How do different types and characteristics of green space impact mental health? A scoping review
Abstract Green space matters for mental health but is under constant pressure in an increasingly urbanising world. Often there is little space available in cities for green areas, so it is vital to optimise the design and usage of these available green spaces. To achieve this, experts in planning, d...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2023-12-01
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| Series: | People and Nature |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10529 |
| _version_ | 1797394079104892928 |
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| author | F. Beute M. R. Marselle A. Olszewska‐Guizzo M. B. Andreucci A. Lammel Z. G. Davies J. Glanville H. Keune L. O'Brien R. Remmen A. Russo S. deVries |
| author_facet | F. Beute M. R. Marselle A. Olszewska‐Guizzo M. B. Andreucci A. Lammel Z. G. Davies J. Glanville H. Keune L. O'Brien R. Remmen A. Russo S. deVries |
| author_sort | F. Beute |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Green space matters for mental health but is under constant pressure in an increasingly urbanising world. Often there is little space available in cities for green areas, so it is vital to optimise the design and usage of these available green spaces. To achieve this, experts in planning, design and nature conservation need to know which types and characteristics of green spaces are most beneficial for residents' mental health. A scoping review of studies that compare different green space types and characteristics on mental health was conducted. A total of 215 (experimental, observational and qualitative) papers were included in the scoping review. This review highlights a high level of heterogeneity in study design, geographical locations, mental health outcomes and green space measures. Few of the included studies were specifically designed to enable direct comparisons between green space types and characteristics (e.g. between parks and forests). The included studies have predominantly experimental research designs looking at the effects of short‐term exposure to green space on short‐term mental health outcomes (e.g. affect and physiological stress). More studies enabled only indirect comparisons, either within the same study or between different studies. Analysis of the direction of the mental health outcomes (positive, neutral, negative) from exposure to various types and characteristics of green space found positive (i.e. beneficial) effects across all green space types. However, green space characteristics did appear to render more diverse effects on mental health, which is especially the case for vegetation characteristics (e.g. higher vegetation density can be negative for mental health). The scoping review reveals gaps in the present evidence base, with a specific need for more studies directly comparing green space types and characteristics within the same study. Proposed future research directions include the use of longitudinal research designs focusing on green space characteristics, considering actual exposure and systematically addressing heterogeneity in factors influencing the relation between green spaces and mental health (e.g. type of interaction, user experience). Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:13:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7a8ebc6662824303b919ba30f6810f62 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2575-8314 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:13:14Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | People and Nature |
| spelling | doaj.art-7a8ebc6662824303b919ba30f6810f622023-12-12T09:43:35ZengWileyPeople and Nature2575-83142023-12-01561839187610.1002/pan3.10529How do different types and characteristics of green space impact mental health? A scoping reviewF. Beute0M. R. Marselle1A. Olszewska‐Guizzo2M. B. Andreucci3A. Lammel4Z. G. Davies5J. Glanville6H. Keune7L. O'Brien8R. Remmen9A. Russo10S. deVries11Faculty of Spatial Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The NetherlandsEnvironmental Psychology Research Group, School of Psychology University of Surrey Guildford UKNeurolandscape Foundation Warsawa PolandDepartment of Planning, Design, Technology of Architecture Sapienza University of Rome Rome ItalyUR Laboratoire Paragraphe Université Paris 8 Paris FranceDurrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), School of Anthropology and Conservation University of Kent Canterbury UKYork Health Economics Consortium University of York York UKDepartment Family Medicine and Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences University of Antwerp Antwerp BelgiumForest Research Society and Environment Research Group Farnham UKCentre for General Practice University of Antwerp Antwerp BelgiumSchool of Arts University of Gloucestershire Cheltenham UKWageningen Environmental Research/Cultural Geography Wageningen University & Research Wageningen The NetherlandsAbstract Green space matters for mental health but is under constant pressure in an increasingly urbanising world. Often there is little space available in cities for green areas, so it is vital to optimise the design and usage of these available green spaces. To achieve this, experts in planning, design and nature conservation need to know which types and characteristics of green spaces are most beneficial for residents' mental health. A scoping review of studies that compare different green space types and characteristics on mental health was conducted. A total of 215 (experimental, observational and qualitative) papers were included in the scoping review. This review highlights a high level of heterogeneity in study design, geographical locations, mental health outcomes and green space measures. Few of the included studies were specifically designed to enable direct comparisons between green space types and characteristics (e.g. between parks and forests). The included studies have predominantly experimental research designs looking at the effects of short‐term exposure to green space on short‐term mental health outcomes (e.g. affect and physiological stress). More studies enabled only indirect comparisons, either within the same study or between different studies. Analysis of the direction of the mental health outcomes (positive, neutral, negative) from exposure to various types and characteristics of green space found positive (i.e. beneficial) effects across all green space types. However, green space characteristics did appear to render more diverse effects on mental health, which is especially the case for vegetation characteristics (e.g. higher vegetation density can be negative for mental health). The scoping review reveals gaps in the present evidence base, with a specific need for more studies directly comparing green space types and characteristics within the same study. Proposed future research directions include the use of longitudinal research designs focusing on green space characteristics, considering actual exposure and systematically addressing heterogeneity in factors influencing the relation between green spaces and mental health (e.g. type of interaction, user experience). Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10529biodiversitygardensgreen space qualitygreen space typesmental wellbeingparks |
| spellingShingle | F. Beute M. R. Marselle A. Olszewska‐Guizzo M. B. Andreucci A. Lammel Z. G. Davies J. Glanville H. Keune L. O'Brien R. Remmen A. Russo S. deVries How do different types and characteristics of green space impact mental health? A scoping review People and Nature biodiversity gardens green space quality green space types mental wellbeing parks |
| title | How do different types and characteristics of green space impact mental health? A scoping review |
| title_full | How do different types and characteristics of green space impact mental health? A scoping review |
| title_fullStr | How do different types and characteristics of green space impact mental health? A scoping review |
| title_full_unstemmed | How do different types and characteristics of green space impact mental health? A scoping review |
| title_short | How do different types and characteristics of green space impact mental health? A scoping review |
| title_sort | how do different types and characteristics of green space impact mental health a scoping review |
| topic | biodiversity gardens green space quality green space types mental wellbeing parks |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10529 |
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