Neighbourhood green space, social environment and mental health: an examination in four European cities

Annemarie Ruijsbroek (), Sigrid M. Mohnen, Mariël Droomers, Hanneke Kruize, Christopher Gidlow, Regina Gražulevičiene, Sandra Andrusaityte, Jolanda Maas, Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen, Margarita Triguero-Mas, Daniel Masterson, Naomi Ellis, Elise Kempen, Wim Hardyns, Karien Stronks and Peter P. Groenewegen
Additional contact information
Annemarie Ruijsbroek: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)
Sigrid M. Mohnen: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)
Mariël Droomers: University of Amsterdam
Hanneke Kruize: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)
Christopher Gidlow: Staffordshire University
Regina Gražulevičiene: Vytauto Didžiojo Universitetas
Sandra Andrusaityte: Vytauto Didžiojo Universitetas
Jolanda Maas: Vrije Universiteit (VU)
Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen: Barcelona Biomedical Research Park
Margarita Triguero-Mas: Barcelona Biomedical Research Park
Daniel Masterson: Staffordshire University
Naomi Ellis: Staffordshire University
Elise Kempen: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)
Wim Hardyns: Ghent University
Karien Stronks: University of Amsterdam
Peter P. Groenewegen: NIVEL (Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research)

International Journal of Public Health, 2017, vol. 62, issue 6, No 5, 657-667

Abstract: Abstract Objectives This study examines the relationship between neighbourhood green space, the neighbourhood social environment (social cohesion, neighbourhood attachment, social contacts), and mental health in four European cities. Methods The PHENOTYPE study was carried out in 2013 in Barcelona (Spain), Stoke-on-Trent (United Kingdom), Doetinchem (The Netherlands), and Kaunas (Lithuania). 3771 adults living in 124 neighbourhoods answered questions on mental health, neighbourhood social environment, and amount and quality of green space. Additionally, audit data on neighbourhood green space were collected. Multilevel regression analyses examined the relation between neighbourhood green space and individual mental health and the influence of neighbourhood social environment. Results Mental health was only related to green (audit) in Barcelona. The amount and quality of neighbourhood green space (audit and perceived) were related to social cohesion in Doetinchem and Stoke-on-Trent and to neighbourhood attachment in Doetinchem. In all four cities, mental health was associated with social contacts. Conclusions Neighbourhood green was related to mental health only in Barcelona. Though neighbourhood green was related to social cohesion and attachment, the neighbourhood social environment seems not the underlying mechanism for this relationship.

Keywords: Neighbourhood; Green; Social environment; Mental health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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DOI: 10.1007/s00038-017-0963-8

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