What accounts for ‘England's green and pleasant land’? A panel data analysis of mental health and land cover types in rural England

Abstract

Exposure to green space is associated with a variety of positive health states. Research to date has focused primarily on 'generic' green space in urban areas, where green space is relatively scarce and where it is dominated by playing fields and parks. The current research adds to our understanding with an examination of relationships between different types of green space and mental health in rural areas in England (approximate rural population = 4 million). The aggregate land cover classes of Land Cover Map 2007 were linked to rural residential areas (Lower-level Super Output Areas) and then linked to rural participants (n = 2020) in the 18-year longitudinal British Household Panel Survey. Random effects regression of mental health (as measured by GHQ12 scores) against land cover enabled effects to be simultaneously estimated from both mean between-individual differences and from within-individual differences over time. The nine natural land cover classes (Broadleaved woodland; Coniferous woodland; Arable; Improved grassland; Semi-natural grassland; Mountain, heath and bog; Saltwater; Freshwater; Coastal) were not significantly associated with differences in mental health between individuals. However, significant relationships were observed between some types of land cover and within-individual change in mental health amongst individuals who relocated during the 18 annual waves of the panel.These findings indicate the presence of important health related ecosystem services from different land cover types that have not previously been investigated and which help more effective spatial planning and land use management.

Exploring the relationship between childhood obesity and proximity to the coast: A rural/urban perspective

“…However, it is consistent with findings of associations between coastal environments and mental health specifically within rural areas of the UK (Alcock et al, 2015). White et al (2014) showed a strong proximity gradient for physically active coastal visits in England among adults (see also Elliott et al, 2015) and a similar possibility could be hypothesised for children.…”

Public health in linkage to land use: Theoretical framework, empirical evidence, and critical implications for reconnecting health promotion to land use policy

“…This paper empirically identifies several pathways and mediators for the linkage of public health to land use. Our findings confirm the hypothesis that green land has complex mechanistic links with public health as people use green spaces for a wide spectrum of purposes (Alcock et al, 2015). Three pathways are generated and they demonstrate that green land can impact public health through purifying air, increasing physical activity, and promoting social interactions.…”

“…Some cases move from the urban areas to the rural places. A panel data analysis demonstrates that good mental health is positively related to natural spaces in rural England (Alcock et al, 2015). Almberg et al (2014) reports that adverse birth outcomes (preterm births and low birth weight) are significantly positive related to agricultural land use for rice and cotton.…”

“…We obtain several results that are consistent with previous studies. First, higher abundance of green land would reduce the risk of a diversity of diseases (e.g., asthma, low birth weight, mental health, cardiopathy, obesity, and hypertension) (Alcock et al, 2015;Bowler et al, 2010;Gascon et al, 2016;Zhang et al, 2011). Second, higher risk of cancer, mortality, and low birth weight would be observed in neighborhood with more land delineated for industry (Cambra et al, 2011;Hendryx et al, 2012;Lopez-Cima et al, 2011).…”

Beyond Climate Change and Health: Integrating Broader Environmental Change and Natural Environments for Public Health Protection and Promotion in the UK

“…Traditionally, research in this area has demonstrated that living within a neighbourhood with more generic 'greenspace' (e.g., as measured using satellite images) is associated with a lower risk of common mental health problems such as anxiety and depression [13,[95][96][97][98][99]. The focus has been in exploring the following areas: (a) different types of greenspace in urban areas (e.g., street trees [10,100]; (b) greenspace land cover in rural areas (e.g., managed grasslands, deciduous woodlands, moorland, [101]); and (c) well-being outcomes in relation to different exposure types (e.g., evaluative, eudaimonic (i.e., feelings of meaning and achievement), and experiential well-being [102]). In Theme 2 of the HPRU, we have also quantified the effects of urban infrastructure on local urban temperatures compared the potential co-benefits with temperatures in green environments and quantified the related health impacts [103], as well as the impact of factors such as the deprivation status of people in relation to exposure to the highest urban temperatures [104].…”