Can neighborhood green space mitigate health inequalities? A study of socio-economic status and mental health

Takemi Sugiyama; Karen Villanueva; Matthew Knuiman; Jacinta Francis; Sarah Foster; Lisa Wood; Billie Giles-Corti

doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2016.01.002

Can neighborhood green space mitigate health inequalities? A study of socio-economic status and mental health

Health Place. 2016 Mar:38:16-21. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2016.01.002. Epub 2016 Feb 1.

Authors

Takemi Sugiyama¹, Karen Villanueva², Matthew Knuiman³, Jacinta Francis³, Sarah Foster³, Lisa Wood³, Billie Giles-Corti⁴

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Design Innovation, Faculty of Health Arts & Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Spatial Epidemiology and Evaluation Research Group, School of Population Health, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia; McCaughey VicHealth Community Wellbeing Unit, Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Institute for Health and Ageing, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
² McCaughey VicHealth Community Wellbeing Unit, Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
³ Centre for the Built Environment and Health, School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
⁴ McCaughey VicHealth Community Wellbeing Unit, Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

PMID: 26796324
DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2016.01.002

Abstract

This study examined whether the association of psychological distress with area-level socio-economic status (SES) was moderated by the area and attractiveness of local green space. As expected, the odds of higher psychological distress was higher in residents in lower SES areas than those in higher SES areas. However, our results were inconclusive with regard to the moderating role of green space in the relationship between psychological distress and SES. Further investigations incorporating safety and maintenance features of green space and street-level greenery are warranted.

Keywords: Disadvantage; Disparity; Neighborhood environment; Park; Psychological distress.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Cross-Sectional Studies
Environment Design*
Female
Health Status Disparities*
Humans
Male
Mental Health*
Middle Aged
Nature*
Social Class*
Stress, Psychological