Active commuting through natural environments is associated with better mental health: Results from the PHENOTYPE project
Background: Commuting routes with natural features could promote walking or cycling for commuting. Commuting through natural environments (NE) could have mental health benefits as exposure to NE can reduce stress and improve mental health, but there is little evidence. This study evaluates the assoc...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2018-12-01
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| Series: | Environment International |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412018313667 |
| _version_ | 1811266686520655872 |
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| author | Wilma L. Zijlema Ione Avila-Palencia Margarita Triguero-Mas Christopher Gidlow Jolanda Maas Hanneke Kruize Sandra Andrusaityte Regina Grazuleviciene Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen |
| author_facet | Wilma L. Zijlema Ione Avila-Palencia Margarita Triguero-Mas Christopher Gidlow Jolanda Maas Hanneke Kruize Sandra Andrusaityte Regina Grazuleviciene Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen |
| author_sort | Wilma L. Zijlema |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Commuting routes with natural features could promote walking or cycling for commuting. Commuting through natural environments (NE) could have mental health benefits as exposure to NE can reduce stress and improve mental health, but there is little evidence. This study evaluates the association between NE and commuting, whether active or not, and the association between commuting (through NE), whether active or not, and mental health. We also evaluate the moderating effect of NE quality on the association between NE commuting and mental health. Methods: This cross-sectional study was based on adult respondents (n = 3599) of the Positive Health Effects of the Natural Outdoor Environment in Typical Populations in Different Regions in Europe (PHENOTYPE) project. Data were collected in four European cities in Spain, the Netherlands, Lithuania and the United Kingdom. Data on commuting behavior (active commuting at least one day/week, daily NE commuting) and mental health were collected with questionnaires. Associations were estimated with multilevel analyses including random intercepts at city- and neighborhood level. Results: Adjusted multilevel analyses showed that daily NE commuters were more often active commuters (OR 1.42; 95% CI 1.19, 1.70). There was no association between active commuting and mental health, but daily NE commuters had on average a 2.74 (95% CI 1.66, 3.82) point higher mental health score than those not commuting through NE. The association with mental health was stronger among active commuters (4.03, 95% CI 2.13, 5.94) compared to non-active commuters (2.21; 95% CI 0.90, 3.51) when daily commuting through NE, but NE quality did not have a moderating effect. Conclusions: Daily NE commuting was associated with better mental health, especially for active commuters. Daily NE commuters were likely to be active commuters. Active commuting itself was not associated with mental health. These findings suggest that cities should invest in commuting routes with nature for cycling and walking. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T20:47:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-09f16612516d429381d3721ea6979c51 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0160-4120 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T20:47:44Z |
| publishDate | 2018-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environment International |
| spelling | doaj.art-09f16612516d429381d3721ea6979c512022-12-22T03:17:12ZengElsevierEnvironment International0160-41202018-12-01121721727Active commuting through natural environments is associated with better mental health: Results from the PHENOTYPE projectWilma L. Zijlema0Ione Avila-Palencia1Margarita Triguero-Mas2Christopher Gidlow3Jolanda Maas4Hanneke Kruize5Sandra Andrusaityte6Regina Grazuleviciene7Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen8Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain; Corresponding author at: Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, SpainBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, SpainCentre for Health and Development, Staffordshire University, Leek Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2DF, United KingdomVrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Clinical Psychology, Van der Boechorstraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, the NetherlandsCenter for Sustainability, Environment and Health, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA Bilthoven, the NetherlandsDepartment of Environmental Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaicio str. 58, 44248 Kaunas, LithuaniaDepartment of Environmental Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaicio str. 58, 44248 Kaunas, LithuaniaBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, SpainBackground: Commuting routes with natural features could promote walking or cycling for commuting. Commuting through natural environments (NE) could have mental health benefits as exposure to NE can reduce stress and improve mental health, but there is little evidence. This study evaluates the association between NE and commuting, whether active or not, and the association between commuting (through NE), whether active or not, and mental health. We also evaluate the moderating effect of NE quality on the association between NE commuting and mental health. Methods: This cross-sectional study was based on adult respondents (n = 3599) of the Positive Health Effects of the Natural Outdoor Environment in Typical Populations in Different Regions in Europe (PHENOTYPE) project. Data were collected in four European cities in Spain, the Netherlands, Lithuania and the United Kingdom. Data on commuting behavior (active commuting at least one day/week, daily NE commuting) and mental health were collected with questionnaires. Associations were estimated with multilevel analyses including random intercepts at city- and neighborhood level. Results: Adjusted multilevel analyses showed that daily NE commuters were more often active commuters (OR 1.42; 95% CI 1.19, 1.70). There was no association between active commuting and mental health, but daily NE commuters had on average a 2.74 (95% CI 1.66, 3.82) point higher mental health score than those not commuting through NE. The association with mental health was stronger among active commuters (4.03, 95% CI 2.13, 5.94) compared to non-active commuters (2.21; 95% CI 0.90, 3.51) when daily commuting through NE, but NE quality did not have a moderating effect. Conclusions: Daily NE commuting was associated with better mental health, especially for active commuters. Daily NE commuters were likely to be active commuters. Active commuting itself was not associated with mental health. These findings suggest that cities should invest in commuting routes with nature for cycling and walking.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412018313667 |
| spellingShingle | Wilma L. Zijlema Ione Avila-Palencia Margarita Triguero-Mas Christopher Gidlow Jolanda Maas Hanneke Kruize Sandra Andrusaityte Regina Grazuleviciene Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen Active commuting through natural environments is associated with better mental health: Results from the PHENOTYPE project Environment International |
| title | Active commuting through natural environments is associated with better mental health: Results from the PHENOTYPE project |
| title_full | Active commuting through natural environments is associated with better mental health: Results from the PHENOTYPE project |
| title_fullStr | Active commuting through natural environments is associated with better mental health: Results from the PHENOTYPE project |
| title_full_unstemmed | Active commuting through natural environments is associated with better mental health: Results from the PHENOTYPE project |
| title_short | Active commuting through natural environments is associated with better mental health: Results from the PHENOTYPE project |
| title_sort | active commuting through natural environments is associated with better mental health results from the phenotype project |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412018313667 |
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