IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i22p8529-d446550.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Impact of the Environment on the Quality of Life and the Mediating Effects of Sleep and Stress

Author

Listed:
  • Katherine Ka Pik Chang

    (School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China)

  • Frances Kam Yuet Wong

    (School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China)

  • Ka Long Chan

    (Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China)

  • Fiona Wong

    (School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China)

  • Hung Chak Ho

    (Department of Urban Planning and Design, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China)

  • Man Sing Wong

    (Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China)

  • Yuen Shan Ho

    (School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China)

  • John Wai Man Yuen

    (School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China)

  • Judy Yuen-man Siu

    (Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China)

  • Lin Yang

    (School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China)

Abstract

(1) Background : Environment is an independent factor that affects one’s quality of life (QoL), where studies suggest that health behaviours also affect one’s quality of life. The purpose of the present study was to examine the association between environmental conditions and QoL and how individual health behaviours affect this association. (2) Methods : Participants aged 20 or above were recruited from 11 tertiary planning units in the central part of Kowloon. These tertiary planning units were selected as they represented the overall living environment in Hong Kong, with a mix of the poorer urban areas alongside relatively affluent districts. A mediation analysis was implemented using multiple linear regressions to examine the effects of environmental conditions on QoL. (3) Results : Of the 607 eligible participants included for analysis, 390 were female and 217 were male, with a mean age of 47.4 years. Living within 500 m of a green space area had benefits on the physical aspect of QoL and physical activity but no effect on the psychological aspect of QoL. Moderate satisfaction with public spaces affected QoL positively. In contrast, less satisfaction with public spaces affected QoL negatively in both physical and psychological aspects through the mediating effect of stress. Poor environmental quality affected all domains of QoL negatively through the mediating effects of increased stress and poor sleep. (4) Conclusions : Environment is an important factor that affects individuals’ overall well-being. The interaction between environmental conditions and individual variables, especially perceived stress and sleep, is extremely important when assessing its impact on QoL. The findings of this study support the importance of individual stress and sleep in mediating the relationship between the environment and QoL for health. Further studies should be conducted to include objective measurements, such as those of cortisol levels for stress and physical fitness tests.

Suggested Citation

  • Katherine Ka Pik Chang & Frances Kam Yuet Wong & Ka Long Chan & Fiona Wong & Hung Chak Ho & Man Sing Wong & Yuen Shan Ho & John Wai Man Yuen & Judy Yuen-man Siu & Lin Yang, 2020. "The Impact of the Environment on the Quality of Life and the Mediating Effects of Sleep and Stress," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-17, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:22:p:8529-:d:446550
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/22/8529/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/22/8529/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhonghua Gou & Xiaohuan Xie & Yi Lu & Maryam Khoshbakht, 2018. "Quality of Life (QoL) Survey in Hong Kong: Understanding the Importance of Housing Environment and Needs of Residents from Different Housing Sectors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-16, January.
    2. Yu-Yu Hsiao & Chia-Huei Wu & Grace Yao, 2014. "Convergent and Discriminant Validity of the WHOQOL-BREF Using a Multitrait-Multimethod Approach," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 116(3), pages 971-988, May.
    3. de Vries, Sjerp & van Dillen, Sonja M.E. & Groenewegen, Peter P. & Spreeuwenberg, Peter, 2013. "Streetscape greenery and health: Stress, social cohesion and physical activity as mediators," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 26-33.
    4. The Whoqol Group, 1998. "The World Health Organization quality of life assessment (WHOQOL): Development and general psychometric properties," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 46(12), pages 1569-1585, June.
    5. Cho, Youngtae & Park, Gil-Sung & Echevarria-Cruz, Samuel, 2005. "Perceived neighborhood characteristics and the health of adult Koreans," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(6), pages 1285-1297, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jinheum Kim & Eunjeong Cha, 2022. "Effect of Perceived Stress on Health-Related Quality of Life among Primary Caregiving Spouses of Patients with Severe Dementia: The Mediating Role of Depression and Sleep Quality," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-11, June.
    2. Andy Felix Jităreanu & Mioara Mihăilă & Ciprian-Ionel Alecu & Alexandru-Dragoș Robu & Gabriela Ignat & Carmen Luiza Costuleanu, 2022. "The Relationship between Environmental Factors, Satisfaction with Life, and Ecological Education: An Impact Analysis from a Sustainability Pillars Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-25, August.
    3. Yi Hua & Zhi Qiu & Wenjing Luo & Yue Wang & Zhu Wang, 2021. "Correlation between Elderly Migrants’ Needs and Environmental Adaptability: A Discussion Based on Human Urbanization Features," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-16, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jing Jing, 2022. "Seeing Streetscapes as Social Infrastructure: A Paradigmatic Case Study of Hornsbergs Strand, Stockholm," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(4), pages 510-522.
    2. Habibi, Tahereh & Ponedelnik, Alena A. & Yashalova, Natalia N. & Ruban, Dmitry A., 2018. "Urban geoheritage complexity: Evidence of a unique natural resource from Shiraz city in Iran," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 85-94.
    3. Jiang, Wenhao & Stickley, Andrew & Ueda, Michiko, 2021. "Green space and suicide mortality in Japan: An ecological study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    4. Christian U Krägeloh & D Rex Billington & Patricia Hsien-Chuan Hsu & Xuan Joanna Feng & Oleg N Medvedev & Paula Kersten & Jason Landon & Richard J Siegert, 2016. "Ordinal-To-Interval Scale Conversion Tables and National Items for the New Zealand Version of the WHOQOL-BREF," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(11), pages 1-15, November.
    5. Chia-Huei Wu, 2008. "The Role of Perceived Discrepancy in Satisfaction Evaluation," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 88(3), pages 423-436, September.
    6. Erik Carlquist & Pål Ulleberg & Antonella Delle Fave & Hilde E. Nafstad & Rolv M. Blakar, 2017. "Everyday Understandings of Happiness, Good Life, and Satisfaction: Three Different Facets of Well-being," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 12(2), pages 481-505, June.
    7. Clemens Tesch-Römer & Andreas Motel-Klingebiel & Martin Tomasik, 2008. "Gender Differences in Subjective Well-Being: Comparing Societies with Respect to Gender Equality," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 85(2), pages 329-349, January.
    8. Felix N. Fernando & Dennis R. Cooley, 2016. "An Oil Boom’s Effect on Quality of Life (QoL): Lessons from Western North Dakota," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 11(4), pages 1083-1115, December.
    9. Eunkyo Kang & Ye Eun Rhee & Soojeong Kim & Jihye Lee & Young Ho Yun, 2021. "Quality of Life and Depression in the General Korean Population: Normative Data and Associations of the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) and the McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire (MQOL) wit," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(4), pages 1673-1687, August.
    10. Phi-Yen Nguyen & Thomas Astell-Burt & Hania Rahimi-Ardabili & Xiaoqi Feng, 2021. "Green Space Quality and Health: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-38, October.
    11. Szymon Szemik & Maksymilian Gajda & Aleksandra Gładyś & Małgorzata Kowalska, 2022. "The Association between COVID-19 Pandemic and the Quality of Life of Medical Students in Silesian Voivodeship, Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, September.
    12. Siqi Lai & Brian Deal, 2022. "Parks, Green Space, and Happiness: A Spatially Specific Sentiment Analysis Using Microblogs in Shanghai, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-18, December.
    13. Zhonghua Gou & Xiaohuan Xie & Yi Lu & Maryam Khoshbakht, 2018. "Quality of Life (QoL) Survey in Hong Kong: Understanding the Importance of Housing Environment and Needs of Residents from Different Housing Sectors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-16, January.
    14. Kaiser, Nina N. & Ghermandi, Andrea & Feld, Christian K. & Hershkovitz, Yaron & Palt, Martin & Stoll, Stefan, 2021. "Societal benefits of river restoration – Implications from social media analysis," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    15. Menyfah Q. Alanazi & Waleed Abdelgawwad & Thamer A. Almangour & Fatma Mostafa & Mona Almuheed, 2023. "Impact of COVID-19 on the Health-Related Quality of Life of Patients during Infection and after Recovery in Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-14, March.
    16. Annemarie Ruijsbroek & Sigrid M. Mohnen & Mariël Droomers & Hanneke Kruize & Christopher Gidlow & Regina Gražulevičiene & Sandra Andrusaityte & Jolanda Maas & Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen & Margarita Trigue, 2017. "Neighbourhood green space, social environment and mental health: an examination in four European cities," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 62(6), pages 657-667, July.
    17. Zhong, Sinan & Lee, Chanam & Foster, Margaret J. & Bian, Jiahe, 2020. "Intergenerational communities: A systematic literature review of intergenerational interactions and older adults’ health-related outcomes," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    18. Mduduzi Biyase & Tajul Ariffin Masron & Talent Zwane & Thomas Bilaliib Udimal & Frederich Kirsten, 2023. "Ecological Footprint and Population Health Outcomes: Evidence from E7 Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-18, May.
    19. Chia-Huei Wu, 2009. "Enhancing quality of life by shifting importance perception among life domains," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 37-47, March.
    20. Yiqi Tao & Stephen Siu Yu Lau & Zhonghua Gou & Jiayan Fu & Boya Jiang & Xiaowei Chen, 2018. "Privacy and Well-Being in Aged Care Facilities with a Crowded Living Environment: Case Study of Hong Kong Care and Attention Homes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-14, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:22:p:8529-:d:446550. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.