RESEARCH

Urban Nature and Public Health: How Nature Exposure and Sociocultural Background Relate to Depression Risk

This German study explored the link between urban nature, sociocultural factors, and depression risk using questionnaires with 282 participants. Results showed gardening was linked to a lower depression risk.

Program Types: Therapeutic

Population Groups: Immigrants/Refugees

Setting or Context: Community Gardens, Homes/Private Residences

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Enhanced Emotional Well-being, Improved Mental Health, Increased Sense of Belonging (Reduced Isolation)

Allied Profession Intersections: Climate Psychology/Psychotherapy

Type of Activity: Outdoor Gardening

Evidence Type: Observational Research, Qualitative Research, Quantitative Research

Measurement and Evaluation: Metrics for Mental Health, Patient-Reported Outcomes, Program Effectiveness

Access: Free

Summary

This cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study investigated the relationship between urban nature exposure, sociocultural background, and depression risk in a general urban population in Germany. Participants completed a three-part questionnaire assessing urban nature habits (gardening behaviour and greenspace visit frequency), neighbourhood socialization, current health status (using the WHO-5 Well-Being Index), and sociocultural background (age, gender, education, employment, migration history). Data were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression models.

The results indicated that being a gardener was significantly associated with a reduced risk of depression while having a family migration history (but not a personal one) was associated with an increased risk. No significant association was found between neighbourhood socialization frequency and depression risk. Activities primarily involved completing the survey, encompassing questions about gardening, greenspace visits, social interactions, and personal information.

Link

Jakstis, K., & Fischer, L. K. (2021). Urban nature and public health: How nature exposure and sociocultural background relate to depression risk [with immigrants & others]. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(18), 9689.

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