Measures of greenspace exposure and their association to health-related outcomes for the periods before and during 2020’s Lockdown: A cross-sectional study in the West of England

Fouad, Ahmed Zaky; Sinnett, Danielle; Bray, Isabelle; McClatchey, Rachael; Reece, Rebecca

Abstract

Greenspaces are argued to be one of the important features in the urban environment that impact the health of the population. Previous research suggested either positive, negative or no associations between greenspaces and health-related outcomes. This paper takes a step backward to, first, explore different quantitative spatial measures of evaluating greenspace exposure, before attempting to investigate the relationship between those measures and health-related outcomes. The study uses self-reported health data from an online cross-sectional survey conducted for residents in the West of England. This yielded data of greenspace use; physical activity; wellbeing (ICECAP-A score); and connectedness to nature for 617 participants, divided into two sets: health outcomes for the period before versus during the 2020 lockdown. The study uses the participants’ postcodes (provided in the survey) to calculate eleven spatial measures of greenspace exposure using GIS software. 88 multivariate regression models were run while controlling for eleven con-founders of the participants’ characteristics. Results inferred 57 significant associations such that six spatial measures of greenspace exposure (NDVI R200m; NDVI R300m; NDVI R500m; Network Distance to nearest greenspace access; Euclidean Distance to nearest greenspace access; and Euclidean Distance to nearest 0.5ha doorstep greenspace access) have significant association to at least one of the four health-related outcomes, suggesting a positive impact on population health when living in greener areas or being closer to greenspaces. Moreover, there are further significant associations between the frequency of use of greenspaces and increasing physical activity or feeling more connected to nature. Still, the residents’ patterns of using greenspaces significantly changed during versus before lockdown, and has impacted the relationships between health outcomes and the greenspace exposure measures.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 21, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Mar 23, 2023
• Publication Date: Mar 23, 2023
• Deposit Date: Mar 21, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 23, 2023
• Journal: Land
• Electronic ISSN: 2073-445X
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10574654
• Publisher URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/4/728