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Journal article
Associations of greenspace use and proximity with self-reported physical and mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic
PloS one, v 18(3), e0280837
01 Mar 2023
PMID: 36857353
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Research has shown that the COVID-19 pandemic affected individual's mental and physical health. The aim of this study was to estimate associations between greenspace use and proximity with perceived mental and physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic. We surveyed metropolitan Philadelphia residents, October 20-December 1, 2020, about walking time to the nearest greenspace from their home, frequency of greenspace use in the past 30 days, change in frequency of greenspace use during the COVID-19 pandemic, and perceived physical and mental health outcomes. We ran unadjusted and adjusted log-binomial regression models to derive Risk Ratio (RR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) estimates of associations of loneliness, physical and mental health outcomes with: (1) self-reported walking time to nearest greenspace; (2) reported greenspace use frequency; and (3) changes in greenspace use frequency. Of 485 survey participants, 244 (51.4%) reported feeling lonelier, 147 (31.37%) reported higher perceived stress, 261 (54.9%) reported worsened mental health, and 137 (28.7%) reported worsened physical health during vs. before the start of pandemic-restrictions in mid-March of 2020. After adjustment for gender, age, and change in financial status, RR estimates suggested modest protective associations between visiting greenspaces more frequently during vs. before the pandemic and worsened mental (RR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.70-1.00), and physical health (RR 0.77, 95% CI: 0.56-1.10), and loneliness (RR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.75-1.1) and perceived stress (RR 0.83, 95% CI: 0.61-1.13). Shorter walking distances to the nearest greenspace were associated with reduced risk of reporting worsened physical health and higher perceived stress; however, living shorter walking distances from greenspace were not associated with protection against worsened mental health or loneliness. These results suggest that active greenspace use may provide mental and physical health protection, particularly during a stressful public health crisis.
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Details
- Title
- Associations of greenspace use and proximity with self-reported physical and mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Creators
- Janelle R Edwards - Drexel University, Urban Health CollaborativeJeromy W Gotschall - University of PennsylvaniaJane E Clougherty - Drexel UniversityLeah H Schinasi - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- PloS one, v 18(3), e0280837
- Publisher
- PLOS
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Dana and David Dornsife School of Public Health; Environmental and Occupational Health
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000942456500055
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85149427145
- Other Identifier
- 991020151064504721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health