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Impact of Perception of Green Space for Health Promotion on Willingness to Use Parks and Actual Use among Young Urban Residents. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17155560. [PMID: 32752166 PMCID: PMC7432496 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17155560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Promoting the use of green space is a fundamental way to improve physical and mental health and to enhance the quality of life of urban residents. In response to increasing demand for green space in cities, the impact of perception of green space for health promotion on willingness to use parks and actual use among young urban residents was investigated in this study. A total of 1135 young residents (ages 18–35) in three cities in China were surveyed by online questionnaire. A group of multiple regression models was constructed to investigate the influencing perception factors of participants’ willingness to use parks and actual use. The results revealed that the young residents’ perception of green space components for health promotion (green space access, types, sizes, plants, water, sensory features, microclimate environments and amenity facilities) had a greater effect on their willingness to use parks and to promote health, while it was less influential with respect to their actual park use behavior (frequency and duration). Among these variables, green space access is a critical concern for willingness to use toward parks. The disparities of perception of green space for health promotion effect on willingness to use a park and actual use provide a better understanding of the psychological factors affecting park use among young residents. The findings also provided some implications for public health policymakers, urban planners and landscape architects in designing parks to encourage visitation by young people.
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52
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Rousseau S, Deschacht N. Public Awareness of Nature and the Environment During the COVID-19 Crisis. ENVIRONMENTAL & RESOURCE ECONOMICS 2020; 76:1149-1159. [PMID: 32836836 PMCID: PMC7354367 DOI: 10.1007/s10640-020-00445-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
As our behavioral patterns change due to the COVID-19 crisis, our impact on nature and the environment changes too. Pollution levels are showing significant reductions. People are more aware of the importance of access to local green and blue spaces. By analyzing online search behavior in twenty European countries, we investigate how public awareness of nature and the environment has evolved during the COVID-19 crisis. We find that the crisis goes hand in hand with a positive shift in public awareness of nature-related topics, but that awareness of environmental topics remains unaffected. While the decreasing pollution levels and media attention may reduce the overall sense of urgency to tackle pollution problems, the increased experience with local natural resources may strengthen public support for a recovery program that puts the transition towards a more sustainable economic system centrally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Rousseau
- CEDON, Faculty of Economics and Business, KU Leuven, Warmoesberg 26, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nick Deschacht
- ECON, Faculty of Economics and Business, KU Leuven, Warmoesberg 26, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
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53
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Richardson M, Passmore H, Barbett L, Lumber R, Thomas R, Hunt A. The green care code: How nature connectedness and simple activities help explain pro‐nature conservation behaviours. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lea Barbett
- Human Sciences Research Centre University of Derby Derby UK
| | - Ryan Lumber
- Human Sciences Research Centre University of Derby Derby UK
| | | | - Alex Hunt
- Insight and Data National Trust Swindon UK
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54
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Mapping Kabul’s Private Urban Green Spaces Using Geographic Information System-Supervised Classification. JOURNAL OF LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.2478/jlecol-2020-0003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Private green spaces are considered an important part of urban greenery. However, the extent of private green spaces in an informal city like Kabul is unknown. To this end, this study has mapped out the private green spaces in the informal settlements of Kabul city. A Geographic Information System (GIS)-supervised image classification technique was used to identify these private green spaces in three of the 22 police districts (PDs) in the city. Briefly, the classification consisted of defining training samples, extraction of signature and classification of the imagery. As a result, 330.3 hectares were identified as private green spaces, which made up 12.3 % of the total area of informal settlements in these three districts. With 217.1 hectares, PD7 had the largest area of private green spaces among the three police districts, contributing to 65.7 % of the overall area of private green spaces, followed by PD8 (21.3 %) and PD16 (13 %). In future, the map generated in this study could be used to monitor, manage and conserve the existing urban greenery in the face of private green spaces. The results could also be utilised by the Kabul Municipality and other relevant departments to implement an upgrading programme in the informal settlements of Kabul city, which would lead to fulfilling the environmental needs of the residents.
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55
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Carthy P, Lyons S, Nolan A. Characterising urban green space density and footpath-accessibility in models of BMI. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:760. [PMID: 32448211 PMCID: PMC7245785 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-08853-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background While exposure to urban green spaces has been associated with various physical health benefits, the evidence linking these spaces to lower BMI, particularly among older people, is mixed. We ask whether footpath availability, generally unobserved in the existing literature, may mediate exposure to urban green space and help explain this volatility in results. The aim of this study is to add to the literature on the association between urban green space and BMI by considering alternative measures of urban green space that incorporate measures of footpath availability. Methods We conduct a cross-sectional study combining data from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing and detailed land use information. We proxy respondents’ exposure to urban green spaces at their residential addresses using street-side and area buffers that take account of the presence of footpaths. Generalised linear models are used to test the association between exposure to several measures of urban green space and BMI. Results Relative to the third quintile, exposure to the lowest quintile of urban green space, as measured within a 1600 m footpath-accessible network buffer, is associated with slightly higher BMI (marginal effect: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.16–1.44). The results, however, are not robust to small changes in how green space is measured and no statistically significant association between urban green spaces and BMI is found under other variants of our regression model. Conclusion The relationship between urban green spaces and BMI among older adults is highly sensitive to the characterisation of local green space. Our results suggest that there are some unobserved factors other than footpath availability that mediate the relationship between urban green spaces and weight status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Carthy
- Economic and Social Research Institute, Whitaker Square, Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin 2, Ireland.,Department of Economics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sean Lyons
- Economic and Social Research Institute, Whitaker Square, Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin 2, Ireland. .,Department of Economics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Anne Nolan
- Economic and Social Research Institute, Whitaker Square, Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin 2, Ireland.,Department of Economics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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56
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Mills JG, Bissett A, Gellie NJC, Lowe AJ, Selway CA, Thomas T, Weinstein P, Weyrich LS, Breed MF. Revegetation of urban green space rewilds soil microbiotas with implications for human health and urban design. Restor Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob G. Mills
- School of Biological Sciences and Environment Institute The University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia 5005 Australia
| | - Andrew Bissett
- Oceans and Atmosphere, CSIRO Hobart Tasmania 7004 Australia
| | - Nicholas J. C. Gellie
- School of Biological Sciences and Environment Institute The University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia 5005 Australia
| | - Andrew J. Lowe
- School of Biological Sciences and Environment Institute The University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia 5005 Australia
| | - Caitlin A. Selway
- Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, School of Biological Sciences The University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia 5005 Australia
| | - Torsten Thomas
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Environmental and Earth Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales 2052 Australia
| | - Philip Weinstein
- School of Biological Sciences and Environment Institute The University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia 5005 Australia
| | - Laura S. Weyrich
- Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, School of Biological Sciences The University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia 5005 Australia
- Department of Anthropology The Pennsylvania State University University Park Pennsylvania 16802 USA
| | - Martin F. Breed
- School of Biological Sciences and Environment Institute The University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia 5005 Australia
- College of Science and Engineering Flinders University Adelaide South Australia 5042 Australia
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Fischer LK, Neuenkamp L, Lampinen J, Tuomi M, Alday JG, Bucharova A, Cancellieri L, Casado‐Arzuaga I, Čeplová N, Cerveró L, Deák B, Eriksson O, Fellowes MDE, Fernández de Manuel B, Filibeck G, González‐Guzmán A, Hinojosa MB, Kowarik I, Lumbierres B, Miguel A, Pardo R, Pons X, Rodríguez‐García E, Schröder R, Gaia Sperandii M, Unterweger P, Valkó O, Vázquez V, Klaus VH. Public attitudes toward biodiversity‐friendly greenspace management in Europe. Conserv Lett 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Leonie K. Fischer
- Department of Ecology, Chair of Ecosystem Science/Plant EcologyTechnische Universität Berlin Berlin Germany
- Berlin‐Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB) Berlin Germany
- Institute of Landscape Planning and EcologyUniversity of Stuttgart Stuttgart Germany
| | - Lena Neuenkamp
- Institute of Plant SciencesUniversity of Bern Bern Switzerland
- Institute of Ecology and Earth ScienceUniversity of Tartu Tartu Estonia
| | | | - Maria Tuomi
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Turku Turku Finland
| | - Josu G. Alday
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida Lleida Spain
- Joint Reseach Unit CTFC—AGROTECNIO Lleida Spain
| | - Anna Bucharova
- Eberhard‐Karls‐Universität TübingenInstitute of Evolution and Ecology Tübingen Germany
- Westfälische Wilhelms‐Universität MünsterInstitute of Landscape Ecology Münster Germany
| | - Laura Cancellieri
- Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences (DAFNE)University of Tuscia Viterbo Italy
| | - Izaskun Casado‐Arzuaga
- Department of Plant Biology and EcologyUniversity of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) Bizkaia Spain
| | - Natálie Čeplová
- Department of Biology, Faculty of EducationMasaryk University Brno Czech Republic
| | - Lluïsa Cerveró
- Estudi TALP (Territori Arquitectura i Laboratori de Paisatge) Valencia Spain
| | - Balázs Deák
- Centre for Ecological ResearchInstitute of Ecology and Botany MTA‐ÖK Lendület Seed Ecology Research Group Vácrátót Hungary
| | - Ove Eriksson
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant SciencesStockholm University Stockholm Sweden
| | - Mark D. E. Fellowes
- People and Wildlife Research Group, School of Biological SciencesUniversity of Reading Reading Berkshire UK
| | | | - Goffredo Filibeck
- Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences (DAFNE)University of Tuscia Viterbo Italy
| | | | - M. Belen Hinojosa
- Department of Environmental SciencesUniversity of Castilla‐La Mancha Toledo Spain
| | - Ingo Kowarik
- Department of Ecology, Chair of Ecosystem Science/Plant EcologyTechnische Universität Berlin Berlin Germany
- Berlin‐Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB) Berlin Germany
| | - Belén Lumbierres
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida Lleida Spain
| | - Ana Miguel
- Estudi TALP (Territori Arquitectura i Laboratori de Paisatge) Valencia Spain
| | - Rosa Pardo
- Estudi TALP (Territori Arquitectura i Laboratori de Paisatge) Valencia Spain
| | - Xavier Pons
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida Lleida Spain
| | - Encarna Rodríguez‐García
- Instituto Universitario de Gestión Forestal Sostenible, Universidad de Valladolid Palencia Spain
- ALEB (Active Learning in Ecology and Biotechnology) El Siscar (Santomera) Murcia Spain
| | - Roland Schröder
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Landscape ArchitectureOsnabrück University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück Germany
| | | | | | - Orsolya Valkó
- Centre for Ecological ResearchInstitute of Ecology and Botany MTA‐ÖK Lendület Seed Ecology Research Group Vácrátót Hungary
| | - Víctor Vázquez
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of SciencesUniversity of Málaga Málaga Spain
- Department of Research and DevelopmentCoccosphere Environmental Analysis Málaga Spain
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Richards DR, Fung TK, Leong RAT, Sachidhanandam U, Drillet Z, Edwards PJ. Demographic biases in engagement with nature in a tropical Asian city. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0231576. [PMID: 32339175 PMCID: PMC7185705 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Urban residents can benefit from spending time in outdoor spaces and engaging with nature-related activities. Such engagement can improve health and well-being, support community cohesion, and improve environmentally-friendly behaviours. However, engagement with nature may not be equal amongst different members of society. We investigated individual variation in engagement with nature in Singapore, a high-density city in tropical Southeast Asia. Through a survey of 1000 residents, we analysed relationships between demographic factors such as age, income, and sex, and the frequency of visitation to different ecosystem types, and the frequency of engagement with different nature-related activities. Parks and neighbourhood open spaces were among the most commonly-visited outdoor spaces, with nature reserves and other natural areas being visited less frequently. Common activities included sitting outdoors, art and photography, and running, while hiking and nature recreation were less frequent. In contrast with previous studies, we found relatively small differences among different groups of the population in their preferred types of outdoor activities. Older people, those with lower incomes, and without degrees were less likely to visit most types of outdoor space and engage with most types of nature-related activities. In the case of nature reserves, the distance from the visitor’s home had a significantly negative influence on the frequency of visitation. These findings demonstrate that the benefits of engagement with nature are not equally enjoyed by all demographic groups, and that some groups lack engagement across the board. Strategies to increase nature engagement in tropical cities could include increasing the local availability and accessibility of different types of outdoor space, and education and public outreach programmes to encourage participation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R. Richards
- Future Cities Laboratory, Singapore-ETH Centre, ETH Zurich, Zürich, Singapore
- * E-mail:
| | - Tze Kwan Fung
- Future Cities Laboratory, Singapore-ETH Centre, ETH Zurich, Zürich, Singapore
| | - Rachel A. T. Leong
- Future Cities Laboratory, Singapore-ETH Centre, ETH Zurich, Zürich, Singapore
| | | | - Zuzana Drillet
- Future Cities Laboratory, Singapore-ETH Centre, ETH Zurich, Zürich, Singapore
| | - Peter J. Edwards
- Future Cities Laboratory, Singapore-ETH Centre, ETH Zurich, Zürich, Singapore
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Abstract
Contact with nature makes people feel better, live healthier and act more environmentally-friendly. We hypothesized that dog walking, an omnipresent people–nature interaction in cities, translates to a more positive view of urban nature and, subsequently, to more support for conservation initiatives. Insights into such positive side-effects of dog walking are relevant for dog-related urban policies that often focus on negative impacts of dogs (e.g., health risks, disturbance of wildlife). Based on a field survey in five European cities (N = 3717), we analyzed if people who walked dogs regularly valued four urban ecosystem types (park meadows, wastelands, streetscapes, forests), and the plant species diversity within, differently from other people. Opposite to our hypothesis, participants from both groups valued urban ecosystems and their biodiversity very similarly across the cities. Thus, our study does not confirm that regular dog walkers value natural elements more than other people. It thus remains an important challenge for urban planners to balance services and disservices of dog walking in urban greenspaces.
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Razani N, Hills NK, Thompson D, Rutherford GW. The Association of Knowledge, Attitudes and Access with Park Use before and after a Park-Prescription Intervention for Low-Income Families in the U.S. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17030701. [PMID: 31973173 PMCID: PMC7037040 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17030701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
We conducted secondary data analyses of pooled data from a clinical trial that prescribed park visits to children and their caregivers in a low-income, urban setting. Data were collected at the prescribing visit (baseline) and at one and three months of follow up from 78 families. Family characteristics were identified at baseline; regression models were used to explore changes during follow up in associations of park use with knowledge, attitudes and perceived access to parks. At baseline, park users differed from non-users in demographics, knowledge of park locations, attitudes about the value of park visits, but not affinity for nature. Park users were also more likely than non-users to feel that their neighborhood was safe for children to play in. Changes in knowledge of park locations, nature affinity, and perceived access to parks were each significantly associated with increased park use by families at one and three months after the park prescription. Adjusting for age, gender, race, poverty, and US birth, increases in knowing the location of parks were associated with an increase of 0.27 weekly park visits (95% CI 0.05, 0.49; p = 0.016); increases in feeling a caregiver had money to visit parks were associated with 0.48 more weekly park visits (95% CI 0.28, 0.69; p < 0.001); increases in perceived money for park outings were associated with 0.24 increased park visits per week (95% CI 0.05, 0.42; p = 0.01); each unit increase in nature affinity was associated with 0.34 more weekly park visits (95% CI 0.09, 0.59; p = 0.007). In other words, knowing where to go, valuing nature, and having time, and money contributed to increased likelihood of visiting a park. We discuss in terms of health behavior theory how demographics, knowledge, attitudes and perceived barriers to park use can inform park prescription interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nooshin Razani
- Department of Pediatrics, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, University of California at San Francisco, 5220 Claremont Ave, Oakland, CA 94608, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-415-722-1915
| | - Nancy K. Hills
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, Sandler Neurosciences Center, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Doug Thompson
- San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco Human Services Agency 170 Otis Street, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA
| | - George W. Rutherford
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, 550 16th Street, Box 1224, San Francisco, CA 94143-1224, USA
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61
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Abstract
The direct interactions between people and nature are critically important in many ways, with growing attention particularly on their impacts on human health and wellbeing (both positive and negative), on people's attitudes and behaviour towards nature, and on the benefits and hazards to wildlife. A growing evidence base is accelerating the understanding of different forms that these direct human-nature interactions take, novel analyses are revealing the importance of the opportunity and orientation of individual people as key drivers of these interactions, and methodological developments are increasingly making apparent their spatial, temporal and socio-economic dynamics. Here, we provide a roadmap of these advances and identify key, often interdisciplinary, research challenges that remain to be met. We identified several key challenges, including the need to characterize individual people's nature interactions through their life course, to determine in a comparable fashion how these interactions vary across much more diverse geographical, cultural and socio-economic contexts that have been explored to date, and to quantify how the relative contributions of people's opportunity and orientation vary in shaping their nature interactions. A robust research effort, guided by a focus on such unanswered questions, has the potential to yield high-impact insights into the fundamental nature of human-nature interactions and contribute to developing strategies for their appropriate management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masashi Soga
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1, Yayoi, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Kevin J Gaston
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
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Giusti M, Samuelsson K. The regenerative compatibility: A synergy between healthy ecosystems, environmental attitudes, and restorative experiences. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0227311. [PMID: 31910442 PMCID: PMC6946585 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Urban nature is and will be the most common provider of nature interactions for humankind. The restorative benefits of nature exposure are renown and creating human habitats that simultaneously support people’s wellbeing and ecological sustainability is an urgent priority. In this study, we investigate how the relationship between environmental attitudes and healthy ecosystems influences restorative experiences combining a place-based online survey with geographical data on ecosystem health in Stockholm (Sweden). Using spatial regression, we predict the 544 restorative experiences (from 325 respondents), with people’s environmental attitudes, natural land covers, ecosystem health, and the statistical interactions among these variables as predictors. Our results show that restorative experiences can happen anywhere in the urban landscape, but when they occur in natural environments, the combined levels of biodiversity and ecological connectivity are better predicting factor than the mere presence of nature. That is, healthy ecosystems seem to be more important than just any nature for restorative experiences. Moreover, the statistical interaction between one’s environmental attitudes and natural environments predict almost all restorative experiences better than when these variables are independent predictors. This suggests that there is synergistic compatibility between environmental attitudes and healthy ecosystems that triggers restorative processes. We call this synergy regenerative compatibility. Regenerative compatibility is an unexploited potential that emerges when people’s attitudes and ecosystems are aligned in sustainability. We consider regenerative compatibility a valuable leverage point to transform towards ecologically sustainable and healthy urban systems. To this end, we encourage multifaceted policy interventions that regenerate human-nature relationships holistically rather than implement atomistic solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Giusti
- Department of Building Engineering, Energy Systems and Sustainability Science, University of Gävle, Gävle, Sweden
- * E-mail:
| | - Karl Samuelsson
- Department of Geospatial and Computer Sciences, University of Gävle, Gävle, Sweden
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Kruize H, van Kamp I, van den Berg M, van Kempen E, Wendel-Vos W, Ruijsbroek A, Swart W, Maas J, Gidlow C, Smith G, Ellis N, Hurst G, Masterson D, Triguero-Mas M, Cirach M, Gražulevičienė R, van den Hazel P, Nieuwenhuijsen M. Exploring mechanisms underlying the relationship between the natural outdoor environment and health and well-being - Results from the PHENOTYPE project. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 134:105173. [PMID: 31677803 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2019] [Accepted: 09/08/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the large number of studies on beneficial effects of the natural outdoor environment (NOE) on health, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. OBJECTIVE This study explored the relations between amount, quality, use and experience of the NOE; and physical activity, social contacts and mental well-being. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, data on GIS-derived measures of residential surrounding greenness (NDVI), NOE within 300 m, and audit data on quality of the streetscape were combined with questionnaire data from 3947 adults in four European cities. These included time spent in NOE (use); and perceived greenness, and satisfaction with and importance given to the NOE (experience). Physical activity, social contacts and mental health were selected as key outcome indicators. Descriptive and multilevel analyses were conducted both on pooled data and for individual cities. RESULTS More minutes spent in the NOE were associated with more minutes of physical activity, a higher frequency of social contacts with neighbors, and better mental well-being. Perceived greenness, satisfaction with and importance of the NOE, were other strong predictors of the outcomes, while GIS measures of NOE and streetscape quality were not. We found clear differences between the four cities. CONCLUSIONS Use and experience of the natural outdoor environment are important predictors for beneficial effects of the natural outdoor environment and health. Future research should focus more on these aspects to further increase our understanding of these mechanisms, and needs to take the local context into account.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanneke Kruize
- Centre for Sustainability, Environment and Health, RIVM, Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
| | - Irene van Kamp
- Centre for Sustainability, Environment and Health, RIVM, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | | | - Elise van Kempen
- Centre for Sustainability, Environment and Health, RIVM, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Wanda Wendel-Vos
- Centre for Prevention and Health Services, RIVM, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | | | - Wim Swart
- Centre for Sustainability, Environment and Health, RIVM, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Jolanda Maas
- VU University, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Clinical Psychology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Christopher Gidlow
- Centre for Health and Development (CHAD), Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
| | - Graham Smith
- Centre for Health and Development (CHAD), Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
| | - Naomi Ellis
- Centre for Health and Development (CHAD), Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
| | - Gemma Hurst
- Centre for Health and Development (CHAD), Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Masterson
- Centre for Health and Development (CHAD), Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
| | - Margarita Triguero-Mas
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Cirach
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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Urban Green Space: Creating a Triple Win for Environmental Sustainability, Health, and Health Equity through Behavior Change. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16224403. [PMID: 31717956 PMCID: PMC6888177 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16224403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Urbanization, costs of green space maintenance, and diminishing connection between people and nature all exert pressures on urban green space. This is regrettable as green space has the potential to create wins for environmental sustainability, health, and health equity. This paper explores this potential triple win and investigates how to increase the use of urban green space through behavior change. A narrative literature review was conducted and was supplemented with literature suggested by experts. Results show that creating well-designed green spaces and stimulating people to use them can indeed deliver this triple win. Providing accessible, attractive, well-maintained green space with room for socialization, and where people feel safe, may increase the opportunity and motivation of people to use it more often. Informing and educating people and organizing activities may increase capability (and motivation) to use green space. Since the use of green space depends on life stage, lifestyle factors and individual values, it is important to involve potential users in its design. We recommend a specific focus on those groups who may benefit most from the use of green space. More evaluation is needed to inform effective green space interventions and to assess related economic, social, and environmental benefits.
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Campos Tisovec‐Dufner K, Teixeira L, Marin GDL, Coudel E, Morsello C, Pardini R. Intention of preserving forest remnants among landowners in the Atlantic Forest: The role of the ecological context via ecosystem services. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lucas Teixeira
- Programa de Pós‐graduação em Ecologia Instituto de Biociências Universidade de São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
| | - Gabriela de Lima Marin
- Programa de Pós‐graduação em Ecologia Instituto de Biociências Universidade de São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
| | - Emilie Coudel
- UPR GREEN CIRAD Montpellier France
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Universidade de Brasília Brasília Brazil
| | - Carla Morsello
- Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades Universidade de São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
- Instituto de Energia e Ambiente Universidade de São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
| | - Renata Pardini
- Departamento de Zoologia Instituto de Biociências Universidade de São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
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Does Perceived Green Space Quality Matter? Linking Norwegian Adult Perspectives on Perceived Quality to Motivation and Frequency of Visits. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16132327. [PMID: 31266246 PMCID: PMC6651101 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16132327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 06/22/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Individual perceptions of green space quality are essential when a user considers engaging in activities. This national-scale study provides insights into Norwegians’ quality perceptions of municipal green space, visit frequency and motivations for engaging in different activities. We applied regression analysis to investigate how various factors affect the outcome variables, quality perceptions and visit frequency from a sample of the Norwegian adult population. Results reveal that Norwegians perceive their green spaces as having good quality, and higher quality perceptions have a positive influence on green space visits. Half of the respondents visited green spaces out of intrinsic motives in high-quality environments providing fresh air, experiences of nature and quietness. It is essential, however, to take into account that less reported activity mirrors groups of respondents who least often visit green spaces.
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Association Between Neighborhood Income, Patterns of Use, and Physical Activity Levels in Fitness Zones of Curitiba, Brazil. J Phys Act Health 2019; 16:447-454. [PMID: 31023140 DOI: 10.1123/jpah.2018-0234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Background: Socioeconomic characteristics of locations where physical activity equipment is installed may affect the activity level of users. The purpose of this study was to verify patterns of use and physical activity levels in fitness zones installed in low- and high-income neighborhoods in the city of Curitiba, Brazil. Methods: Over 1200 observations were conducted in 20 fitness zones in the city of Curitiba, Brazil. Data were collected during the months of November and December 2012, in 4 periods of the day (8 AM, 11 AM, 2 PM, and 5 PM), on 2 weekdays and 2 weekend days. Results: A total of 2232 people were observed in the fitness zones. Age group, level of physical activity in the area, use of fitness zones during weekend days, and occupation of spaces were significantly associated with neighborhood income. Moreover, users of fitness zones located in high-income neighborhoods showed higher odds ratio (OR = 1.74; 95% confidence interval, 1.46-2.07) of moderate to vigorous physical activity than light or sedentary activities, regardless of gender or day of the week. Conclusions: The sole presence of equipment does not seem to favor the use of fitness zones in low-income neighborhoods. Future studies should investigate intrinsic factors for the use of fitness zones for physical activity.
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68
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Nisbet EK, Zelenski JM, Grandpierre Z. Mindfulness in Nature Enhances Connectedness and Mood. ECOPSYCHOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1089/eco.2018.0061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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69
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Soga M, Tsuchiya K, Evans MJ, Ishibashi S. The inequalities of the extinction of experience: The role of personal characteristics and species traits in the distribution of people–plant interactions in Japan. Ecol Res 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1440-1703.12009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Masashi Soga
- Department of Ecosystem Studies, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life SciencesThe University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
| | - Kazuaki Tsuchiya
- Department of Ecosystem Studies, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life SciencesThe University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
| | - Maldwyn J. Evans
- Department of Ecosystem Studies, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life SciencesThe University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
- Fenner School of Environment and SocietyThe Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Soki Ishibashi
- Department of Ecosystem Studies, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life SciencesThe University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
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Schilhab T, Esbensen GL. Socio-Cultural Influences on Situated Cognition in Nature. Front Psychol 2019; 10:980. [PMID: 31130897 PMCID: PMC6509156 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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Cassarino M, Bantry-White E, Setti A. Cognitive and Sensory Dimensions of Older People's Preferences of Outdoor Spaces for Walking: A Survey Study in Ireland. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:E1340. [PMID: 31013969 PMCID: PMC6518375 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16081340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Physical exercise, particularly walking, benefits healthy ageing. Understanding the environmental circumstances in which exercise occurs is crucial to the promotion of physical activity in older age. Most studies have focused on the structural dimensions of environments that may foster walking; however, individual differences in how older people perceive and interact with outdoor spaces need further attention. This study explored the cognitive and sensory dimensions of preferences of outdoor spaces for walking. METHODS We invited 112 healthy community-dwelling people aged ≥60 years to complete a survey to test associations between walking preferences and cognitive/sensory vulnerability. A subsample also completed focus groups/walk along interviews to explore qualitatively the cognitive/sensory reasons for outdoor walking preferences. RESULTS While most participants indicated a preference for outdoor spaces that offer variety and greenery, we observed a complex association between individual cognitive/sensory needs (stimulation seeking vs. avoidance), preferences for social interactions, and the place of residence urbanity level. Furthermore, walking preferences varied based on the purpose of the walk (recreation vs. transportation). CONCLUSIONS Our findings support an ecological approach to understanding determinants of physical activity in older age, which consider the interaction between individual cognitive processing and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marica Cassarino
- School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, Enterprise Centre, North Mall, T23 TK30 Cork City, Ireland.
| | - Eleanor Bantry-White
- School of Applied Social Studies, University College Cork, William Thompson House, Donovan's Road, T12 E6F3 Cork City, Ireland.
| | - Annalisa Setti
- School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, Enterprise Centre, North Mall, T23 TK30 Cork City, Ireland.
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72
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Hoyle H, Jorgensen A, Hitchmough JD. What determines how we see nature? Perceptions of naturalness in designed urban green spaces. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Helen Hoyle
- Department of Architecture and Built Environment University of the West of England Bristol UK
- Landscape Architecture The University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - Anna Jorgensen
- Landscape Architecture The University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
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73
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Rosa CD, Collado S. Experiences in Nature and Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors: Setting the Ground for Future Research. Front Psychol 2019; 10:763. [PMID: 31024400 PMCID: PMC6465548 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
There is empirical evidence suggesting a positive link between direct experiences in nature and people’s environmental attitudes (EA) and behaviors (EB). This has led researchers to encourage more frequent contact with nature, especially during childhood, as a way of increasing pro-environmentalism (i.e., pro-EA and pro-EB). However, the association between experiences in nature and EA/EB is complex, and specific guidelines for people’s everyday contact with nature cannot be provided. This article offers an overview of the research conducted until know about the relation between experiences in nature and pro-environmentalism, and opens up new inquiries for future research. We begin with an introduction to people’s current tendency toward an alienation from the natural world and set out the objectives of the article. It is followed by three main sections. The first one reports on what experiences in nature refer to, how and where they occur. The second section describes the different approaches used to investigate and interpret the experiences in nature-EA and EB relation. The last section provides suggestions for future research. We close by making some final remarks about the importance of (re)stablishing a greater interaction with nature for people’s pro-EA and EB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio D Rosa
- Department of Development and Environment, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Brazil
| | - Silvia Collado
- Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, Teruel, Spain
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Public Green Infrastructure Contributes to City Livability: A Systematic Quantitative Review. LAND 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/land7040161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Consistent with the Land Urbanism and Green Infrastructure theme of this special issue of Land, the primary goal of this review is to provide a plain language overview of recent literature that reports on the psychological, physiological, general well-being, and wider societal benefits that humans receive as a result of experiencing public green infrastructure (PGI) and nature in urbanized landscapes. This enhanced well-being and the wider societal benefits that accrue to urban dwellers as a result of interacting with quality PGI contributes to the concept known as city or urban livability. The quantitative analysis and theoretical synthesis reported in this review can inform decision makers, stakeholders, and other PGI and urban nature (UN) researchers of the benefits that urban populations receive from experiencing quality PGI spaces and UN and the contribution those spaces make to the livability of urban areas. With diminishing opportunities for the acquisition of new public open space to increase PGI and re-establish UN near urban centers, the efficient management and continuous improvement of existing PGI and UN is essential to promote and foster opportunities for human-to-nature contact and the known benefits therein derived. In addition to identifying an increased research interest and publication of articles that report on the contribution of PGI spaces to urban livability over the past decade, the review identifies and reports on the seven focus areas of PGI-livability research and the six attributes of PGI spaces that the current literatures report as contributing to the livability of urbanized landscapes. After providing a quantitative analysis for the reporting of those research areas and PGI attributes and summarizing key findings reported in the literature regarding the contribution that PGI spaces make to urban livability, this review also identifies knowledge gaps in the published literature and puts forward recommendations for further research in this rapidly expanding multidisciplinary field of research and policy development.
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75
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Visitor Satisfaction with a Public Green Infrastructure and Urban Nature Space in Perth, Western Australia. LAND 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/land7040159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The widely applied Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) provides relatively simple and straightforward techniques to assess how well the attributes of a good or service perform in meeting the expectations of consumers, clients, users, and visitors. Surprisingly, IPA has rarely been applied to inform the management of urban public green infrastructure (PGI) or urban nature (UN) spaces. This case study explores the visitor satisfaction levels of people using a PGI space that incorporates UN, close to the central business district of Perth, Western Australia. With diminishing opportunities to acquire new PGI spaces within ever more densely populated urban centers, understanding, efficiently managing, and continuously improving existing spaces is crucial to accessing the benefits and services that PGI and UN provide for humankind. An intercept survey conducted within the Lake Claremont PGI space utilized a self-report questionnaire to gather qualitative and quantitative data (n = 393). This case study demonstrates how the IPA tool can assist urban planners and land managers to collect information about the attributes of quality PGI and UN spaces to monitor levels of service, to increase overall efficiency of site management, to inform future management decisions, and to optimize the allocation of scarce resources. The satisfaction of PGI users was analyzed using the IPA tool to determine where performance and/or resourcing of PGI attributes were not congruent with the expectations of PGI users (generally in the form of over-servicing or under-servicing). The IPA demonstrated that a majority of PGI users perceived the study site to be high performing and were satisfied with many of the assessed attributes. The survey identified the potential for some improvement of the amenity and/or infrastructure installations at the site, as well as directing attention towards a more effective utilization of scarce resources. Optimizing the management of PGI spaces will enhance opportunities for individuals to obtain the physiological, psychological, and emotional benefits that arise from experiencing quality urban PGI spaces. This case study promotes the important contribution that high-quality PGI spaces, which include remnant and restored UN spaces, make to the development of resilient and sustainable urban centers.
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76
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Pyky R, Neuvonen M, Kangas K, Ojala A, Lanki T, Borodulin K, Tyrväinen L. Individual and environmental factors associated with green exercise in urban and suburban areas. Health Place 2018; 55:20-28. [PMID: 30459052 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2018.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we mainly aimed to explore the associations of personal and socio-demographic factors, and the supply of green areas and built sports facilities with green exercise (GE). We also compared the residents of the core urban area and suburban areas according to the level of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) they had. A population-based sample of 3730 adults (aged 25-101 y) from Finland, filled out a questionnaire in 2015. Variables describing the supply of green areas and built sports facilities were objectively calculated. The green areas were classified into small (<25 ha), middle-sized (25-150 ha) and large (>150 ha) areas to reflect their qualities for GE. The data analysis methods included multinomial logistic regression, t-, and Chi Square tests. Our results indicate that having a short distance to at least a middle-sized green area and high nature relatedness are important for participation in GE, both in core urban and suburban areas. More factors were found to be related to GE in the suburban areas compared to core urban areas and among the low LTPA compared to the high LTPA group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riitta Pyky
- Natural Resources Institute Finland, Latokartanonkaari 9, 00790 Helsinki, Finland; Oulu Deaconess Institute, Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Albertinkatu 18A, 90100 Oulu, Finland.
| | - Marjo Neuvonen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland, Latokartanonkaari 9, 00790 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Katja Kangas
- Natural Resources Institute Finland, Latokartanonkaari 9, 00790 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Ann Ojala
- Natural Resources Institute Finland, Latokartanonkaari 9, 00790 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Timo Lanki
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, Department of Health Security, P.O. Box 95, 70701 Kuopio, Finland; Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Katja Borodulin
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, Department of Public Health Solutions, P.O. Box 30, 00271 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Liisa Tyrväinen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland, Latokartanonkaari 9, 00790 Helsinki, Finland.
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Gaston KJ, Soga M, Duffy JP, Garrett JK, Gaston S, Cox DTC. Personalised Ecology. Trends Ecol Evol 2018; 33:916-925. [PMID: 30449304 PMCID: PMC6343013 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2018.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Revised: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The field of ecology has focused on understanding characteristics of natural systems in a manner as free as possible from biases of human observers. However, demand is growing for knowledge of human-nature interactions at the level of individual people. This is particularly driven by concerns around human health consequences due to changes in positive and negative interactions. This requires attention to the biased ways in which people encounter and experience other organisms. Here we define such a 'personalised ecology', and discuss its connections to other aspects of the field. We propose a framework of focal research topics, shaped by whether the unit of analysis is a single person, a single population, or multiple populations, and whether a human or nature perspective is foremost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin J Gaston
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK; Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, Institute for Advanced Study, Wallotstrasse 19, 14193, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Masashi Soga
- School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1, Yayoi, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
| | - James P Duffy
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Joanne K Garrett
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3HD, UK
| | - Sian Gaston
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Daniel T C Cox
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK; European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3HD, UK
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78
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Abstract
PurposeThere is a need to provide interventions to improve well-being that are accessible and cost-effective. Interventions to increase engagement with nature are coming to the fore. The Wildlife Trusts 30 Days Wild campaign shows promise as a large-scale intervention for improving public engagement with nature for well-being. The paper aims to discuss this issue.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 273 people fully participated in a repeated measures evaluation comparing baseline measures of nature connection, health, happiness and conservation behaviours with measures post-30 days and 3 months.FindingsThere were sustained and significant increases for scores in nature connection, health, happiness and conservation behaviours. Those with lower scores at baseline in nature connection, conservation behaviours and happiness showed the most benefit. Older participants and those with higher baseline scores in conservation behaviours were the most likely to sustain their engagement with the campaign.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the design and defined outcomes meet criteria for public health interventions, the self-reported measures, self-selecting sample and attrition are limitations.Originality/valueThe significant and sustained effects of the campaign on health, happiness and nature connection and conservation make this a promising intervention for improving human’s and nature’s well-being. The large community sample and naturalistic setting for the intervention make these data relevant to future interventions and policy.
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Dean JH, Shanahan DF, Bush R, Gaston KJ, Lin BB, Barber E, Franco L, Fuller RA. Is Nature Relatedness Associated with Better Mental and Physical Health? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:E1371. [PMID: 29966307 PMCID: PMC6069224 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15071371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Revised: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Nature relatedness is a psychological characteristic with the potential to drive interaction with nature and influence well-being. We surveyed 1538 people in Brisbane, Australia to investigate how nature relatedness varies among socio-demographic groups. We determined whether people with higher nature relatedness reported fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress and better overall health, controlling for potentially confounding socio-demographic and health-related variables. Overall nature relatedness was higher in older people, females, those without children living at home, not working, and people speaking English at home. Aspects of nature relatedness reflecting enjoyment of nature were consistently associated with reduced ill health, consistent with widespread evidence of the health and well-being benefits of experiencing nature. In contrast, aspects of nature relatedness reflecting self-identification with nature, and a conservation worldview, were associated with increased depression, anxiety or stress, after accounting for potential confounding factors. Detailed investigation of causal pathways among nature relatedness, socio-demographic factors and health is warranted, with particular focus on the relationship between stress and nature orientation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie H Dean
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia.
| | - Danielle F Shanahan
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
- Zealandia, 31 Waiapu Road, Karori, WLG 6012, New Zealand.
| | - Robert Bush
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia.
| | - Kevin J Gaston
- Environment & Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9EZ, UK.
| | - Brenda B Lin
- CSIRO Land & Water Flagship, PMB 1, 107-121 Station Street, Aspendale, VIC 3195, Australia.
| | - Elizabeth Barber
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia.
| | - Lara Franco
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Richard A Fuller
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
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80
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Who Cares? The Importance of Emotional Connections with Nature to Ensure Food Security and Wellbeing in Cities. SUSTAINABILITY 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/su10061844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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81
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82
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How Urban Parks Offer Opportunities for Physical Activity in Dublin, Ireland. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15040815. [PMID: 29690508 PMCID: PMC5923857 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15040815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2018] [Revised: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Parks are an important part of the urban fabric of cities. They offer people the opportunity to connect with nature, engage in physical activity, find a haven away from the city noise, or spend time alone or with family and friends. This study examines the relative importance of park and park visit characteristics for 865 survey participants in Dublin, Ireland. The data is analyzed using a multinomial logistic regression model which can distinguish the relative importance of attributes. The model results demonstrate an improvement over proportional by chance accuracy, indicating that the model is useful. The results suggest that when and why individuals go to the park along with the proximity of their residence to the park influence visit frequency more than their age and gender and more than their impression of the sound levels in the park. The contribution of the results, in terms of their potential usefulness to planners, suggest that the priority should be on the provision of park space close to residential areas, so that individuals can engage in activities such as walking and relaxation, and that the quality of that space, in the context of noise levels at least, is less important.
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83
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Dempsey S, Lyons S, Nolan A. Urban green space and obesity in older adults: Evidence from Ireland. SSM Popul Health 2018; 4:206-215. [PMID: 29552630 PMCID: PMC5852306 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2018.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Revised: 01/26/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
We examine the association between living in an urban area with more or less green space and the probability of being obese. This work involves the creation of a new dataset which combines geo-coded data at the individual level from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing with green space data from the European Urban Atlas 2012. We find evidence suggestive of a u-shaped relationship between green space in urban areas and obesity; those living in areas with the lowest and highest shares of green space within a 1.6 km buffer zone have a higher probability of being classified as obese (BMI [Formula: see text]). The unexpected result that persons in areas with both the lowest and highest shares of green space have a higher probability of being obese than those in areas with intermediate shares, suggests that other characteristics of urban areas may be mediating this relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seraphim Dempsey
- Economic and Social Research Institute, Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Seán Lyons
- Economic and Social Research Institute, Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Economics, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Anne Nolan
- Economic and Social Research Institute, Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Economics, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
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84
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Abstract
Background Smartphone use has increased greatly at a time when concerns about society's disconnection from nature have also markedly increased. Recent research has also indicated that smartphone use can be problematic for a small minority of individuals. Methods In this study, associations between problematic smartphone use (PSU), nature connectedness, and anxiety were investigated using a cross-sectional design (n = 244). Results Associations between PSU and both nature connectedness and anxiety were confirmed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to identify threshold values on the Problematic Smartphone Use Scale (PSUS) at which strong associations with anxiety and nature connectedness occur. The area under the curve was calculated and positive likelihood ratios used as a diagnostic parameter to identify optimal cut-off for PSU. These provided good diagnostic ability for nature connectedness, but poor and non-significant results for anxiety. ROC analysis showed the optimal PSUS threshold for high nature connectedness to be 15.5 (sensitivity: 58.3%; specificity: 78.6%) in response to an LR+ of 2.88. Conclusions The results demonstrate the potential utility for the PSUS as a diagnostic tool, with a level of smartphone use that users may perceive as non-problematic being a significant cut-off in terms of achieving beneficial levels of nature connectedness. Implications of these findings are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miles Richardson
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Life and Natural Sciences, University of Derby, Derby, UK,Corresponding author: Dr. Miles Richardson; Department of Life Sciences, College of Life and Natural Sciences, University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby DE22 1GB, UK; Phone: +44 1332 593056; Fax: +44 1332 597747; E-mail:
| | - Zaheer Hussain
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Life and Natural Sciences, University of Derby, Derby, UK
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Van Hecke L, Verhoeven H, Clarys P, Van Dyck D, Van de Weghe N, Baert T, Deforche B, Van Cauwenberg J. Factors related with public open space use among adolescents: a study using GPS and accelerometers. Int J Health Geogr 2018; 17:3. [PMID: 29357871 PMCID: PMC5778634 DOI: 10.1186/s12942-018-0123-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Low physical activity levels and high levels of sedentary time among adolescents call for population wide interventions. Public open spaces can be important locations for adolescents’ physical activity. This study aimed to describe the prevalence, frequency and context of public open space visitation and to gain insight into the individual, social and physical environmental factors associated with public open space use among 12- to 16-year-old Flemish (Belgian) adolescents. Methods Global positioning system devices, accelerometers and one-on-one interviews were used to measure location-specific activity levels, time spent at, reasons for using and accompaniment at public open spaces among 173 adolescents. Multilevel hurdle and gamma models were used to estimate the associations between the independent variables (age, gender, ethnicity, education, sport club membership and accompaniment) and the amount of time, sedentary time, light-, moderate- to vigorous- and vigorous-intensity physical activity at public open spaces. Results Three out of four participants had visited a public open space (for recreational purposes) and participants were most often accompanied by friends/classmates. Mainly public transportation stops/stations were used, and subsequently the most reported reason for public open space use was “to wait for something or someone”. Furthermore, boys, younger adolescents, non-western-European adolescents and lower educated adolescents were more likely to use public open spaces. Additionally, boys and younger adolescents were more likely to accumulate physical activity at public open spaces. The only social environmental variable associated with time spent at public open spaces was accompaniment by siblings: adolescents spent more time at public open spaces when accompanied by their siblings. Conclusions Public open spaces may be effective areas to promote physical activity among groups at risk for physical inactivity (i.e. low educated and non-western-European adolescents). Additionally, girls and older adolescents were less likely to visit and be physically active at public open spaces. Therefore, urban planners should consider adding attractive features, in order to encourage physical activity among girls and older adolescents at public open spaces. Furthermore, creating public open spaces that are attractive for youth of all ages could contribute to adolescents visiting public open spaces accompanied by siblings. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12942-018-0123-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linde Van Hecke
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Physical Activity, Nutrition and Health Research Unit, Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Physical Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.,Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (FWO), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hannah Verhoeven
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Physical Activity, Nutrition and Health Research Unit, Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Physical Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.,Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (FWO), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Peter Clarys
- Physical Activity, Nutrition and Health Research Unit, Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Physical Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Delfien Van Dyck
- Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (FWO), Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nico Van de Weghe
- Department of Geography - CartoGIS, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tim Baert
- Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (FWO), Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Geography - CartoGIS, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Benedicte Deforche
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Physical Activity, Nutrition and Health Research Unit, Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Physical Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jelle Van Cauwenberg
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. .,Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (FWO), Brussels, Belgium.
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86
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Ives CD, Abson DJ, von Wehrden H, Dorninger C, Klaniecki K, Fischer J. Reconnecting with nature for sustainability. SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE 2018; 13:1389-1397. [PMID: 30220917 PMCID: PMC6132401 DOI: 10.1007/s11625-018-0542-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Calls for humanity to 'reconnect to nature' have grown increasingly louder from both scholars and civil society. Yet, there is relatively little coherence about what reconnecting to nature means, why it should happen and how it can be achieved. We present a conceptual framework to organise existing literature and direct future research on human-nature connections. Five types of connections to nature are identified: material, experiential, cognitive, emotional, and philosophical. These various types have been presented as causes, consequences, or treatments of social and environmental problems. From this conceptual base, we discuss how reconnecting people with nature can function as a treatment for the global environmental crisis. Adopting a social-ecological systems perspective, we draw upon the emerging concept of 'leverage points'-places in complex systems to intervene to generate change-and explore examples of how actions to reconnect people with nature can help transform society towards sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher D. Ives
- School of Geography, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD UK
- Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
| | - David J. Abson
- Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Henrik von Wehrden
- Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Christian Dorninger
- Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Kathleen Klaniecki
- Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Joern Fischer
- Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
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87
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The Relationship Between Humans and Capuchins (Sapajus sp.) in an Urban Green Area in Brazil. INT J PRIMATOL 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-017-9996-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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88
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Buckley RC, Brough P. Nature, Eco, and Adventure Therapies for Mental Health and Chronic Disease. Front Public Health 2017; 5:220. [PMID: 28879176 PMCID: PMC5573430 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2017.00220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Paula Brough
- Menzies Health Institute of Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia
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89
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Shanahan DF, Franco L, Lin BB, Gaston KJ, Fuller RA. The Benefits of Natural Environments for Physical Activity. Sports Med 2017; 46:989-95. [PMID: 26886475 DOI: 10.1007/s40279-016-0502-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Urbanisation has a profound effect on both people and the environment, as levels of physical activity decline and many natural ecosystems become lost or degraded. Here we draw on emerging research to examine the role of green spaces in providing a venue for outdoor physical activity, and in enhancing the benefit of a given amount of physical activity for urban residents. We identify critical knowledge gaps, including (1) whether (and for whom) levels of physical activity increase as new green spaces are introduced or old spaces reinvigorated; (2) which characteristics of nature promote physical activity; (3) the extent to which barriers to outdoor physical activity are environmental or social; and (4) whether the benefits of physical activity and experiences of nature accrue separately or synergistically. A clear understanding of these issues will help guide effective investment in green space provision, ecological enhancement and green exercise promotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle F Shanahan
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
| | - Lara Franco
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Brenda B Lin
- CSIRO Land and Water Flagship, PMB 1, Aspendale, VIC, 3195, Australia
| | - Kevin J Gaston
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Richard A Fuller
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
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90
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Abstract
Intensified urbanization has led to more populated cities and less green spaces which are vital to community health, wellbeing and conservation. Rouge Urban National Park in Toronto has recently become Canada’s first urban national park. This park is ideally suited to the millennial population, offering outdoor recreation and green space that this growing market generally desires. There is, however, a lack of research into visitor motivations to urban parks and more specifically millennial motivations. Findings from 280 quantitative surveys found three main barriers to visiting the Urban National Park: distance, transportation, and awareness. The lack of public transport combined with road congestion and fewer millennials owning cars creates issues with accessibility. Poor branding and knowledge through electronic media creates low awareness within a demographic market so tied to technology.
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91
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Chow HW, Mowen AJ, Wu GL. Who Is Using Outdoor Fitness Equipment and How? The Case of Xihu Park. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 14:E448. [PMID: 28430141 PMCID: PMC5409648 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14040448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Revised: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 04/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Outdoor fitness equipment (OFE) placed in public parks has the potential to encourage physical activity. However, little is known about OFE users and use patterns. This study employed onsite and video observations of OFE usage to describe user characteristics and patterns in Xihu Park. Results indicate that OFE in this park attracted considerable use, particularly in the early morning and late afternoon. During these peak-hour observations, approximately 12 users per hour used the OFE, with the majority being females and seniors. The triple arm stretch and air walker were the most popular stations. However, most OFE users interacted with less than three of the available six OFE stations. Furthermore, users spent an average of less than nine minutes on all OFE stations combined. While OFE equipment was well-used in this urban park, it appears users did not interact with OFE at rates to produce a sufficient bout or level of physical activity during their park visit. Further investigations of OFE are encouraged to determine their health impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsueh-Wen Chow
- Graduate Institute of Physical Education, Health and Leisure Studies, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan.
| | - Andrew J Mowen
- Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Guan-Lin Wu
- Graduate Institute of Physical Education, Health and Leisure Studies, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan.
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92
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Factors Influencing Perceptions and Use of Urban Nature: Surveys of Park Visitors in Delhi. LAND 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/land6020027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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93
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Buckley RC, Brough P. Economic Value of Parks via Human Mental Health: An Analytical Framework. Front Ecol Evol 2017. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2017.00016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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94
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High Biodiversity of Green Infrastructure Does Not Contribute to Recreational Ecosystem Services. SUSTAINABILITY 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/su9030334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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95
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Richardson M, Maspero M, Golightly D, Sheffield D, Staples V, Lumber R. Nature: a new paradigm for well-being and ergonomics. ERGONOMICS 2017; 60:292-305. [PMID: 26910099 DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2016.1157213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Nature is presented as a new paradigm for ergonomics. As a discipline concerned with well-being, the importance of natural environments for wellness should be part of ergonomics knowledge and practice. This position is supported by providing a concise summary of the evidence of the value of the natural environment to well-being. Further, an emerging body of research has found relationships between well-being and a connection to nature, a concept that reveals the integrative character of human experience which can inform wider practice and epistemology in ergonomics. Practitioners are encouraged to bring nature into the workplace, so that ergonomics keeps pace with the move to nature-based solutions, but also as a necessity in the current ecological and social context. Practitioner Summary: Nature-based solutions are coming to the fore to address societal challenges such as well-being. As ergonomics is concerned with well-being, there is a need for a paradigm shift in the discipline. This position is supported by providing a concise summary of the evidence of the value of the natural environment to well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miles Richardson
- a Department of Life Sciences , University of Derby , Derby , UK
| | - Marta Maspero
- a Department of Life Sciences , University of Derby , Derby , UK
| | - David Golightly
- b Faculty of Engineering , University of Nottingham , Nottingham , UK
| | - David Sheffield
- a Department of Life Sciences , University of Derby , Derby , UK
| | - Vicki Staples
- a Department of Life Sciences , University of Derby , Derby , UK
| | - Ryan Lumber
- a Department of Life Sciences , University of Derby , Derby , UK
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96
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Abstract
Exposure to and connection with nature is increasingly recognized as providing significant well-being benefits for adults and children. Increasing numbers of children growing up in urban areas need access to nature to experience these benefits and develop a nature connection. Under the biophilia hypothesis, children should innately affiliate to nature. We investigated children's independent selection of spaces in their neighborhoods in relation to the biodiversity values of those spaces, in three New Zealand cities, using resource-selection analysis. Children did not preferentially use the more biodiverse areas in their neighborhoods. Private gardens and yards were the most preferred space, with the quality of these spaces the most important factor defining children's exposure to nature. Children's reliance on gardens and yards for nature experiences raises concerns for their development of a nature connection, given disparities in biodiversity values of private gardens in relation to socioeconomic status, and the decline in sizes of private gardens in newer urban developments.
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97
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Cox DTC, Gaston KJ. Urban Bird Feeding: Connecting People with Nature. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0158717. [PMID: 27427988 PMCID: PMC4948881 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0158717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
At a time of unprecedented biodiversity loss, researchers are increasingly recognizing the broad range of benefits provided to humankind by nature. However, as people live more urbanized lifestyles there is a progressive disengagement with the natural world that diminishes these benefits and discourages positive environmental behaviour. The provision of food for garden birds is an increasing global phenomenon, and provides a readily accessible way for people to counter this trend. Yet despite its popularity, quite why people feed birds remains poorly understood. We explore three loosely defined motivations behind bird feeding: that it provides psychological benefits, is due to a concern about bird welfare, and/or is due to a more general orientation towards nature. We quantitatively surveyed households from urban towns in southern England to explore attitudes and actions towards garden bird feeding. Each household scored three Likert statements relating to each of the three motivations. We found that people who fed birds regularly felt more relaxed and connected to nature when they watched garden birds, and perceived that bird feeding is beneficial for bird welfare while investing time in minimising associated risks. Finally, feeding birds may be an expression of a wider orientation towards nature. Overall, we found that the feelings of being relaxed and connected to nature were the strongest drivers. As urban expansion continues both to threaten species conservation and to change peoples’ relationship with the natural world, feeding birds may provide an important tool for engaging people with nature to the benefit of both people and conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel T. C. Cox
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9EZ, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Kevin J. Gaston
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9EZ, United Kingdom
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98
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Effects of biodiversity and environment-related attitude on perception of urban green space. Urban Ecosyst 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-016-0581-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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99
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Caynes RJC, Mitchell MGE, Wu DS, Johansen K, Rhodes JR. Using high-resolution LiDAR data to quantify the three-dimensional structure of vegetation in urban green space. Urban Ecosyst 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-016-0571-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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100
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Robinson BS, Inger R, Gaston KJ. A Rose by Any Other Name: Plant Identification Knowledge & Socio-Demographics. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0156572. [PMID: 27227452 PMCID: PMC4881975 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2015] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Concern has been expressed over societal losses of plant species identification skills. These losses have potential implications for engagement with conservation issues, gaining human wellbeing benefits from biodiversity (such as those resulting from nature-based recreational activities), and early warning of the spread of problematic species. However, understanding of the prevailing level of species identification skills, and of its key drivers, remains poor. Here, we explore socio-demographic factors influencing plant identification knowledge and ability to classify plants as native or non-native, employing a novel method of using real physical plants, rather than photographs or illustrations. We conducted face-to-face surveys at three different sites chosen to capture respondents with a range of socio-demographic circumstances, in Cornwall, UK. We found that survey participants correctly identified c.60% of common plant species, were significantly worse at naming non-native than native plants, and that less than 20% of people recognised Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica, which is a widespread high profile invasive non-native in the study region. Success at naming plants was higher if participants were female, a member of at least one environmental, conservation or gardening organisation, in an older age group (than the base category of 18-29 years), or a resident (rather than visitor) of the study area. Understanding patterns of variation in plant identification knowledge can inform the development of education and engagement strategies, for example, by targeting sectors of society where knowledge is lowest. Furthermore, greater understanding of general levels of identification of problematic invasive non-native plants can guide awareness and education campaigns to mitigate their impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth S. Robinson
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Inger
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin J. Gaston
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, United Kingdom
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