Impact of Green Space Exposure on Children's and Adolescents' Mental Health: A Systematic Review

Overview

Journal Int J Environ Res Public Health

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Environmental Health
Public Health

Date 2018 Nov 30

PMID 30486416

Citations 82

Authors

Gert-Jan Vanaken

Marina Danckaerts

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In recent years, the interest in the relationship between exposure to green spaces and children's and adolescents' mental health has risen. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of observational studies assessing the association between empirical green space exposure with standardized outcome measures of mental health problems, mental well-being and developmental problems in children, adolescents and young adults. The PRISMA statement guidelines for reporting systematic reviews were followed. A PubMed and Scopus search resulted in the inclusion of 21 studies. The evidence consistently suggests a beneficial association between green space exposure and children's emotional and behavioral difficulties, particularly with hyperactivity and inattention problems. Limited evidence suggests a beneficial association with mental well-being in children and depressive symptoms in adolescents and young adults. These beneficial associations are resistant to adjustment for demographic and socio-economic confounders, which thus may represent independent links. Mediating factors and the variability of this association between different age groups are discussed. From a precautionary principle, evidence up to now demands the attention of policy makers, urban planners and mental healthcare workers in order to protect children's and adolescents' mental health in light of rapid global urbanization by providing sufficient exposure to green spaces.

Citing Articles

EnvironMental Health: A Framework for an Emerging Field at the Intersection of the Environment and Mental Health Crises.

Ratjen L, Goddard E, Gilcher E, Nguyen B, Kelley M, Feldman H Geohealth. 2025; 9(2):e2024GH001254.

PMID: 39958831 PMC: 11826329. DOI: 10.1029/2024GH001254.

Impact of Park Redesign and Renovation on Children's Health-Related Quality of Life.

Hong H, Kodali H, Dunlap A, Wyka K, Thorpe L, Evenson K J Urban Health. 2025; 102(1):189-200.

PMID: 39821847 PMC: 11865369. DOI: 10.1007/s11524-024-00954-9.

How Built Environment Characteristics Influence Social Interactions During Neighbourhood Walks Among Urban Inhabitants.

Kuzuoglu S, Glover T, Moyer L, Todd J Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024; 21(11).

PMID: 39595786 PMC: 11593799. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21111519.

A Systematic Review of the Impact of Changes to Urban Green Spaces on Health and Education Outcomes, and a Critique of Their Applicability to Inform Economic Evaluation.

Raza W, Bojke L, Coventry P, Murphy P, Fulbright H, White P Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024; 21(11).

PMID: 39595720 PMC: 11594178. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21111452.

Investigating heart rate responses of children to active travel: a mixed effects modeling analysis.

Su S, Stark J, Hossinger R, Susilo Y BMC Public Health. 2024; 24(1):3186.

PMID: 39550533 PMC: 11568576. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-20634-2.

References

Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman D . Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. Ann Intern Med. 2009; 151(4):264-9, W64. DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-151-4-200908180-00135. View

Maas J, Verheij R, de Vries S, Spreeuwenberg P, Schellevis F, Groenewegen P . Morbidity is related to a green living environment. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2009; 63(12):967-73. DOI: 10.1136/jech.2008.079038. View

Dallimer M, Tang Z, Bibby P, Brindley P, Gaston K, Davies Z . Temporal changes in greenspace in a highly urbanized region. Biol Lett. 2011; 7(5):763-6. PMC: 3169039. DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2011.0025. View

Huynh Q, Craig W, Janssen I, Pickett W . Exposure to public natural space as a protective factor for emotional well-being among young people in Canada. BMC Public Health. 2013; 13:407. PMC: 3662164. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-407. View

Markevych I, Tiesler C, Fuertes E, Romanos M, Dadvand P, Nieuwenhuijsen M . Access to urban green spaces and behavioural problems in children: Results from the GINIplus and LISAplus studies. Environ Int. 2014; 71:29-35. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2014.06.002. View

Balseviciene B, Sinkariova L, Grazuleviciene R, Andrusaityte S, Uzdanaviciute I, Dedele A . Impact of residential greenness on preschool children's emotional and behavioral problems. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2014; 11(7):6757-70. PMC: 4113842. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph110706757. View

Amoly E, Dadvand P, Forns J, Lopez-Vicente M, Basagana X, Julvez J . Green and blue spaces and behavioral development in Barcelona schoolchildren: the BREATHE project. Environ Health Perspect. 2014; 122(12):1351-8. PMC: 4256702. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1408215. View

Mak K, Lai C, Watanabe H, Kim D, Bahar N, Ramos M . Epidemiology of internet behaviors and addiction among adolescents in six Asian countries. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2014; 17(11):720-8. DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2014.0139. View

Aggio D, Smith L, Fisher A, Hamer M . Mothers' perceived proximity to green space is associated with TV viewing time in children: the Growing Up in Scotland study. Prev Med. 2014; 70:46-9. PMC: 4295935. DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2014.11.018. View

10.

Gascon M, Triguero-Mas M, Martinez D, Dadvand P, Forns J, Plasencia A . Mental health benefits of long-term exposure to residential green and blue spaces: a systematic review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2015; 12(4):4354-79. PMC: 4410252. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph120404354. View

11.

Dadvand P, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Esnaola M, Forns J, Basagana X, Alvarez-Pedrerol M . Green spaces and cognitive development in primary schoolchildren. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015; 112(26):7937-42. PMC: 4491800. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1503402112. View

12.

Saw L, Lim F, Carrasco L . The Relationship between Natural Park Usage and Happiness Does Not Hold in a Tropical City-State. PLoS One. 2015; 10(7):e0133781. PMC: 4519055. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133781. View

13.

Forns J, Dadvand P, Foraster M, Alvarez-Pedrerol M, Rivas I, Lopez-Vicente M . Traffic-Related Air Pollution, Noise at School, and Behavioral Problems in Barcelona Schoolchildren: A Cross-Sectional Study. Environ Health Perspect. 2015; 124(4):529-35. PMC: 4829987. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1409449. View

14.

Kim J, Lee C, Sohn W . Urban Natural Environments, Obesity, and Health-Related Quality of Life among Hispanic Children Living in Inner-City Neighborhoods. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2016; 13(1). PMC: 4730512. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph13010121. View

15.

Ward J, Duncan J, Jarden A, Stewart T . The impact of children's exposure to greenspace on physical activity, cognitive development, emotional wellbeing, and ability to appraise risk. Health Place. 2016; 40:44-50. DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2016.04.015. View

16.

Zach A, Meyer N, Hendrowarsito L, Kolb S, Bolte G, Nennstiel-Ratzel U . Association of sociodemographic and environmental factors with the mental health status among preschool children-Results from a cross-sectional study in Bavaria, Germany. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2016; 219(4-5):458-67. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2016.04.012. View

17.

Younan D, Tuvblad C, Li L, Wu J, Lurmann F, Franklin M . Environmental Determinants of Aggression in Adolescents: Role of Urban Neighborhood Greenspace. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2016; 55(7):591-601. PMC: 4924128. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2016.05.002. View

18.

Kabisch N, Haase D, van den Bosch M . Adding Natural Areas to Social Indicators of Intra-Urban Health Inequalities among Children: A Case Study from Berlin, Germany. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2016; 13(8). PMC: 4997469. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph13080783. View

19.

Flores-Pajot M, Ofner M, Do M, Lavigne E, Villeneuve P . Childhood autism spectrum disorders and exposure to nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter air pollution: A review and meta-analysis. Environ Res. 2016; 151:763-776. DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2016.07.030. View

20.

Feng X, Astell-Burt T . The Relationship between Neighbourhood Green Space and Child Mental Wellbeing Depends upon Whom You Ask: Multilevel Evidence from 3083 Children Aged 12-13 Years. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017; 14(3). PMC: 5369071. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14030235. View