Urban Nature and Public Health

How Nature Exposure and Sociocultural Background Relate to Depression Risk

Bibliographic Data

ID15466909
AuthorsKristen Jakstis (0000-0001-5486-9754, University of Stuttgart, corresponding author), Leonie K Fischer (0000-0003-4282-7201, University of Stuttgart)
Year2021
Volume18
Issue18
Pages9689-9689
Publication date2021-09-14
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph18189689
PMID34574611
OpenAlexW3201583951
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited66

As the world's population becomes more urbanized, there is an associated decrease in nature exposure and a rise in noncommunicable diseases, including depression. Previous cross-sectional studies examining urban nature exposure and depression have reported favorable associations. However, many of these studies rely primarily on nature exposure metrics that measure the intensity of nature exposure, while other dimensions of urban nature exposure remain understudied. Therefore, in a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based case study targeting a general urban population ( n = 282), we examined the relationship between two less commonly studied urban nature exposure variables (i.e., gardening behavior and greenspace visit frequency) and depression risk while also considering sociocultural background (multivariate logistic regression model). Results indicated that being a gardener was significantly associated with a reduced odds of being at risk of depression and that having a family migration history, but not a self-migration history, was associated with increased odds of being at risk of depression. In the examination of neighborhood socialization frequency and depression risk, we did not determine any significant association. The results of this study, therefore, highlight the importance of considering both people's sociocultural backgrounds and urban nature exposure in more detail to help plan for and support healthier cities in the future

Depression (economics · Economics · Environmental health · Geography · Injury prevention · Occupational safety and health · Poison control · Public health · Sociocultural evolution · Sociology · Suicide prevention · Climate Change and Health Impacts · Medicine · Noise Effects and Management · Psychology · Urban Green Space and Health

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