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The Mental Health Benefits of Purposeful Activities in Public Green Spaces in Urban and Semi-Urban Neighbourhoods: A Mixed-Methods Pilot and Proof of Concept Study

Author

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  • Peter A. Coventry

    (Department of Health Sciences and Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK)

  • Chris Neale

    (Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA)

  • Alison Dyke

    (Stockholm Environment Institute, Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK)

  • Rachel Pateman

    (Stockholm Environment Institute, Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK)

  • Steve Cinderby

    (Stockholm Environment Institute, Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK)

Abstract

Access and exposure to public green space might be critical to health promotion and prevention of mental ill health. However, it is uncertain if differential health and mental health benefits are associated with undertaking different activities in public green space. We evaluated the health and wellbeing benefits of different activities in different locations of public green spaces in urban and semi-urban areas. We used a mixed-methods before-and-after design. Volunteers at three conservation sites were recruited and took part in group guided walks, practical conservation tasks or citizen science. Repeated measures one-way ANOVAs with Bonferroni correction assessed the relationship between location and activity type on change in acute subjective mood from pre- to post-activity, measured with the UWIST Mood Adjective Checklist (UWIST-MACL). Qualitative semi-structured interviews were undertaken and analysed thematically to explore participants’ perceptions about the health and wellbeing benefits of activities in public green space. Forty-five participants were recruited, leading to 65 independent observations. Walking, conservation and citizen science in public green space were associated with improved mood. Across all participants acute subjective mood improved across all domains of the UWIST-MACL. There was a significant association between reduction in stress and location ( p = 0.009). Qualitatively participants reported that conservation and citizen science conferred co-benefits to the environment and individual health and well-being and were perceived as purposeful. Undertaking purposeful activity in public green space has the potential to promote health and prevent mental ill health.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter A. Coventry & Chris Neale & Alison Dyke & Rachel Pateman & Steve Cinderby, 2019. "The Mental Health Benefits of Purposeful Activities in Public Green Spaces in Urban and Semi-Urban Neighbourhoods: A Mixed-Methods Pilot and Proof of Concept Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-16, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:15:p:2712-:d:252846
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Victoria Houlden & Scott Weich & João Porto de Albuquerque & Stephen Jarvis & Karen Rees, 2018. "The relationship between greenspace and the mental wellbeing of adults: A systematic review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(9), pages 1-35, September.
    2. Viniece Jennings & Omoshalewa Bamkole, 2019. "The Relationship between Social Cohesion and Urban Green Space: An Avenue for Health Promotion," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-14, February.
    3. Mireia Gascon & Margarita Triguero-Mas & David Martínez & Payam Dadvand & Joan Forns & Antoni Plasència & Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen, 2015. "Mental Health Benefits of Long-Term Exposure to Residential Green and Blue Spaces: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-26, April.
    4. Gesler, Wilbert M., 1992. "Therapeutic landscapes: Medical issues in light of the new cultural geography," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 34(7), pages 735-746, April.
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    8. Cristina Ayala-Azcarraga & Daniel Diaz & Tania Fernandez & Fernando Cordova-Tapia & Luis Zambrano, 2023. "Uneven Distribution of Urban Green Spaces in Relation to Marginalization in Mexico City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-14, August.
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