status, depression, and stress (via cortisol concentration). The number of studies was too low to generalize about birth outcomes, blood pressure, heart rate variability, cancer, diabetes, or respiratory symptoms. Conclusions: More studies using rigorous study design are needed to make generalizations, and meta-analyses, of these and other health outcomes possible. These findings may assist urban managers, organizations, and communities in their efforts to increase new or preserve existing green space.

Shrinking Urban Greenspace and the Rise in Non-communicable Diseases in South Asia: An Urgent Need for an Advocacy

“…Although, evidence on associations between NCD risk factors and urban characteristics are inconsistent (Canterbury District Health Board, 2016;Kondo et al, 2018), neighborhood with greater green space, walkability, access to resources and amenities, residential density, environmental quality and aesthetics, and low air and noise pollution has been found to decrease the NCD risk (Canterbury District Health Board, 2016). The growth of roads without footpath and trees and lack of UGS in South Asian cities impede the walkability and thus the potential opportunity for physical activities (Asian Development Ban, 2011; Shanahan et al, 2016;Kondo et al, 2018). With increasing purchasing power, cars stand more as symbols of high socioeconomic status than a mere means of transportation (Senbil et al, 2007).…”

Survey and Co-Design the Urban Landscape. Innovative Digital Path for Perception Analysis and Data-Driven Project

“…In the last 20 years the research on health determinant factors clearly shifted the attention to the social dimension of the individual's life (Badland and Pearce, 2019;Byrne et al, 2014;Carmichael, 2019;Corburn, 2004;House et al, 2007;Jackson L, 2003;Konstantinos Tzoulasa et al, 2007;Lee AC. Maheswaran R. and Lee A.C.K., 2011;Leeuw, 1999;M.C. et al, 2018;Schram-Bijkerk et al, 2018).…”

Does Residents’ Satisfaction with the Neighbourhood Environment Relate to Residents’ Self-Rated Health? Evidence from Beijing

“…For decades, empirical evidence has found that the interaction with green space using objective measures is associated with better physical health [1,2], physical activity [3][4][5][6][7][8], mental health [9][10][11][12][13][14][15], stress [16,17], and self-reported and self-rated health [18][19][20][21][22]. There is also growing evidence indicating that perceived greenness also contributes to health [23].…”