The health benefits of urban green spaces: a review of the evidence
- 10 September 2010
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Journal of Public Health
- Vol. 33 (2), 212-222
- https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdq068
Abstract
Background Urban development projects can be costly and have health impacts. An evidence-based approach to urban planning is therefore essential. However, the evidence for physical and non-physical health benefits of urban green space is unclear. Methods A literature search of academic and grey literature was conducted for studies and reviews of the health effects of green space. Articles found were appraised for their relevance, critically reviewed and graded accordingly. Their findings were then thematically categorized. Results There is weak evidence for the links between physical, mental health and well-being, and urban green space. Environmental factors such as the quality and accessibility of green space affects its use for physical activity. User determinants, such as age, gender, ethnicity and the perception of safety, are also important. However, many studies were limited by poor study design, failure to exclude confounding, bias or reverse causality and weak statistical associations. Conclusion Most studies reported findings that generally supported the view that green space have a beneficial health effect. Establishing a causal relationship is difficult, as the relationship is complex. Simplistic urban interventions may therefore fail to address the underlying determinants of urban health that are not remediable by landscape redesign.Keywords
This publication has 57 references indexed in Scilit:
- Association of sports activities in leisure time and incident myocardial infarction in middle-aged men and women from the general population: the MONICA/KORA Augsburg cohort studyEuropean Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 2007
- Intra-national variation in trends in overweight and leisure time physical activities in The Netherlands since 1980: stratification according to sex, age and urbanisation degreeInternational Journal of Obesity, 2006
- Mental, Physical and Social Components in Leisure Activities Equally Contribute to Decrease Dementia RiskDementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 2006
- URBAN HEALTH: Evidence, Challenges, and DirectionsAnnual Review of Public Health, 2005
- Exercise therapy and mental health in clinical populations: is exercise therapy a worthwhile intervention?Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 2002
- The effectiveness of interventions to increase physical activity: A systematic review1,2American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2002
- Urban Sprawl and Public HealthPublic Health Reports, 2002
- Physical fitness and activity as separate heart disease risk factors: a meta-analysisMedicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2001
- Physical Activity, Falls, and Fractures Among Older Adults: A Review of the Epidemiologic EvidenceJournal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2000
- Healthy Cities: Toward Worldwide Health PromotionAnnual Review of Public Health, 1996