Snapshot of the Use of Urban Green Spaces in Mexico City During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

Overview

Journal Int J Environ Res Public Health

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Environmental Health
Public Health

Date 2021 Apr 30

PMID 33919654

Citations 24

Authors

Carolina Mayen Huerta

Gianluca Cafagna

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The present qualitative research explores the factors that have influenced the use of urban green spaces (UGS) in Mexico City during the COVID-19 pandemic and the implications of their usage on residents' well-being. This study was conducted using a combination of solicited audio and written diaries, photography, and in-depth interviews with 16 participants, aged 22 to 58. The article provides a critical reflection on the incentives and deterrents to the UGS use of participants while social distancing measures were in place. The results show that in Mexico City: (1) participants' lack of access to UGS has hampered their use, mainly among those of low-income neighborhoods; (2) UGS size did not directly impact participants' UGS use during the pandemic; and (3) women were deterred from accessing UGS due to safety concerns related to the fear of violence. Overall, the results suggest that UGS use has served as a coping mechanism to decrease the effects of stress and isolation caused by the pandemic, increasing users' physical and mental well-being. This study's conclusions can help develop future citizen participation tools that are useful for resilience in urban design, as they provide interesting insights into the perceptions of residents, such as the most valued characteristics of UGS.

Citing Articles

Chronic impacts of natural infrastructure on the physical and psychological health of university students during and after COVID-19: a case study of Chengdu, China.

Peng Y, He H, Lv B, Wang J, Qin Q, Song J Front Public Health. 2024; 12:1508539.

PMID: 39735753 PMC: 11671516. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1508539.

Understanding the pathways between the use of urban green spaces and self-rated health: A case study in Mexico City.

Mayen Huerta C PLoS One. 2023; 18(12):e0295013.

PMID: 38060530 PMC: 10703238. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295013.

How Societal Forces of Change Are Transforming Youth Physical Activity Promotion in North America.

Szeszulski J, Faro J, Joseph R, Lanza K, Levesque L, Monroe C J Phys Act Health. 2023; 20(12):1069-1077.

PMID: 37917976 PMC: 11674855. DOI: 10.1123/jpah.2023-0167.

Green infrastructure inequality in the context of COVID-19: Taking parks and trails as examples.

Wu Y, Wei Y, Liu M, Garcia I Urban For Urban Green. 2023; 86.

PMID: 37614701 PMC: 10443926. DOI: 10.1016/j.ufug.2023.128027.

Historical redlining and park use during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from big mobility data.

Li Y, Huang Y, Li R, Zhang K J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2023; 34(3):399-406.

PMID: 37355763 PMC: 11471044. DOI: 10.1038/s41370-023-00569-3.

References

Shankar A, Rafnsson S, Steptoe A . Longitudinal associations between social connections and subjective wellbeing in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Psychol Health. 2014; 30(6):686-98. DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2014.979823. View

Glass J . Citizen participation in planning: the relationship between objectives and techniques. J Am Plann Assoc. 1979; 45(2):180-9. DOI: 10.1080/01944367908976956. View

Guan H, Okely A, Aguilar-Farias N, Del Pozo Cruz B, Draper C, Hamdouchi A . Promoting healthy movement behaviours among children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2020; 4(6):416-418. PMC: 7190292. DOI: 10.1016/S2352-4642(20)30131-0. View

Slater S, Christiana R, Gustat J . Recommendations for Keeping Parks and Green Space Accessible for Mental and Physical Health During COVID-19 and Other Pandemics. Prev Chronic Dis. 2020; 17:E59. PMC: 7367064. DOI: 10.5888/pcd17.200204. View

Raheim M, Magnussen L, Sekse R, Lunde A, Jacobsen T, Blystad A . Researcher-researched relationship in qualitative research: Shifts in positions and researcher vulnerability. Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being. 2016; 11:30996. PMC: 4910304. DOI: 10.3402/qhw.v11.30996. View

Ugolini F, Massetti L, Calaza-Martinez P, Carinanos P, Dobbs C, Ostoic S . Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the use and perceptions of urban green space: An international exploratory study. Urban For Urban Green. 2020; 56:126888. PMC: 7566824. DOI: 10.1016/j.ufug.2020.126888. View

Miyake K, Maroko A, Grady K, Maantay J, Arno P . Not Just a Walk in the Park: Methodological Improvements for Determining Environmental Justice Implications of Park Access in New York City for the Promotion of Physical Activity. Cities Environ. 2011; 3(1):1-17. PMC: 3160641. DOI: 10.15365/cate.3182010. View

Pretty J, Peacock J, Sellens M, Griffin M . The mental and physical health outcomes of green exercise. Int J Environ Health Res. 2006; 15(5):319-37. DOI: 10.1080/09603120500155963. View

Giles-Corti B, Broomhall M, Knuiman M, Collins C, Douglas K, Ng K . Increasing walking: how important is distance to, attractiveness, and size of public open space?. Am J Prev Med. 2005; 28(2 Suppl 2):169-76. DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2004.10.018. View

10.

Pouso S, Borja A, Fleming L, Gomez-Baggethun E, White M, Uyarra M . Contact with blue-green spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown beneficial for mental health. Sci Total Environ. 2020; 756:143984. PMC: 7688424. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143984. View

11.

Francis J, Wood L, Knuiman M, Giles-Corti B . Quality or quantity? Exploring the relationship between Public Open Space attributes and mental health in Perth, Western Australia. Soc Sci Med. 2012; 74(10):1570-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.01.032. View

12.

Maas J, Verheij R, Groenewegen P, de Vries S, Spreeuwenberg P . Green space, urbanity, and health: how strong is the relation?. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2006; 60(7):587-92. PMC: 2566234. DOI: 10.1136/jech.2005.043125. View

13.

Seaman P, Jones R, Ellaway A . It's not just about the park, it's about integration too: why people choose to use or not use urban greenspaces. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2010; 7:78. PMC: 2978120. DOI: 10.1186/1479-5868-7-78. View

14.

Bell S, Phoenix C, Lovell R, Wheeler B . Green space, health and wellbeing: making space for individual agency. Health Place. 2014; 30:287-92. DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2014.10.005. View

15.

Mayen Huerta C, Utomo A . Evaluating the association between urban green spaces and subjective well-being in Mexico city during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health Place. 2021; 70:102606. PMC: 9760010. DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2021.102606. View

16.

Sweet E, Escalante S . Planning responds to gender violence: evidence from Spain, Mexico and the United States. Urban Stud. 2010; 47(10):2129-47. DOI: 10.1177/0042098009357353. View

17.

Koohsari M, Mavoa S, Villanueva K, Sugiyama T, Badland H, Kaczynski A . Public open space, physical activity, urban design and public health: Concepts, methods and research agenda. Health Place. 2015; 33:75-82. DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2015.02.009. View

18.

Burnett H, Olsen J, Nicholls N, Mitchell R . Change in time spent visiting and experiences of green space following restrictions on movement during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationally representative cross-sectional study of UK adults. BMJ Open. 2021; 11(3):e044067. PMC: 7942249. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044067. View

19.

Bedimo-Rung A, Mowen A, Cohen D . The significance of parks to physical activity and public health: a conceptual model. Am J Prev Med. 2005; 28(2 Suppl 2):159-68. DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2004.10.024. View

20.

Lee A, Jordan H, Horsley J . Value of urban green spaces in promoting healthy living and wellbeing: prospects for planning. Risk Manag Healthc Policy. 2015; 8:131-7. PMC: 4556255. DOI: 10.2147/RMHP.S61654. View