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Lomax T, Butler J, Cipriani A, Singh I. Effect of nature on the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents: meta-review. Br J Psychiatry 2024:1-9. [PMID: 39101636 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.2024.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Urbanisation is taking place worldwide and rates of mental illness are rising. There has been increasing interest in 'nature' and how it may benefit mental health and well-being. AIMS To understand how the literature defines nature; what the characteristics of the nature intervention are; what mental health and well-being outcomes are being measured; and what the evidence shows, in regard to how nature affects the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents. METHOD A meta-review was conducted, searching three databases for relevant primary and secondary studies, using key search terms including 'nature' and 'mental health' and 'mental well-being'. Inclusion criteria included published English-language studies on the child and adolescent population. Authors identified the highest quality evidence from studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Data were extracted and analysed using descriptive content analysis. RESULTS Sixteen systematic reviews, two scoping reviews and five good quality cohort studies were included. 'Nature' was conceptualised along a continuum (the 'nature research framework') into three categories: a human-designed environment with natural elements; a human-designed natural environment; and a natural environment. The nature 'intervention' falls into three areas (the 'nature intervention framework'): access, exposure and engagement with nature, with quantity and quality of nature relevant to all areas. Mental health and well-being outcomes fit along a continuum, with 'disorder' at one end and 'well-being' at the other. Nature appears to have a beneficial effect, but we cannot be certain of this. CONCLUSIONS Nature appears to have a beneficial effect on mental health and well-being of children and adolescents. Evidence is lacking on clinical populations, ethnically diverse populations and populations in low- and middle-income countries. Our results should be interpreted considering the limitations of the included studies and confidence in findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Lomax
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Joseph Butler
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Andrea Cipriani
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK; and Oxford Precision Psychiatry Lab, NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Ilina Singh
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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2
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Fernandes A, Avraam D, Cadman T, Dadvand P, Guxens M, Binter AC, Pinot de Moira A, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Duijts L, Julvez J, De Castro M, Fossati S, Márquez S, Vrijkotte T, Elhakeem A, McEachan R, Yang T, Pedersen M, Vinther J, Lepeule J, Heude B, Jaddoe VWV, Santos S, Welten M, El Marroun H, Mian A, Andrušaitytė S, Lertxundi A, Ibarluzea J, Ballester F, Esplugues A, Torres Toda M, Harris JR, Lucia Thorbjørnsrud Nader J, Moirano G, Maritano S, Catherine Wilson R, Vrijheid M. Green spaces and respiratory, cardiometabolic, and neurodevelopmental outcomes: An individual-participant data meta-analysis of >35.000 European children. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 190:108853. [PMID: 38963986 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Studies evaluating the benefits and risks of green spaces on children's health are scarce. The present study aimed to examine the associations between exposure to green spaces during pregnancy and early childhood with respiratory, cardiometabolic, and neurodevelopmental outcomes in school-age children. We performed an Individual-Participant Data (IPD) meta-analysis involving 35,000 children from ten European birth cohorts across eight countries. For each participant, we calculated residential Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) within a 300 m buffer and the linear distance to green spaces (meters) during prenatal life and childhood. Multiple harmonized health outcomes were selected: asthma and wheezing, lung function, body mass index, diastolic and systolic blood pressure, non-verbal intelligence, internalizing and externalizing problems, and ADHD symptoms. We conducted a two-stage IPD meta-analysis and evaluated effect modification by socioeconomic status (SES) and sex. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed via random-effects meta-regression. Residential surrounding green spaces in childhood, not pregnancy, was associated with improved lung function, particularly higher FEV1 (β = 0.06; 95 %CI: 0.03, 0.09 I2 = 4.03 %, p < 0.001) and FVC (β = 0.07; 95 %CI: 0.04, 0.09 I2 = 0 %, p < 0.001) with a stronger association observed in females (p < 0.001). This association remained robust after multiple testing correction and did not change notably after adjusting for ambient air pollution. Increased distance to green spaces showed an association with lower FVC (β = -0.04; 95 %CI: -0.07, -0.02, I2 = 4.8, p = 0.001), with a stronger effect in children from higher SES backgrounds (p < 0.001). No consistent associations were found between green spaces and asthma, wheezing, cardiometabolic, or neurodevelopmental outcomes, with direction of effect varying across cohorts. Wheezing and neurodevelopmental outcomes showed high between-study heterogeneity, and the age at outcome assessment was only associated with heterogeneity in internalizing problems.. This large European meta-analysis suggests that childhood exposure to green spaces may lead to better lung function. Associations with other respiratory outcomes and selected cardiometabolic and neurodevelopmental outcomes remain inconclusive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Fernandes
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Demetris Avraam
- Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK; Section of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tim Cadman
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Section of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Payam Dadvand
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mònica Guxens
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Anne-Claire Binter
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Angela Pinot de Moira
- Section of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Liesbeth Duijts
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care, Division of Neonatology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jordi Julvez
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Clinical and Epidemiological Neuroscience (NeuroÈpia), Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV), Reus, Spain
| | - Montserrat De Castro
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Serena Fossati
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra Márquez
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Tanja Vrijkotte
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ahmed Elhakeem
- Population Health Science, Bristol Medical School, Bristol BS8 2BN, United Kingdom; MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK
| | - Rosemary McEachan
- Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford, UK
| | - Tiffany Yang
- Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford, UK
| | - Marie Pedersen
- Section of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Johan Vinther
- Section of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Johanna Lepeule
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Development and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France
| | - Barbara Heude
- Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Inserm, INRAE, Center for Research in Epidemiology and StatisticS (CRESS), F-75004 Paris, France
| | - Vincent W V Jaddoe
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Susana Santos
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Portugal; Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Universidade do Porto, Portugal
| | - Marieke Welten
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hanan El Marroun
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioral Science, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Annemiek Mian
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sandra Andrušaitytė
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Aitana Lertxundi
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute, Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development Group, 20014, San Sebastian, Spain; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Jesús Ibarluzea
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute, Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development Group, 20014, San Sebastian, Spain; Ministry of Health of the Basque Government, Sub-Directorate for Public Health and Addictions of Gipuzkoa, 20013 San Sebastian, Spain; Faculty of Psychology of the University of the Basque Country (EHU-UPV), 20018, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Ferran Ballester
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Department of Nursing, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; Epidemiology Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana Esplugues
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Department of Nursing, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; Epidemiology Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Maria Torres Toda
- Unit Medical Expertise and Data Intelligence, Department of Health Protection, National Health Laboratory (LNS), Dudelange, Luxembourg
| | - Jennifer R Harris
- Center for Fertility and Health, The Nowegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Johanna Lucia Thorbjørnsrud Nader
- Department of Genetics and Bioinformatics, Division of Health Data and Digitalisation, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Giovenale Moirano
- Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Silvia Maritano
- Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy; University School for Advanced Studies IUSS Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Martine Vrijheid
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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Zhang J, Yang Y, Ge J, Liang X, An Z. Stimulating creativity in the classroom: examining the impact of sense of place on students' creativity and the mediating effect of classmate relationships. BMC Psychol 2023; 11:432. [PMID: 38062494 PMCID: PMC10704728 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-023-01479-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although previous studies have found a close relationship between sense of place and creativity, few studies have been conducted considering the micro-environment of the classroom. The mediating role of classmate relationships in the association between students' sense of place and creativity remains unclear. METHODS This study explores classmate relationships as a mediating factor in the relationship between sense of place and creativity. Therefore, we considered a sample of 1555 Chinese high-school students and used a paper-based questionnaire survey. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 24.0, PROCESS 3.2 plugin, and AMOS. RESULTS Sense of place in the micro-environment of the classroom has a significant positive predictive effect on creativity. Sense of place also has a significant positive predictive effect on peer relationships. The mediation analysis reveals that peer relationships play a mediating role in the relationship between the sense of place and creativity. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed the associations between sense of place, classmate relationships, and creativity. Creativity is better expressed in students with a strong sense of place in the classroom. Moreover, a student's sense of place can enhance their creativity by influencing their peer relationships. These findings enrich the research in educational psychology within the classroom, providing new insights for fostering creativity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianzhen Zhang
- College of Geography and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang province, China
| | - Yukun Yang
- College of Geography and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang province, China
| | - Jiahao Ge
- College of Education and Human Development, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang province, China.
| | - Xiaoyu Liang
- College of Geography and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang province, China
| | - Zhenni An
- College of Education and Human Development, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang province, China
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4
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Fernandes A, Krog NH, McEachan R, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Julvez J, Márquez S, de Castro M, Urquiza J, Heude B, Vafeiadi M, Gražulevičienė R, Slama R, Dedele A, Aasvang GM, Evandt J, Andrusaityte S, Kampouri M, Vrijheid M. Availability, accessibility, and use of green spaces and cognitive development in primary school children. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 334:122143. [PMID: 37423460 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Green spaces may have beneficial impacts on children's cognition. However, few studies explored the exposure to green spaces beyond residential areas, and their availability, accessibility and uses at the same time. The aim of the present study was to describe patterns of availability, accessibility, and uses of green spaces among primary school children and to explore how these exposure dimensions are associated with cognitive development. Exposures to green space near home, school, commuting route, and other daily activity locations were assessed for 1607 children aged 6-11 years from six birth cohorts across Europe, and included variables related to: availability (NDVI buffers: 100, 300, 500 m), potential accessibility (proximity to a major green space: linear distance; within 300 m), and use (play time in green spaces: hours/year), and the number of visits to green spaces (times/previous week). Cognition measured as fluid intelligence, inattention, and working memory was assessed by computerized tests. We performed multiple linear regression analyses on pooled and imputed data adjusted for individual and area-level confounders. Availability, accessibility, and uses of green spaces showed a social gradient that was unfavorable in more vulnerable socioeconomic groups. NDVI was associated with more playing time in green spaces, but proximity to a major green space was not. Associations between green space exposures and cognitive function outcomes were not statistically significant in our overall study population. Stratification by socioeconomic variables showed that living within 300 m of a major green space was associated with improved working memory only in children in less deprived residential areas (β = 0.30, CI: 0.09,0.51), and that more time playing in green spaces was associated with better working memory only in children of highly educated mothers (β per IQR increase in hour/year = 0.10; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.19). However, studying within 300 m of a major green space increased inattention scores in children in more deprived areas (β = 15.45, 95% CI: 3.50, 27.40).
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Fernandes
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Norun Hjertager Krog
- Department of Air Quality and Noise, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Rosemary McEachan
- Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford, UK
| | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Julvez
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Clinical and Epidemiological Neuroscience (NeuroÈpia), Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV), Reus, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Sandra Márquez
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Montserrat de Castro
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - José Urquiza
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Barbara Heude
- Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Inserm, INRAE, Center for Research in Epidemiology and StatisticS (CRESS), F-75004, Paris, France
| | - Marina Vafeiadi
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Greece
| | | | - Rémy Slama
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (Inserm) and Université Grenoble-Alpes, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Reproduction and Respiratory Health, Grenoble, France
| | - Audrius Dedele
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Gunn Marit Aasvang
- Department of Air Quality and Noise, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jorunn Evandt
- Department of Air Quality and Noise, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sandra Andrusaityte
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Mariza Kampouri
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Greece
| | - Martine Vrijheid
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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Buczyłowska D, Baumbach C, Bratkowski J, Mysak Y, Wierzba-Łukaszyk M, Skotak K, Sitnik-Warchulska K, Lipowska M, Izydorczyk B, Szwed M, Markevych I. Does exposure to nature make children more intelligent? Analysis in Polish children with and without ADHD. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 253:114239. [PMID: 37562123 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that exposure to nature and physical activity (PA) may be associated with higher intelligence in children. We examined whether there is an association between lifelong exposure to greenspace and bluespace and intelligence in children aged 10-13 with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and whether PA mediates this association. The sample (N = 714) was collected within the NeuroSmog case-control study, where children with (N = 206) and without ADHD (N = 508) were recruited from 18 towns in Southern Poland. Nature exposure was estimated as the sum of the z-scores of the objective and perceived measures. Objective greenspace exposure was defined as the percentage of grass and tree cover in 500 m and 1 km buffers around lifelong residential addresses, respectively. Objective bluespace exposure was defined as the percentage of water cover in 500 m and 1 km buffers. Perceived greenspace/bluespace was measured as the parent-rated availability, quality, and use of greenspace/bluespace. Intelligence was assessed using the Polish version of the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, 5th edition (SB5). SB5 Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (IQ), Nonverbal IQ, Verbal IQ, five factor and ten subtest scores were analysed as outcomes. The associations between nature and IQ scores were assessed by linear regressions separately for cases and controls, adjusting the models for sex, parental education, and urbanicity. Structural equation modeling was implemented to test whether PA mediated the association between nature and intelligence. None of the greenspace or bluespace measures were consistently associated with intelligence. PA was not found to be a mediator. We did not find evidence that higher lifelong nature exposure is associated with higher intelligence in Polish schoolchildren with or without ADHD. This casts doubts on whether exposure to nature has relevant influence on IQ.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Clemens Baumbach
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Jakub Bratkowski
- Institute of Environmental Protection-National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Yarema Mysak
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | | | - Krzysztof Skotak
- Institute of Environmental Protection-National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Sitnik-Warchulska
- Faculty of Management and Social Communication, Institute of Applied Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Lipowska
- Faculty of Management and Social Communication, Institute of Applied Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; Institute of Psychology, University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | | | - Marcin Szwed
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Iana Markevych
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; Health and Quality of Life in a Green and Sustainable Environment, SRIPD, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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6
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Besser LM, Jimenez MP, Reimer CJ, Meyer OL, Mitsova D, George KM, Adkins-Jackson PB, Galvin JE. Diversity of Studies on Neighborhood Greenspace and Brain Health by Racialized/Ethnic Group and Geographic Region: A Rapid Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5666. [PMID: 37174185 PMCID: PMC10178609 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20095666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Studies examining associations between greenspace and Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) outcomes are rapidly on the rise, yet no known literature reviews have summarized the racialized/ethnic group and geographic variation of those published studies. This is a significant gap given the known disparities in both greenspace access and ADRD risk between racialized/ethnic groups and between developed versus developing countries. In this rapid literature review, we (1) describe the diversity of published greenspace-brain health studies with respect to racialized/ethnic groups and geographic regions; (2) determine the extent to which published studies have investigated racialized/ethnic group differences in associations; and (3) review methodological issues surrounding studies of racialized/ethnic group disparities in greenspace and brain health associations. Of the 57 papers meeting our inclusion criteria as of 4 March 2022, 21% (n = 12) explicitly identified and included individuals who were Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and/or Asian. Twenty-one percent of studies (n = 12) were conducted in developing countries (e.g., China, Dominican Republic, Mexico), and 7% (n = 4) examined racialized/ethnic group differences in greenspace-brain health associations. None of the studies were framed by health disparities, social/structural determinants of health, or related frameworks, despite the known differences in both greenspace availability/quality and dementia risk by racialized/ethnic group and geography. Studies are needed in developing countries and that directly investigate racialized/ethnic group disparities in greenspace-brain health associations to target and promote health equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilah M. Besser
- Comprehensive Center for Brain Health, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33433, USA
| | - Marcia Pescador Jimenez
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Cameron J. Reimer
- Department of Earth & Environment, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Oanh L. Meyer
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Diana Mitsova
- School of Urban and Regional Planning, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
| | - Kristen M. George
- Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95817, USA
| | - Paris B. Adkins-Jackson
- Departments of Epidemiology and Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - James E. Galvin
- Comprehensive Center for Brain Health, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33433, USA
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7
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Buczyłowska D, Zhao T, Singh N, Jurczak A, Siry A, Markevych I. Exposure to greenspace and bluespace and cognitive functioning in children - A systematic review. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 222:115340. [PMID: 36731600 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The field of greenspace and bluespace research in relation to cognitive outcomes is rapidly growing. Several systematic reviews have already been published on this topic but none of them are specific to cognitive outcomes in the entire age range of children. Moreover, only a few of them have examined the effects of bluespace in addition to greenspace. Also, theses reviews are focused either only on observational studies or experimental studies. Our systematic review focuses on cognitive outcomes in relation to greenspace and bluespace in children and adolescents aged 0-18; it captures both observational and experimental studies. Cognitive outcomes are presented according to an evidence-based taxonomy of human cognitive abilities: the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theory. METHODS We conducted searches in the PubMed and PsychInfo databases, from their inception dates to 17 December 2021. We used three-text terms related to outcome, exposure, and population as well as MeSH terms for outcome and population. Further, the reference lists and existing reviews were searched ("snowball" search) until 21 April 2022 to detect additional studies. For the results reporting, we followed the updated guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta Analyses (PRISMA). We included observational and experimental studies on greenspace or bluespace exposure in relation to cognitive functioning, published in English, German, or Polish. Two reviewers independently checked study eligibility and extracted data. Two reviewers evaluated the risk of bias according to the Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT) tool. At all stages, discrepancies between the two reviewers were solved via discussion with a third reviewer. RESULTS Records identified from PubMed (n = 2030) and PsycINFO (n = 1168) were deduplicated and screened. Twenty one reports were first selected. The "snowball" search revealed 16 additional reports. Altogether, 39 studies (17 experimental and 22 observational) published in 37 reports were qualified. The data extraction showed that the methodology used in the studies was heterogenous and the findings were inconsistent. The majority of the studies investigated attentional functioning, which we subdivided into two categories according to the CHC theory: attentional control and reaction and decision speed (12 studies) and attentional control and processing speed (10 studies). Eleven studies investigated working memory and/or short-term memory that we categorized as CHC working memory capacity. Nine studies investigated intellectual functioning, which we categorized as CHC general ability, fluid reasoning, and comprehension-knowledge. Two studies investigated visual-spatial skills, which we categorized as CHC visual processing and psychomotor speed. One study measured parent-reported attention; two studies examined early childhood/cognitive development; three studies examined decision-making and self-regulation, which can be categorized as several CHC theory abilities. DISCUSSION The heterogeneity of the included studies does not permit clear conclusions for our review. In accordance with previous systematic reviews, greenspace and bluespace were not more strongly related to a particular domain of cognitive functioning than other cognitive domains, and no effects of age or type of exposure assessment on the association between nature and cognition were detected. Further research is needed, including state-of-the-art of assessment of cognitive outcomes and diverse exposure assessment methods within both observational and experimental approaches. Expertise will be required in several domains, such as environmental epidemiology, cognitive psychology, and neuropsychology. Systematic review registration number (INPLASY): 202220018.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tianyu Zhao
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany; Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Nitika Singh
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Anna Jurczak
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; Institute of Public Health, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Siry
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Iana Markevych
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
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Sunita, Kumar D, Shahnawaz, Shekhar S. Evaluating urban green and blue spaces with space-based multi-sensor datasets for sustainable development. COMPUTATIONAL URBAN SCIENCE 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s43762-023-00091-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
AbstractUrban green and blue spaces refer to the natural and semi-natural areas within a city or urban area. These spaces can include parks, gardens, rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water. They play a vital role in the sustainability of cities by providing a range of ecosystem services such as air purification, carbon sequestration, water management, and biodiversity conservation. They also provide recreational and social benefits, such as promoting physical activity, mental well-being, and community cohesion. Urban green and blue spaces can also act as buffers against the negative impacts of urbanization, such as reducing the heat island effect and mitigating the effects of stormwater runoff. Therefore, it is important to maintain and enhance these spaces to ensure a healthy and sustainable urban environment. Assessing urban green and blue spaces with space-based multi-sensor datasets can be a valuable tool for sustainable development. These datasets can provide information on the location, size, and condition of green and blue spaces in urban areas, which can be used to inform decisions about land use, conservation, and urban planning. Space-based sensors, such as satellites, can provide high-resolution data that can be used to map and monitor changes in these spaces over time. Additionally, multi-sensor datasets can be used to gather information on a variety of environmental factors, such as air and water quality, that can impact the health and well-being of urban residents. This information can be used to develop sustainable solutions for preserving and enhancing urban green and blue spaces. This study examines how urban green and blue infrastructures might improve sustainable development. Space-based multi-sensor datasets are used to estimate urban green and blue zones for sustainable development. This work can inform sustainable development research at additional spatial and temporal scales.
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Díaz-Martínez F, Sánchez-Sauco MF, Cabrera-Rivera LT, Sánchez CO, Hidalgo-Albadalejo MD, Claudio L, Ortega-García JA. Systematic Review: Neurodevelopmental Benefits of Active/Passive School Exposure to Green and/or Blue Spaces in Children and Adolescents. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:3958. [PMID: 36900969 PMCID: PMC10001910 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20053958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Today more than half of the world's population lives in urban areas. Children spend about 40 h a week in the school environment. Knowing the influence of school exposure to green/blue spaces could improve the children's health, creating healthier environments and preventing exposure to legal/illegal drugs. This systematic review summarized the main results of published studies on active or passive exposure to green or blue spaces in different domains of child neurodevelopment. In August 2022, five databases were searched and twenty-eight eligible studies were included in the analysis. Cognitive and/or academic performance was the most frequently studied (15/28). Most studies evaluate passive exposure to green/blue spaces (19/28) versus active exposure (9/28). Only three studies addressed the relationship between blue space and neurodevelopment. The main results point toward mixed evidence of a protective relationship between green/blue space exposure and neurodevelopment, especially in improving cognitive/academic performance, attention restoration, behavior, and impulsivity. Renaturalizing school spaces and promoting "greener" capacities for school environmental health could improve children's neurodevelopment. There was great heterogeneity in methodologies and adjustment for confounding factors across studies. Future research should seek a standardized approach to delivering school environmental health interventions beneficial to children's development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Díaz-Martínez
- Paediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Clinical University Hospital Virgen of Arrixaca, University of Murcia, 30120 Murcia, Spain
- Environment and Human Health Lab, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Sanitaria (IMIB), University of Murcia, 30120 Murcia, Spain
- Global Alliance to Renaturalize Child and Adolescent Health (GreenRooting.org), Spanish Association of Pediatrics, 28009 Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel F. Sánchez-Sauco
- Paediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Clinical University Hospital Virgen of Arrixaca, University of Murcia, 30120 Murcia, Spain
- Environment and Human Health Lab, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Sanitaria (IMIB), University of Murcia, 30120 Murcia, Spain
- Global Alliance to Renaturalize Child and Adolescent Health (GreenRooting.org), Spanish Association of Pediatrics, 28009 Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura T. Cabrera-Rivera
- Global Alliance to Renaturalize Child and Adolescent Health (GreenRooting.org), Spanish Association of Pediatrics, 28009 Madrid, Spain
- International Exchange Program for Minority Students, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00921, USA
| | | | | | - Luz Claudio
- International Exchange Program for Minority Students, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Division of International Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Juan A. Ortega-García
- Paediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Clinical University Hospital Virgen of Arrixaca, University of Murcia, 30120 Murcia, Spain
- Environment and Human Health Lab, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Sanitaria (IMIB), University of Murcia, 30120 Murcia, Spain
- Global Alliance to Renaturalize Child and Adolescent Health (GreenRooting.org), Spanish Association of Pediatrics, 28009 Madrid, Spain
- International Exchange Program for Minority Students, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
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Khader Y, Wang C, Guo X, Xu H, Qin Z, Tao L. Effects of Greenness on Myopia Risk and School-Level Myopia Prevalence Among High School-Aged Adolescents: Cross-sectional Study. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2023; 9:e42694. [PMID: 36622746 PMCID: PMC9871879 DOI: 10.2196/42694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myopia is a serious public health issue. High school-aged adolescents in Beijing have an alarming prevalence of myopia. Therefore, determining myopia protective factors is essential. Green space has a certain association with myopia protective factors that can protect against myopia. OBJECTIVE This study aims to examine the effects of green space around schools on individual myopia risk in high school-aged adolescents and the school-level myopia prevalence. METHODS Green space was measured using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). A total of 13,380 samples of 51 high schools were selected from a 2021 Beijing Municipal Health Commission survey. Adolescent myopia was defined as a spherical equivalent of ≤-1.00 diopters in the worse eye. Generalized linear mixed models with a binomial error structure were used to analyze the effects of the NDVI on personal myopia risk and adjust them by other factors, such as demographics, exposure time, and outdoor exercise. The effects of the NDVI on school-level myopia prevalence with adjusted demographics and the relative position factors of trees were analyzed through quasibinomial regression. RESULTS The overall prevalence of myopia was 80.61% (10,785/13,380, 95% CI 79.93%-81.27%). Although with a 0.1 increase in the 500 and 1000 m buffer NDVIs adjusted by demographic and other factors, the high school-aged personal myopia risk significantly dropped by 16% (odds ratio [OR] 0.84, 95% CI 0.73-0.97) and 12% (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.79-0.99), respectively. However, only the adjusted 500 m buffer NDVI (by demographics and the position of trees) with a 0.1 increase significantly reduced the school-level myopia prevalence by 15% (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.74-0.98). Subgroup analysis showed that the adjusted effects of the 500 m buffer NDVI are significant in schoolgirls (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.72-0.93), juniors (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.72-0.94), the Han nationality (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.72-0.97), 1-year exposure (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.71-0.99) and 3-year exposure (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.65-0.94). CONCLUSIONS The greenness of a 500 m buffer around schools is associated with a lower personal myopia risk among adolescents and a lower prevalence of myopia in schools. With regard to prevention and control activities, green space within a 500 m buffer around schools is suggested as an independent protective factor for adolescent myopia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cheng Wang
- Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Guo
- Institute of School Health, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China.,School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Huiyu Xu
- Institute of School Health, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China.,School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zihao Qin
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Liyuan Tao
- Research Center of Clinical Epidemiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.,Medical Examination Centre, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
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Queiroz Almeida D, Paciência I, Moreira C, Cavaleiro Rufo J, Moreira A, Santos AC, Barros H, Ribeiro AI. Green and blue spaces and lung function in the Generation XXI cohort: a life-course approach. Eur Respir J 2022; 60:2103024. [PMID: 35896209 DOI: 10.1183/13993003.03024-2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to natural environments may affect respiratory health. This study examined the association of exposure to green and blue spaces with lung function in children, and assessed the mediation effect of air pollution and physical activity. METHODS The study used data from the Generation XXI, a population-based birth cohort from the Porto Metropolitan Area (Portugal). Residential Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) at different buffers (100, 250 and 500 m), the accessibility to urban green spaces (UGS) within 400 and 800 m and the minimum distance to the nearest UGS and to the nearest blue spaces were assessed at birth, 4, 7 and 10 years of age. Three life-course measures were calculated: averaged exposure, early-life exposure (birth) and exposure trend over time (change in exposure). Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of FVC (FEF25-75%) at 10 years were used as outcomes. To assess associations, linear regression models and path analysis were used. RESULTS This study included 3278 children. The adjusted models showed that increasing the NDVI exposure over time within 100 m of the child's residence was associated with higher values of FEV1 (L) and FEF25-75% (L·s-1) (β 0.01, 95% CI 0.0002-0.03 and β 0.02, 95% CI 0.001-0.05, respectively). No significant associations were observed for the remaining measures of exposure, and no mediation effect was found for pollution or physical activity. CONCLUSION Increasing exposure to greenness at close proximity from residences was associated with improved lung function. While the mechanism remains unknown, this study brings evidence that city greening may improve children's respiratory health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diogo Queiroz Almeida
- EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Ciências da Saúde Pública e Forenses e Educação Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Unidade de Saúde Pública, Unidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos, Matosinhos, Portugal
- Equal contributors
| | - Inês Paciência
- EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, Portugal
- Equal contributors
| | - Carla Moreira
- Cmat - Centre of Mathematics School of Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - João Cavaleiro Rufo
- EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, Portugal
| | - André Moreira
- EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, Portugal
- Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Serviço de Imunoalergologia, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal
- Faculdade de Ciências da Nutrição e Alimentação da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Cristina Santos
- EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, Portugal
- Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Henrique Barros
- EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, Portugal
- Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Isabel Ribeiro
- EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, Portugal
- Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Rivaes R, Couto JS, Schmidt L, Delicado A, Aguiar FC. The influence of river regulation on the affinity for nature and perceptions of local populations. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 321:115992. [PMID: 36029629 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Rivers are powerful systems supporting human civilization, but despite the enormous dependence on rivers by humans, this does not stop them to assault rivers in the most varied ways. Such dependency determines the establishment of strong river flow-human relationships, and river degradation the prompting of health and non-tangible complications for humans. This work assesses how river regulation, interacting with sociodemographic characteristics, influences the affinity for nature and the perception of humans regarding its effects on river systems. Increased affinity for nature and clearer perceptions about the effects of river regulation improve emotive connection with nature and promote pro-environmental concerns towards a more sustainable water management. Two case studies were selected with different river regulation types (run-of-river and storage reservoir). In each one, the affinity for nature and social perceptions were assessed via telephone-assisted questionnaire surveys carried out in 2020 using 402 randomly selected numbers of local human communities living in its influence areas. Results showed that despite river regulation, communities remain connected to the river system with well-established flow-human relationships. Nonetheless, these relationships have changed due to socioeconomic and cultural changes over time. Significant differences were found in educational attainment and age regarding the affinity for nature. On the other hand, gender differs significantly regarding both the affinity for nature and how the river regulation affect perception, highlighting a gender gap motivated by social and cultural customs passed throughout generations. The lower education level of women and less frequent use of the river acts as a barrier to their perception of river ecosystems and the regulation effects. The affinity for nature and the perception of ecosystems changes by local populations were also significantly different according to the river regulation type, where residents near the run-of-river dam present less affinity for nature. Notwithstanding, the perceptions of local communities were in general in accordance with the scientific knowledge on rivers' condition. Finally, this work highlights the necessity for education through schools, local communities, municipalities and families, providing conditions for dedication and time to nature and promoting environmental knowledge through direct experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Rivaes
- Centro de Estudos Florestais, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Joana Sá Couto
- Instituto de Ciências Sociais, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Luísa Schmidt
- Instituto de Ciências Sociais, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Delicado
- Instituto de Ciências Sociais, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Francisca C Aguiar
- Centro de Estudos Florestais, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
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Scott S, Gray T, Charlton J, Millard S. The Impact of Time Spent in Natural Outdoor Spaces on Children's Language, Communication and Social Skills: A Systematic Review Protocol. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:12038. [PMID: 36231338 PMCID: PMC9566327 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
There has been increasing interest over the past decade with regard to the health and wellbeing implications of time spent outdoors in nature for children. Universal systematic reviews of evidence report benefits to physical health, social-emotional mental health and wellbeing, cognition and academic learning. Internationally, there is indicative evidence to suggest outdoor engagement with nature may also impact children's language and communication skills, skills that are critical to development, education, social relationships and life opportunities. Yet, at present such evidence has not been synthesised. Despite evidence for the benefits of the outdoors, the amount of time children are spending outdoors is in rapid decline, and has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside this are increasing numbers of children starting primary education with significant speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) which remain persistent over time. With established wide-reaching benefits of nature to children's physical and mental health and psychological development, there is a need to further explore the more specific impacts of the natural environment on children's language, communication and social skills, which could provide a unique opportunity to consider nature as a universal public health intervention for SLCN. The current review will aim to synthesise existing qualitative and quantitative evidence of the impact of time spent in natural outdoor spaces on the language, communication and social skills of 2-11-year-old children. Literature will be searched across seven databases and considered for inclusion against inclusion and exclusion criteria. Potential implications of the review include informing public health practice and policy for child development and education, informing priorities for speech, language, and communication interventions, and providing directions for future international research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steph Scott
- Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, Coral House, Longbow Close, Shrewsbury SY1 3GZ, UK
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Tonia Gray
- Centre for Educational Research, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW 2751, Australia
| | - Jenna Charlton
- School of Education, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Sharon Millard
- Michael Palin Centre for Stammering, 13-15 Pine Street, London EC1R 0JG, UK
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