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Urban Natural Environments, Obesity, and Health-Related Quality of Life among Hispanic Children Living in Inner-City Neighborhoods

Author

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  • Jun-Hyun Kim

    (Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning; Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA)

  • Chanam Lee

    (Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning; Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA)

  • Wonmin Sohn

    (Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning; Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA)

Abstract

Although a substantial body of literature has provided evidence supporting the positive effects of natural environments on well-being, little has been known about the specific spatial patterns of urban nature in promoting health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among children. This study assessed the association that the urban natural environment measured by landscape spatial patterns may have with obesity and HRQOL among Hispanic children. Ninety-two 4th and 5th grade students were recruited from Houston, Texas, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) was used to capture the children’s HRQOL. The quality of urban natural environments was assessed by quantifying the landscape spatial patterns, using landscape indices generated by Geographic Information Systems and remote sensing. From the bivariate analyses, children’s body mass index showed a significantly negative association with their HRQOL. After controlling for socio-demographic factors, the results revealed that larger and more tree areas were positively correlated with children’s HRQOL. In addition, those children living in areas with tree patches further apart from each other showed higher HRQOL. This research adds to the current multi-disciplinary area of research on environment-health relationships by investigating the roles of urban greeneries and linking their spatial structures with children’s HRQOL.

Suggested Citation

  • Jun-Hyun Kim & Chanam Lee & Wonmin Sohn, 2016. "Urban Natural Environments, Obesity, and Health-Related Quality of Life among Hispanic Children Living in Inner-City Neighborhoods," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:1:p:121-:d:62026
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Camilla Aparecida Silva de Oliveira & Andréa Maria Duarte Vargas & Fernanda de Morais Ferreira & Efigênia Ferreira e Ferreira, 2020. "Brazilian Children’s Understanding of the Quality of Life in Their Living Environment: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-17, July.
    2. Suzanne Tillmann & Andrew F. Clark & Jason A. Gilliland, 2018. "Children and Nature: Linking Accessibility of Natural Environments and Children’s Health-Related Quality of Life," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-15, May.
    3. Gert-Jan Vanaken & Marina Danckaerts, 2018. "Impact of Green Space Exposure on Children’s and Adolescents’ Mental Health: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-17, November.
    4. Jun-Hyun Kim & Donghwan Gu & Wonmin Sohn & Sung-Ho Kil & Hwanyong Kim & Dong-Kun Lee, 2016. "Neighborhood Landscape Spatial Patterns and Land Surface Temperature: An Empirical Study on Single-Family Residential Areas in Austin, Texas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-15, September.
    5. Shi, Hui & Su, Rongxiang & Xiao, Jingyi & Goulias, Konstadinos G., 2022. "Spatiotemporal analysis of activity-travel fragmentation based on spatial clustering and sequence analysis," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    6. Yumeng Meng & Jiaxuan Shi & Mei Lyu & Dong Sun & Hiroatsu Fukuda, 2024. "Research into the Influence Mechanisms of Visual-Comfort and Landscape Indicators of Urban Green Spaces," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-17, October.
    7. Susan L. Prescott & Alan C. Logan, 2016. "Transforming Life: A Broad View of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease Concept from an Ecological Justice Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-44, November.
    8. Rui Zhou & Ying-Jing Zheng & Jing-Yi Yun & Hong-Mei Wang, 2022. "The Effects of Urban Green Space on Depressive Symptoms of Mid-Aged and Elderly Urban Residents in China: Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-12, January.
    9. Kathleen L. Wolf & Sharon T. Lam & Jennifer K. McKeen & Gregory R.A. Richardson & Matilda van den Bosch & Adrina C. Bardekjian, 2020. "Urban Trees and Human Health: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-30, June.
    10. Pooja S. Tandon & Lauren M. Kuehne & Julian D. Olden, 2018. "Trends and Knowledge Gaps in the Study of Nature-Based Participation by Latinos in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-11, June.
    11. Phi-Yen Nguyen & Thomas Astell-Burt & Hania Rahimi-Ardabili & Xiaoqi Feng, 2021. "Green Space Quality and Health: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-38, October.
    12. Alessio Russo & Maria Beatrice Andreucci, 2023. "Raising Healthy Children: Promoting the Multiple Benefits of Green Open Spaces through Biophilic Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-21, January.

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