Wilma L Zijlema1, Ione Avila-Palencia2, Margarita Triguero-Mas2, Christopher Gidlow3, Jolanda Maas4, Hanneke Kruize5, Sandra Andrusaityte6, Regina Grazuleviciene6, Mark J Nieuwenhuijsen2. 1. Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: wilma.zijlema@isglobal.org. 2. Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain. 3. Centre for Health and Development, Staffordshire University, Leek Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2DF, United Kingdom. 4. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Clinical Psychology, Van der Boechorstraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands. 5. Center for Sustainability, Environment and Health, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA Bilthoven, the Netherlands. 6. Department of Environmental Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaicio str. 58, 44248 Kaunas, Lithuania.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Commuting routes with natural features could promote walking or cycling for commuting. Commuting through natural environments (NE) could have mental health benefits as exposure to NE can reduce stress and improve mental health, but there is little evidence. This study evaluates the association between NE and commuting, whether active or not, and the association between commuting (through NE), whether active or not, and mental health. We also evaluate the moderating effect of NE quality on the association between NE commuting and mental health. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was based on adult respondents (n = 3599) of the Positive Health Effects of the Natural Outdoor Environment in Typical Populations in Different Regions in Europe (PHENOTYPE) project. Data were collected in four European cities in Spain, the Netherlands, Lithuania and the United Kingdom. Data on commuting behavior (active commuting at least one day/week, daily NE commuting) and mental health were collected with questionnaires. Associations were estimated with multilevel analyses including random intercepts at city- and neighborhood level. RESULTS: Adjusted multilevel analyses showed that daily NE commuters were more often active commuters (OR 1.42; 95% CI 1.19, 1.70). There was no association between active commuting and mental health, but daily NE commuters had on average a 2.74 (95% CI 1.66, 3.82) point higher mental health score than those not commuting through NE. The association with mental health was stronger among active commuters (4.03, 95% CI 2.13, 5.94) compared to non-active commuters (2.21; 95% CI 0.90, 3.51) when daily commuting through NE, but NE quality did not have a moderating effect. CONCLUSIONS: Daily NE commuting was associated with better mental health, especially for active commuters. Daily NE commuters were likely to be active commuters. Active commuting itself was not associated with mental health. These findings suggest that cities should invest in commuting routes with nature for cycling and walking.
BACKGROUND: Commuting routes with natural features could promote walking or cycling for commuting. Commuting through natural environments (NE) could have mental health benefits as exposure to NE can reduce stress and improve mental health, but there is little evidence. This study evaluates the association between NE and commuting, whether active or not, and the association between commuting (through NE), whether active or not, and mental health. We also evaluate the moderating effect of NE quality on the association between NE commuting and mental health. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was based on adult respondents (n = 3599) of the Positive Health Effects of the Natural Outdoor Environment in Typical Populations in Different Regions in Europe (PHENOTYPE) project. Data were collected in four European cities in Spain, the Netherlands, Lithuania and the United Kingdom. Data on commuting behavior (active commuting at least one day/week, daily NE commuting) and mental health were collected with questionnaires. Associations were estimated with multilevel analyses including random intercepts at city- and neighborhood level. RESULTS: Adjusted multilevel analyses showed that daily NE commuters were more often active commuters (OR 1.42; 95% CI 1.19, 1.70). There was no association between active commuting and mental health, but daily NE commuters had on average a 2.74 (95% CI 1.66, 3.82) point higher mental health score than those not commuting through NE. The association with mental health was stronger among active commuters (4.03, 95% CI 2.13, 5.94) compared to non-active commuters (2.21; 95% CI 0.90, 3.51) when daily commuting through NE, but NE quality did not have a moderating effect. CONCLUSIONS: Daily NE commuting was associated with better mental health, especially for active commuters. Daily NE commuters were likely to be active commuters. Active commuting itself was not associated with mental health. These findings suggest that cities should invest in commuting routes with nature for cycling and walking.
Authors: Kaili Chen; Tianzheng Zhang; Fangyuan Liu; Yingjie Zhang; Yan Song Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-11-09 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Alessia Grigoletto; Alberto Loi; Pasqualino Maietta Latessa; Sofia Marini; Natascia Rinaldo; Emanuela Gualdi-Russo; Luciana Zaccagni; Stefania Toselli Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-07-28 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Antonio Castillo-Paredes; Beatriz Iglésias; Claudio Farías-Valenzuela; Irina Kovalskys; Georgina Gómez; Attilio Rigotti; Lilia Yadira Cortés; Martha Cecilia Yépez García; Rossina G Pareja; Marianella Herrera-Cuenca; Mauro Fisberg; Clemens Drenowatz; Paloma Ferrero-Hernández; Gerson Ferrari Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-10-06 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Mayte Serrat; Juan P Sanabria-Mazo; Elna García-Troiteiro; Anna Fontcuberta; Corel Mateo-Canedo; Míriam Almirall; Albert Feliu-Soler; Jorge Luis Méndez-Ulrich; Antoni Sanz; Juan V Luciano Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-01-19 Impact factor: 3.390