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Association between Urban Greenness and Depressive Symptoms: Evaluation of Greenness Using Various Indicators

Author

Listed:
  • Hyeonjin Song

    (Urban Forests Research Center, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Korea)

  • Kevin James Lane

    (School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA)

  • Honghyok Kim

    (BK21PLUS Program in ‘Embodiment: Health-Society Interaction’, Department of Public Health Science, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea)

  • Hyomi Kim

    (BK21PLUS Program in ‘Embodiment: Health-Society Interaction’, Department of Public Health Science, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea)

  • Garam Byun

    (BK21PLUS Program in ‘Embodiment: Health-Society Interaction’, Department of Public Health Science, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea)

  • Minh Le

    (BK21PLUS Program in ‘Embodiment: Health-Society Interaction’, Department of Public Health Science, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea)

  • Yongsoo Choi

    (BK21PLUS Program in ‘Embodiment: Health-Society Interaction’, Department of Public Health Science, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea)

  • Chan Ryul Park

    (Urban Forests Research Center, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Korea)

  • Jong-Tae Lee

    (BK21PLUS Program in ‘Embodiment: Health-Society Interaction’, Department of Public Health Science, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
    School of Health Policy and Management, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea)

Abstract

An increasing number of studies have suggested benefits of greenness exposure on mental health. We examined the association between urban greenness and depressive symptoms in adults in the general population living in the seven major cities in Korea ( N = 65,128). Using data from the Korean Community Health Survey 2009, depressive symptoms were measured on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Greenness was assessed using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and land-use data (forest area and forest volume). Logistic regression models were fitted to adjust for potential confounders. Individuals in regions with the highest NDVI (quartile 4) had the lowest odds for depressive symptoms compared to quartile 1, after adjusting for potential confounders (OR = 0.813; 95% CI: 0.747, 0.884). For all greenness indicators except for forest area per district area (%), the highest rate of depressive symptoms was found for the individuals in the lowest quartile of greenness (quartile 1) and the lowest rate of depressive symptoms for those in the highest quartile of greenness (quartile 4). We found an inverse association between urban greenness and depressive symptoms, which was consistent across a variety of greenness indicators. Our study suggests health benefits of greenness and could provide a scientific basis for policy making and urban planning.

Suggested Citation

  • Hyeonjin Song & Kevin James Lane & Honghyok Kim & Hyomi Kim & Garam Byun & Minh Le & Yongsoo Choi & Chan Ryul Park & Jong-Tae Lee, 2019. "Association between Urban Greenness and Depressive Symptoms: Evaluation of Greenness Using Various Indicators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-13, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:2:p:173-:d:196182
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kirsten M. M. Beyer & Andrea Kaltenbach & Aniko Szabo & Sandra Bogar & F. Javier Nieto & Kristen M. Malecki, 2014. "Exposure to Neighborhood Green Space and Mental Health: Evidence from the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-20, March.
    2. Kyoung-bok Min & Hyun-Jin Kim & Hye-Jin Kim & Jin-young Min, 2017. "Parks and green areas and the risk for depression and suicidal indicators," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 62(6), pages 647-656, July.
    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. Jayeun Kim & Ho Kim, 2017. "Demographic and Environmental Factors Associated with Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-15, April.
    5. de Vries, Sjerp & van Dillen, Sonja M.E. & Groenewegen, Peter P. & Spreeuwenberg, Peter, 2013. "Streetscape greenery and health: Stress, social cohesion and physical activity as mediators," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 26-33.
    6. Margaret M. Hansen & Reo Jones & Kirsten Tocchini, 2017. "Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) and Nature Therapy: A State-of-the-Art Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-48, July.
    7. Chia-Pin Yu & Chia-Min Lin & Ming-Jer Tsai & Yu-Chieh Tsai & Chun-Yu Chen, 2017. "Effects of Short Forest Bathing Program on Autonomic Nervous System Activity and Mood States in Middle-Aged and Elderly Individuals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-12, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kristen Jakstis & Leonie K. Fischer, 2021. "Urban Nature and Public Health: How Nature Exposure and Sociocultural Background Relate to Depression Risk," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-18, September.
    2. Maria Torres Toda & Asier Anabitarte Riol & Marta Cirach & Marisa Estarlich & Ana Fernández-Somoano & Llúcia González-Safont & Mònica Guxens & Jordi Julvez & Isolina Riaño-Galán & Jordi Sunyer & Payam, 2020. "Residential Surrounding Greenspace and Mental Health in Three Spanish Areas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-14, August.
    3. Marco Helbich, 2019. "Spatiotemporal Contextual Uncertainties in Green Space Exposure Measures: Exploring a Time Series of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Indices," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-13, March.
    4. José Ignacio Nazif-Munoz & José Guillermo Cedeno Laurent & Matthew Browning & John Spengler & Héctor A. Olvera Álvarez, 2020. "Green, Brown, and Gray: Associations between Different Measurements of Land Patterns and Depression among Nursing Students in El Paso, Texas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-17, November.
    5. Anna Domaradzka & Mikołaj Biesaga & Ewa Domaradzka & Magdalena Kołodziejczyk, 2022. "The Civil City Framework for the Implementation of Nature-Based Smart Innovations: Right to a Healthy City Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-20, August.

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