Natural outdoor environments and mental health: stress as a possible mechanism

Triguero-Mas, Margarita; Donaire-Gonzalez, David; Seto, Edmund; Valentín, Antònia; Martinez, David; Smith, Graham; Hurst, Gemma; Carrasco-Turigas, Gloria; Masterson, Daniel; Bergh, Magdalena van den; Ambròs, Albert; Martínez-Íñiguez, Tania; Dėdelė, Audrius; Ellis, Naomi; Gražulevičius, Tomas; Voorsmit, Martin; Cirach, Marta; Cirac-Claveras, Judith; Swart, Wim; Clasquin, Eddy; Ruijsbroek, Annemarie; Maas, Jolanda; Jerrett, Michael; Gražulevičienė, Regina; Kruizej, Hanneke; Gidlow, Christopher J.; Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark

Use this url to cite publication: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12259/57100

Natural outdoor environments and mental health: stress as a possible mechanism

Type of publication

Straipsnis Clarivate Analytics Web of Science / Article in Clarivate Analytics Web of Science (S1)

Author(s)

Triguero-Mas, Margarita	Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Spain
Donaire-Gonzalez, David	Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, Barcelona Spain
Seto, Edmund	School of Public Health, University of Washington, USA
Valentín, Antònia	Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, Barcelona, Spain
Martinez, David	Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
Smith, Graham	Centre for Sport, Health and Exercise Research, Staffordshire University, United Kingdom
Hurst, Gemma	Centre for Sport, Health and Exercise Research, Staffordshire University, UK
Carrasco-Turigas, Gloria	Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, Barcelona, Spain
Masterson, Daniel	Centre for Sport Health and Exercise Research, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
Bergh, Magdalena van den	Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Centre (VUMC), Amsterdam, Netherlands
Ambròs, Albert	Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
Martínez-Íñiguez, Tania	Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
Dėdelė, Audrius	Aplinkotyros katedra / Department of Environmental Sciences
Ellis, Naomi	Staffordshire University, UK
Gražulevičius, Tomas	Aplinkotyros katedra / Department of Environmental Sciences
Voorsmit, Martin	Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Centre (VUMC), Amsterdam, Netherlands
Cirach, Marta	Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, Barcelona, Spain
Cirac-Claveras, Judith	Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
Swart, Wim	National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Netherlands
Clasquin, Eddy	Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Centre (VUMC), Amsterdam, Netherlands
Ruijsbroek, Annemarie	National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
Maas, Jolanda	Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Centre (VUMC), Amsterdam, Netherlands
Jerrett, Michael	University of California, Los Angeles, USA
Gražulevičienė, Regina	Aplinkotyros katedra / Department of Environmental Sciences
Kruizej, Hanneke	National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
Gidlow, Christopher J.	Centre for Sport, Health and Exercise Research, Staffordshire University, UK
Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark	Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, Barcelona, Spain

Title

Natural outdoor environments and mental health: stress as a possible mechanism

Publisher

Oxford : Elsevier Ltd

Date Issued

2017

Extent

p. 629-638

Is part of

Environmental research. Oxford : Elsevier Ltd, 2017, Vol. 159

Description

WOS:000413280500071

Field of Science

Ekologija ir aplinkotyra / Ecology and environmental sciences (N012)

Keywords

Abstract

Introduction: Better mental health has been associated with exposure to natural outdoor environments (NOE). However, comprehensive studies including several indicators of exposure and outcomes, potential effect modifiers and mediators are scarce. Objectives: We used novel, objective measures to explore the relationships between exposure to NOE (i.e. residential availability and contact) and different indicators of mental health, and possible modifiers and mediators. Methods: A nested cross-sectional study was conducted in: Barcelona, Spain; Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom; Doetinchem, Netherlands; Kaunas, Lithuania. Participants’ exposure to NOE (including both surrounding greenness and green and/or blue spaces) was measured in terms of (a) amount in their residential environment (using Geographical Information Systems) and (b) their contact with NOE (using smartphone data collected over seven days). Self-reported information was collected for mental health (psychological wellbeing, sleep quality, vitality, and somatisation), and potential effect modifiers (gender, age, education level, and city) and mediators (perceived stress and social contacts), with additional objective NOE physical activity (potential mediator). derived from smartphone accelerometers. Results: Analysis of data from 406 participants showed no statistically significant associations linking mental health and residential NOE exposure. However, NOE contact, especially surrounding greenness, was statistically significantly tied to better mental health. There were indications that these relationships were stronger for males, younger people, low-medium educated, and Doetinchem residents. Perceived stress was a mediator of most associations, and physical activity and social contacts were not. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that contact with NOE benefits mental health. Our results also suggest that having contact with NOE that can facilitate stress reduction could be particularly beneficial