Association between Urban Greenspace and Health: A Systematic Review of Literature

Vincenza Gianfredi, Maddalena Buffoli, Andrea Rebecchi, Roberto Croci, Aurea Oradini-Alacreu, Giuseppe Stirparo, Alessio Marino, Anna Odone, Stefano Capolongo and Carlo Signorelli
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Vincenza Gianfredi: School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
Maddalena Buffoli: Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering Department, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
Andrea Rebecchi: Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering Department, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
Roberto Croci: School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
Aurea Oradini-Alacreu: School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
Giuseppe Stirparo: School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
Alessio Marino: School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
Anna Odone: Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, 20158 Milan, Italy
Stefano Capolongo: Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering Department, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
Carlo Signorelli: School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 10, 1-23

Abstract: The current review aimed to explore the association between urban greenspaces and health indicators. In particular, our aims were to analyze the association between publicly accessible urban greenspaces exposure and two selected health outcomes (objectively measured physical activity (PA) and mental health outcomes (MH)). Two electronic databases—PubMed/Medline and Excerpta Medica dataBASE (EMBASE)—were searched from 1 January 2000 to 30 September 2020. Only articles in English were considered. Out of 356 retrieved articles, a total of 34 papers were included in our review. Of those, 15 assessed the association between urban greenspace and PA and 19 dealt with MH. Almost all the included studies found a positive association between urban greenspace and both PA and MH, while a few demonstrated a non-effect or a negative effect on MH outcomes. However, only guaranteeing access is not enough. Indeed, important elements are maintenance, renovation, closeness to residential areas, planning of interactive activities, and perceived security aspects. Overall, despite some methodological limitations of the included studies, the results have shown almost univocally that urban greenspaces harbour potentially beneficial effects on physical and mental health and well-being.

Keywords: physical activity; mental health; depression; anxiety; stress; green areas; green infrastructures; urban greenery; urban health; non-communicable diseases (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (18)

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