Green space exposure on depression and anxiety outcomes: A meta-analysis

Summary & key facts

This meta-analysis of observational studies found that higher exposure to green space was linked with slightly lower odds of depression and possibly lower odds of anxiety. A 10% increase in the amount of green space was associated with lower odds of depression (OR 0.963; 95% CI 0.948–0.979) and with a lower but not clearly significant odds of anxiety (OR 0.938; 95% CI 0.858–1.025). A 0.1 unit increase in NDVI (a satellite measure of vegetation) was also linked to lower odds of depression (OR 0.931; 95% CI 0.887–0.977). The authors note these results come from observational studies and conclude that improving or preserving green space could be a promising public health approach.

Key facts:

• A 10% increase in the proportion of green space was associated with an odds ratio (OR) for depression of 0.963 (95% CI 0.948–0.979).
• A 0.1 unit increase in NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, a satellite measure of vegetation) was associated with an OR for depression of 0.931 (95% CI 0.887–0.977).
• A 10% increase in green space was associated with an OR for anxiety of 0.938 (95% CI 0.858–1.025); the 95% confidence interval includes 1.0, so this anxiety result was not clearly statistically significant.
• The study combined results from observational studies using random-effects meta-analysis and assessed between-study differences with Cochrane's Q and I2 statistics.
• The authors conclude that improving or preserving green space should be regarded as a promising intervention for public health, while noting the evidence comes from observational data.

Abstract

Results of this meta-analysis supported improving green space exposure in preventing depression and anxiety. Higher green space exposure might be helpful for depression and anxiety disorders. Therefore, improving or preserving green space should be regarded as a promising intervention for public hea …

Topics

Land Use and Ecosystem Services Urban Agriculture and Sustainability Urban Green Space and Health

Categories

Environmental Science Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis Physical Sciences

Tags

Anxiety Biology Climate change Confidence interval Depression (economics) Ecology Economics Environmental health Internal medicine Macroeconomics Medicine Mental health Meta-analysis Normalized Difference Vegetation Index Observational study Odds ratio Psychiatry

Conditions & symptoms

Anxiety Depression Anxiety or worry Sadness or low mood