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Exploring the Impacts of Protected Areas’ Attributes on Pediatric Health: The Case for Additional Research beyond Greenspace

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  • William L. Rice

    (Department of Society and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA)

  • Sarah Y. Michels

    (Center for Population Health Research, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA)

  • Miranda Foster

    (Department of Society and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
    Center for Population Health Research, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA)

  • Jon Graham

    (Center for Population Health Research, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
    Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA)

  • Peter Whitney

    (Department of Society and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA)

  • Jennifer M. Thomsen

    (Department of Society and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA)

Abstract

An increasingly vast segment of the literature examines the relationship between greenspace and pediatric health. However, the bulk of this research continues to use proximate relative greenness as a measure for exposure to the ecosystem services provisioned by natural areas, despite increasing recognition that relative greenness fails to capture the public accessibility, recreation potential, or desirability of natural areas. Thus, this present research demonstrates the use of emerging data sources that can be used in conjunction with traditional greenspace measures to improve modeling as it relates to nature’s impacts on pediatric health. Using spatial park and protected area data in concert with mobile phone location data, we demonstrate exploratory analysis on how park and protected area attributes may influence pediatric health in northwest Montana, USA. Suggestive findings concerning how the attributes of park and protected areas (i.e., conservation status, access, recreation demand) influence pediatric health (i.e., attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, asthma, and anxiety/mood disorders) lead us to introduce directions for future research beyond greenspace. Importantly, this research does not intend to provide definitive or generalizable findings concerning how parks and protected areas influence pediatric health. Instead, we aim to provide an initial exploration toward a larger, future body of the literature, evaluating parks and protected areas’ influence on pediatric health.

Suggested Citation

  • William L. Rice & Sarah Y. Michels & Miranda Foster & Jon Graham & Peter Whitney & Jennifer M. Thomsen, 2023. "Exploring the Impacts of Protected Areas’ Attributes on Pediatric Health: The Case for Additional Research beyond Greenspace," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-19, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:8:p:1613-:d:1218178
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hermes, Johannes & Van Berkel, Derek & Burkhard, Benjamin & Plieninger, Tobias & Fagerholm, Nora & von Haaren, Christina & Albert, Christian, 2018. "Assessment and valuation of recreational ecosystem services of landscapes," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 31(PC), pages 289-295.
    2. Teresa Romanillos & Roser Maneja & Diego Varga & Llorenç Badiella & Martí Boada, 2018. "Protected Natural Areas: In Sickness and in Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-19, October.
    3. Yuping Dong & Helin Liu & Tianming Zheng, 2021. "Association between Green Space Structure and the Prevalence of Asthma: A Case Study of Toronto," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-25, May.
    4. Victoria Houlden & Scott Weich & João Porto de Albuquerque & Stephen Jarvis & Karen Rees, 2018. "The relationship between greenspace and the mental wellbeing of adults: A systematic review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(9), pages 1-35, September.
    5. Sandifer, Paul A. & Sutton-Grier, Ariana E. & Ward, Bethney P., 2015. "Exploring connections among nature, biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human health and well-being: Opportunities to enhance health and biodiversity conservation," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 12(C), pages 1-15.
    6. Gert-Jan Vanaken & Marina Danckaerts, 2018. "Impact of Green Space Exposure on Children’s and Adolescents’ Mental Health: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-17, November.
    7. Peter Whitney & William L. Rice & Jeremy Sage & Jennifer M. Thomsen & Iree Wheeler & Wayne Freimund & Elena Bigart, 2023. "Developments in big data for park management: a review of mobile phone location data for visitor use management," Landscape Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 48(6), pages 758-776, August.
    8. Katrina A. Lambert & Gayan Bowatte & Rachel Tham & Caroline J. Lodge & Luke A. Prendergast & Joachim Heinrich & Michael J. Abramson & Shyamali C. Dharmage & Bircan Erbas, 2018. "Greenspace and Atopic Sensitization in Children and Adolescents—A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-12, November.
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