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Low Childhood Nature Exposure is Associated with Worse Mental Health in Adulthood

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  • Myriam Preuß

    (Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Minderbroedersberg 4-6, 6211 LK Maastricht, The Netherlands
    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)

  • Mark Nieuwenhuijsen

    (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)

  • Sandra Marquez

    (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)

  • Marta Cirach

    (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)

  • Payam Dadvand

    (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)

  • Margarita Triguero-Mas

    (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)

  • Christopher Gidlow

    (Centre for Health and Development, Staffordshire University, Leek Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2DF, UK)

  • Regina Grazuleviciene

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaicio str. 58, 44248 Kaunas, Lithuania)

  • Hanneke Kruize

    (Center for Sustainability, Environment and Health, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA Bilthoven, The Netherlands)

  • Wilma Zijlema

    (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)

Abstract

Exposure to natural outdoor environments (NOE) is associated with health benefits; however, evidence on the impact of NOE exposure during childhood on mental health (MH) and vitality in adulthood is scarce. This study was based on questionnaire data collected from 3585 participants, aged 18–75, in the PHENOTYPE project (2013) in four European cities. Mixed models were used to investigate associations between childhood NOE exposure and (i) MH; (ii) vitality (perceived level of energy and fatigue); and (iii) potential mediation by perceived amount, use, satisfaction, importance of NOE, and residential surrounding greenness, using pooled and city-level data. Adults with low levels of childhood NOE exposure had, when compared to adults with high levels of childhood NOE exposure, significantly worse mental health (coef. −4.13; 95% CI −5.52, −2.74). Childhood NOE exposure was not associated with vitality. Low levels of childhood NOE exposure were associated with lower importance of NOE (OR 0.81; 95% CI 0.66, 0.98) in adulthood. The association with perceived amount of NOE differed between cities. We found no evidence for mediation. Childhood NOE exposure might be associated with mental well-being in adulthood. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and to identify mechanisms underlying long-term benefits of childhood NOE exposure.

Suggested Citation

  • Myriam Preuß & Mark Nieuwenhuijsen & Sandra Marquez & Marta Cirach & Payam Dadvand & Margarita Triguero-Mas & Christopher Gidlow & Regina Grazuleviciene & Hanneke Kruize & Wilma Zijlema, 2019. "Low Childhood Nature Exposure is Associated with Worse Mental Health in Adulthood," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-18, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:10:p:1809-:d:233193
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Dongying Li & Tess Menotti & Yizhen Ding & Nancy M. Wells, 2021. "Life Course Nature Exposure and Mental Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Future Directions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-28, May.
    2. Marcia P. Jimenez & Nicole V. DeVille & Elise G. Elliott & Jessica E. Schiff & Grete E. Wilt & Jaime E. Hart & Peter James, 2021. "Associations between Nature Exposure and Health: A Review of the Evidence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-19, April.
    3. Xue Zhang & Suhong Zhou & Rongping Lin & Lingling Su, 2020. "Relationship between Long-Term Residential Green Exposure and Individuals’ Mental Health: Moderated by Income Differences and Residential Location in Urban China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-21, December.
    4. Carlos Cobreros & Neyda Medoza-Ruvalcaba & Mariana Flores-García & Rob Roggema, 2023. "Improving Psychological Well-Being in Urban University Districts through Biophilic Design: Two Cases in Mexico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-14, March.
    5. 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, 2020. "Efficacy of a Multicomponent Intervention for Fibromyalgia Based on Pain Neuroscience Education, Exercise Therapy, Psychological Support, and Nature Exposure (NAT-FM): Study Protocol of a Randomized C," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-15, January.
    6. Amber L. Pearson & Catherine D. Brown & Aaron Reuben & Natalie Nicholls & Karin A. Pfeiffer & Kimberly A. Clevenger, 2023. "Elementary Classroom Views of Nature Are Associated with Lower Child Externalizing Behavior Problems," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(9), pages 1-14, April.

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