Do greener areas promote more equitable child health
TL;DR: A test of the hypothesis that people in socioeconomically disadvantaged circumstances may benefit more from local green space (‘equigenesis’) in children aged 0–13 years old finds no effect modification of the association between child health and area disadvantage across strata of green space quantity or quality was observed.
About: This article is published in Health & Place.The article was published on 2017-07-01. It has received 32 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Health equity.
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TL;DR: Overall, the current evidence shows that exposure to green space may potentially increase prosocial behaviour among children and adolescents, with some contingencies, but the volume and quality of this evidence is not yet sufficient to draw conclusions on causality.
Abstract: The plausible role of nearby green space in influencing prosocial behaviour among children and adolescents has been studied recently. However, no review has been conducted of the evidence testing the association between green space and prosocial behaviour. This systematic review addresses this gap among children and adolescents. Within this review, we propose a conceptual framework describing potential pathways linking green space to prosocial behaviour, discuss the direction, magnitude, moderators, and mediators of the association, and develop a narrative synthesis of future study directions. Out of 63 extracted associations from 15 studies, 44 were in the positive or expected direction, of which 18 were reported to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). Overall, the current evidence shows that exposure to green space may potentially increase prosocial behaviour among children and adolescents, with some contingencies (e.g., child's sex and ethnic background). However, the volume and quality of this evidence is not yet sufficient to draw conclusions on causality. Further, heterogeneity in the indicators of green space exposure could lead to mixed findings. In addition, none of the included studies investigated potential mediators. Nevertheless, this review provides preliminary evidence and a basis for further investigation with rigorous study methodology capable of drawing causal inferences and testing potential effect modifiers, linking pathways, and relevant green space measures.
50 citations
Cites background or methods from "Do greener areas promote more equit..."
...…of children’s externalising behaviours (conduct and hyperactive problems), as measured by the SDQ, Frontiers in Psychology | www.frontiersin.org 14 April 2020 | Volume 11 | Article 859 Putra et al. Green Space and Prosocial Behaviour than green space quantity (Feng and Astell-Burt, 2017c)....
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...Given the well-established relationships between green space and child mental well-being (Flouri et al., 2014; Feng and Astell-Burt, 2017c,d; McCormick, 2017; Vanaken and Danckaerts, 2018), it is plausible that mental health maymediate the association between green space and prosocial behaviour....
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...…space exposures in urban environments have beenwell-documented among children that include better mental health and well-being (Flouri et al., 2014; Feng and Astell-Burt, 2017c,d; McCormick, 2017; Vanaken and Danckaerts, 2018), more physically active and/or less screen time (Roemmich et al., 2006;…...
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...…by asking parents to what extent they agreed that good parks, playgrounds, and play spaces were available in the neighbourhood—was associated with higher child well-being (Feng and Astell-Burt, 2017c,d) and general health (Feng and Astell-Burt, 2017a) independently of the green space quantity....
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...It can be an important factor for children’s contact with green space than the amount of neighbourhood green space (Feng and Astell-Burt, 2017d)....
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TL;DR: Green space quality was positively associated with child prosocial behaviour and characteristics of green space appealing for girls and suitable for older children were identified.
36 citations
TL;DR: Zhang et al. as discussed by the authors examined the importance of capturing people's eye-level greenspace exposure across different places people occupy in their everyday lives, and constructed four measures of greenspace capturing overhead (NDVI), eyelevel quantity and quality (SVG)) and self-reported neighbourhood greenness exposure.
35 citations
TL;DR: The strongest evidence for the beneficial health effects of nature exposure was for physical activity (n = 108, 32%) and cognitive, behavioral, or mental health (N = 85, 25%) as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: CONTEXT Daily outdoor play is encouraged by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Existing evidence is unclear on the independent effect of nature exposures on child health. OBJECTIVE We systematically evaluated evidence regarding the relationship between nature contact and children’s health. DATA SOURCES The database search was conducted by using PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsychInfo, ERIC, Scopus, and Web of Science in February 2021. STUDY SELECTION We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. In all searches, the first element included nature terms; the second included child health outcome terms. DATA EXTRACTION Of the 10 940 studies identified, 296 were included. Study quality and risk of bias were assessed. RESULTS The strongest evidence for type of nature exposure was residential green space studies (n = 147, 50%). The strongest evidence for the beneficial health effects of nature was for physical activity (n = 108, 32%) and cognitive, behavioral, or mental health (n = 85, 25%). Physical activity was objectively measured in 55% of studies, and 41% of the cognitive, behavioral, or mental health studies were experimental in design. LIMITATIONS Types of nature exposures and health outcomes and behaviors were heterogenous. Risk of selection bias was moderate to high for all studies. Most studies were cross-sectional (n = 204, 69%), limiting our ability to assess causality. CONCLUSIONS Current literature supports a positive relationship between nature contact and children’s health, especially for physical activity and mental health, both public health priorities. The evidence supports pediatricians in advocating for equitable nature contact for children in places where they live, play, and learn.
33 citations
TL;DR: An increasing accessibility of parks through planning interventions and promoting park use behaviour could be effective policy mechanisms to improve mental health and thereby to reduce the burden of expenditure on mental health in developing countries.
33 citations
References
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TL;DR: The purpose of the present report is to update and clarify the 1995 recommendations on the types and amounts of physical activity needed by healthy adults to improve and maintain health.
Abstract: Summary—In 1995 the American College of Sports Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published national guidelines on Physical Activity and Public Health The Committee on Exercise and Cardiac Rehabilitation of the American Heart Association endorsed and supported these recommendations The purpose of the present report is to update and clarify the 1995 recommendations on the types and amounts of physical activity needed by healthy adults to improve and maintain health Development of this document was by an expert panel of scientists, including physicians, epidemiologists, exercise scientists, and public health specialists This panel reviewed advances in pertinent physiologic, epidemiologic, and clinical scientific data, including primary research articles and reviews published since the original recommendation was issued in 1995 Issues considered by the panel included new scientific evidence relating physical activity to health, physical activity recommendations by various organizations in the interim, and communications issues Key points related to updating the physical activity recommendation were outlined and writing groups were formed A draft manuscript was prepared and circulated for review to the expert panel as well as to outside experts Comments were integrated into the final recommendation Primary Recommendation—To promote and maintain health, all healthy adults aged 18 to 65 yr need moderate-intensity aerobic (endurance) physical activity for a minimum of 30 min on five days each week or vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity for a minimum of 20 min on three days each week [I (A)] Combinations of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity can be performed to meet this recommendation [IIa (B)] For example, a person can meet the recommendation by walking briskly for 30 min twice during the week and then jogging for 20 min on two other days Moderate-intensity aerobic activity, which is generally equivalent to a brisk walk and noticeably accelerates the heart rate, can be accumulated toward the 30-min minimum by performing bouts each lasting 10 or more minutes [I (B)] Vigorous-intensity activity is exemplified by jogging, and causes rapid breathing and a substantial increase in heart rate In addition, every adult should perform activities that maintain or increase muscular strength and endurance a minimum of two days each week [IIa (A)] Because of the dose-response relation between physical activity and health, persons who wish to further improve their personal fitness, reduce their risk for chronic diseases and disabilities or prevent unhealthy weight gain may benefit by exceeding the minimum recommended amounts of physical activity [I (A)] (Circulation 2007;116:1081-1093)
6,863 citations
Book•
28 Jul 1989TL;DR: A study of the natural environment, people, and the relationship between them is presented in this paper, where the authors offer a research-based analysis of the vital psychological role that nature plays.
Abstract: A study of the natural environment, people, and the relationship between them. The authors offer a research-based analysis of the vital psychological role that nature plays. They try to understand how people perceive nature and what kinds of natural environments they prefer.
4,845 citations
"Do greener areas promote more equit..." refers background in this paper
...The main hypotheses underpinning this category are ‘stress reduction theory’ (Ulrich et al., 1991) and ‘attention restoration’ (Kaplan and Kaplan, 1989)....
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..., 1991) and ‘attention restoration’ (Kaplan and Kaplan, 1989)....
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TL;DR: The purpose of the present report is to update and clarify the 1995 recommendations on the types and amounts of physical activity needed by healthy adults to improve and maintain health.
Abstract: Summary: In 1995 the American College of Sports Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published national guidelines on Physical Activity and Public Health. The Committee on Exercise and Cardiac Rehabilitation of the American Heart Association endorsed and supported these recommendations. The purpose of the present report is to update and clarify the 1995 recommendations on the types and amounts of physical activity needed by healthy adults to improve and maintain health. Development of this document was by an expert panel of scientists, including physicians, epidemiologists, exercise scientists, and public health specialists. This panel reviewed advances in pertinent physiologic, epidemiologic, and clinical scientific data, including primary research articles and reviews published since the original recommendation was issued in 1995. Issues considered by the panel included new scientific evidence relating physical activity to health, physical activity recommendations by various organizations in the interim, and communications issues. Key points related to updating the physical activity recommendation were outlined and writing groups were formed. A draft manuscript was prepared and circulated for review to the expert panel as well as to outside experts. Comments were integrated into the final recommendation.
Primary Recommendation: To promote and maintain health, all healthy adults aged 18 to 65 yr need moderate-intensity aerobic (endurance) physical activity for a minimum of 30 min on five days each week or vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity for a minimum of 20 min on three days each week. [I (A)] Combinations of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity can be performed to meet this recommendation. [IIa (B)] For example, a person can meet the recommendation by walking briskly for 30 min twice during the week and then jogging for 20 min on two other days. Moderate-intensity aerobic activity, which is generally equivalent to a brisk walk and noticeably accelerates the heart rate, can be accumulated toward the 30-min minimum by performing bouts each lasting 10 or more minutes. [I (B)] Vigorous-intensity activity is exemplified by jogging, and causes rapid breathing and a substantial increase in heart rate. In addition, every adult should perform activities that maintain or increase muscular strength and endurance a minimum of two days each week. [IIa (A)] Because of the dose-response relation between physical activity and health, persons who wish to further improve their personal fitness, reduce their risk for chronic diseases and disabilities or prevent unhealthy weight gain may benefit by exceeding the minimum recommended amounts of physical activity. [I (A)]
4,320 citations
"Do greener areas promote more equit..." refers background in this paper
...The health benefits of keeping physically active are well known and guidelines on recommended participation have been established (Haskell et al., 2007)....
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the emotional, attentional and physiological aspects of stress reducing influences of nature, and found that both the stressor film and the nature settings elicited high levels of involuntary or automatic attention.
3,669 citations
"Do greener areas promote more equit..." refers background in this paper
...The main hypotheses underpinning this category are ‘stress reduction theory’ (Ulrich et al., 1991) and ‘attention restoration’ (Kaplan and Kaplan, 1989)....
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Book•
01 Dec 1998
TL;DR: This publication examines this social gradient in health, and explains how psychological and social influences affect physical health and longevity, and looks at what is known about the most important social determinants of health today.
Abstract: Poorer people live shorter lives and are more often ill than the rich. This disparity has drawn attention to the remarkable sensitivity of health to the social environment. This publication examines this social gradient in health, and explains how psychological and social influences affect physical health and longevity. It then looks at what is known about the most important social determinants of health today, and the role that public policy can play in shaping a social environment that is more conducive to better health. This second edition relies on the most up-to-date sources in its selection and description of the main social determinants of health in our society today. Key research sources are given for each: stress, early life, social exclusion, working conditions, unemployment, social support, addiction, healthy food and transport policy. Policy and action for health need to address the social determinants of health, attacking the causes of ill health before they can lead to problems. This is a challenging task for both decision-makers and public health actors and advocates. This publication provides the facts and the policy options that will enable them to act.
2,594 citations
"Do greener areas promote more equit..." refers background in this paper
...…because they tend to have more to gain health-wise, in comparison to those in more affluent surroundings who are usually already healthier in part due greater quantity and command over resources, higher levels of autonomy and more control over their time (Marmot, 2006; Wilkinson and Marmot, 2003)....
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...The presence of green space may disproportionately benefit people in disadvantaged circumstances because they tend to have more to gain health-wise, in comparison to those in more affluent surroundings who are usually already healthier in part due greater quantity and command over resources, higher levels of autonomy and more control over their time (Marmot, 2006; Wilkinson and Marmot, 2003)....
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