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Visiting nature is associated with lower socioeconomic inequalities in well-being in Wales
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Ashley Akbari ,
Rebecca Geary,
Ronan Lyons ,
Amy Mizen ,
Mark Nieuwenhuijsen,
Chrissie Parker,
Jiao Song,
Gareth Stratton ,
Daniel Thompson,
Alan Watkins ,
James White,
Susan A. Williams,
Sarah E. Rodgers,
Benedict W. Wheeler
Scientific Reports, Volume: 13, Issue: 1
Swansea University Authors:
Rich Fry , Ashley Akbari , Ronan Lyons , Amy Mizen , Gareth Stratton , Daniel Thompson, Alan Watkins
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DOI (Published version): 10.1038/s41598-023-35427-7
Abstract
Natural environments can promote well-being through multiple mechanisms. Many studies have investigated relationships between residential green/blue space (GBS) and well-being, fewer explore relationships with actual use of GBS. We used a nationally representative survey, the National Survey for Wal...
| Published in: | Scientific Reports |
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| ISSN: | 2045-2322 |
| Published: |
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
2023
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| Online Access: |
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63651 |
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| Abstract: |
Natural environments can promote well-being through multiple mechanisms. Many studies have investigated relationships between residential green/blue space (GBS) and well-being, fewer explore relationships with actual use of GBS. We used a nationally representative survey, the National Survey for Wales, anonymously linked with spatial GBS data to investigate associations of well-being with both residential GBS and time in nature (N = 7631). Both residential GBS and time spent in nature were associated with subjective well-being. Higher green-ness was associated with lower well-being, counter to hypotheses (predicting the Warwick and Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS): Enhanced vegetation index β = − 1.84, 95% confidence interval (CI) − 3.63, − 0.05) but time spent in nature was associated with higher well-being (four hours a week in nature vs. none β = 3.57, 95% CI 3.02, 4.13). There was no clear association between nearest GBS proximity and well-being. In support of the equigenesis theory, time spent in nature was associated with smaller socioeconomic inequalities in well-being. The difference in WEMWBS (possible range 14–70) between those who did and did not live in material deprivation was 7.7 points for those spending no time in nature, and less at 4.5 points for those spending time in nature up to 1 h per week. Facilitating access and making it easier for people to spend time in nature may be one way to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in well-being. |
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| Keywords: |
Psychology, Public Health |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
The GBS and Mental Health in Wales cohort was developed as part of independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), project number 16/07/07, and the UK Prevention Research Partnership, GroundsWell (MR/V049704/1). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care. Sarah Rodgers is part-funded by the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast. This study was approved by the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Information Governance Review Panel (project 0562) in Wales. All data were anonymised prior to access and analysis. This study makes use of anonymised data held in the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank. We would like to acknowledge all the data providers who make anonymised data available for research. |
| Issue: |
1 |