What are the psychological and cognitive wellbeing benefits as reported by people experiencing green space? A meta-ethnography
Background: The world is increasingly subject to urbanisation. This has been associated with deleterious effects on mental health, as urban living can decrease access to green space. The benefits of green space for wellbeing have been investigated by a widely interdisciplinary field, however the maj...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Wellbeing, Space and Society |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666558123000313 |
| _version_ | 1797385057152794624 |
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| author | Fliss Smith Dr William Turner |
| author_facet | Fliss Smith Dr William Turner |
| author_sort | Fliss Smith |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The world is increasingly subject to urbanisation. This has been associated with deleterious effects on mental health, as urban living can decrease access to green space. The benefits of green space for wellbeing have been investigated by a widely interdisciplinary field, however the majority of the evidence base is quantitative and does not offer exploration of individual experiences. This qualitative synthesis offers insight into the psychological and cognitive benefits reported by individuals experiencing green space. Methods: Following a systematic electronic database and hand-search of qualitative and mixed-methods studies from 2009 to the present, a meta-ethnography was undertaken. The thematic findings of the studies were related and translated into each other to give new third order constructs. These were then juxtaposed, and thematic constructs grouped to form an explanatory theoretical model. Results: 141 studies were screened at full text. 23 studies were included. 11 constructs were identified: Memory/connection, Freedom/escape, Peace/restoration, Symbolism/metaphor/perspective, Social, Not restorative, Agency, Sensory, Safety/protection, Emotion and Different way of thinking. A novel theoretical model was developed which proposes that the concepts “sense of self and others” together with “altered thinking” contribute to psychological wellbeing via the filter of “emotional processes”. Conclusions: A sense of self and others is an important part of the pathway for mental wellbeing in green space, demonstrating a need for individual and contextual factors to be included in future theory. Specific research and policy recommendations are discussed, especially in light of the green space inequality highlighted by the current COVID-19 pandemic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:48:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f70f05cb17dd406ab254fa020a0f505d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-5581 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:48:38Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Wellbeing, Space and Society |
| spelling | doaj.art-f70f05cb17dd406ab254fa020a0f505d2023-12-20T07:38:49ZengElsevierWellbeing, Space and Society2666-55812023-12-015100158What are the psychological and cognitive wellbeing benefits as reported by people experiencing green space? A meta-ethnographyFliss Smith0Dr William Turner1Physiotherapy Department, School of Health and Social Wellbeing, University of the West of England, Glenside Campus, Blackberry Hill, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 1DD, United Kingdom; Corresponding author.School for Policy Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Law, University of Bristol, 8 Priory Road, Bristol, BS8 1TZ, United KingdomBackground: The world is increasingly subject to urbanisation. This has been associated with deleterious effects on mental health, as urban living can decrease access to green space. The benefits of green space for wellbeing have been investigated by a widely interdisciplinary field, however the majority of the evidence base is quantitative and does not offer exploration of individual experiences. This qualitative synthesis offers insight into the psychological and cognitive benefits reported by individuals experiencing green space. Methods: Following a systematic electronic database and hand-search of qualitative and mixed-methods studies from 2009 to the present, a meta-ethnography was undertaken. The thematic findings of the studies were related and translated into each other to give new third order constructs. These were then juxtaposed, and thematic constructs grouped to form an explanatory theoretical model. Results: 141 studies were screened at full text. 23 studies were included. 11 constructs were identified: Memory/connection, Freedom/escape, Peace/restoration, Symbolism/metaphor/perspective, Social, Not restorative, Agency, Sensory, Safety/protection, Emotion and Different way of thinking. A novel theoretical model was developed which proposes that the concepts “sense of self and others” together with “altered thinking” contribute to psychological wellbeing via the filter of “emotional processes”. Conclusions: A sense of self and others is an important part of the pathway for mental wellbeing in green space, demonstrating a need for individual and contextual factors to be included in future theory. Specific research and policy recommendations are discussed, especially in light of the green space inequality highlighted by the current COVID-19 pandemic.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666558123000313Urban green spaceMental wellbeingMeta-ethnographyPsychological benefitsHealth-promoting environmentsHealth inequalities |
| spellingShingle | Fliss Smith Dr William Turner What are the psychological and cognitive wellbeing benefits as reported by people experiencing green space? A meta-ethnography Wellbeing, Space and Society Urban green space Mental wellbeing Meta-ethnography Psychological benefits Health-promoting environments Health inequalities |
| title | What are the psychological and cognitive wellbeing benefits as reported by people experiencing green space? A meta-ethnography |
| title_full | What are the psychological and cognitive wellbeing benefits as reported by people experiencing green space? A meta-ethnography |
| title_fullStr | What are the psychological and cognitive wellbeing benefits as reported by people experiencing green space? A meta-ethnography |
| title_full_unstemmed | What are the psychological and cognitive wellbeing benefits as reported by people experiencing green space? A meta-ethnography |
| title_short | What are the psychological and cognitive wellbeing benefits as reported by people experiencing green space? A meta-ethnography |
| title_sort | what are the psychological and cognitive wellbeing benefits as reported by people experiencing green space a meta ethnography |
| topic | Urban green space Mental wellbeing Meta-ethnography Psychological benefits Health-promoting environments Health inequalities |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666558123000313 |
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