Green space activity exposure and linear/non-linear associations with multidimensional health among older adults
Evidence from a generalized additive model
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 17832393 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Yuanjing Wu (Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University), Xinhui Fei (University of British Columbia), Hanqing Zheng (Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University), Yijing Cai (Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University), Wei Zhou (0000-0002-0849-1524, University of British Columbia), Huimin Zhang (0000-0001-5692-346X, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University), Qunyue Liu (0000-0002-4296-8584, Fujian University of Technology), Siren Lan (0000-0003-3400-3114, State Forestry and Grassland Administration, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Publication date | 2026-04-09 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2662-9992 • E-ISSN: 2662-9992 |
| Publisher | Palgrave Macmillan (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1057/s41599-026-07103-4 |
| OpenAlex | W7152110887 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 51 |
Green space activity exposure (GSAE) is increasingly recognized as an important environmental determinant of health, particularly among older adults. However, the complex, multidimensional health effects of GSAE remain insufficiently explored using advanced quantitative approaches. Understanding the dose-response relationships between GSAE parameters and health outcomes is essential for informing public health strategies and age-friendly urban planning. A cross-sectional survey was administered to 744 older adults across five urban parks in Fuzhou, China, collecting data on weekly GSAE frequency, duration, intensity (measured as metabolic equivalents, METs), and total activity volume. Multidimensional health was assessed using validated self-reported instruments encompassing psychological, physiological, social, and overall health domains. Generalized additive models (GAMs) were used to identify both linear and non-linear association patterns, potential threshold effects, and diminishing returns. The GAM analysis revealed non-linear association patterns between GSAE parameters and all four health dimensions. Most associations exhibited threshold effects, with associations appearing more pronounced in this sample around 7–12 sessions per week, 15–22 h of activity, moderate intensity (2.5–4.1 METs), and 40–90 MET-hours in total. Notably, social health also demonstrated a consistent positive linear association pattern with increasing levels of GSAE. Beyond these ranges, the associations tended to plateau or weaken. This study provides exploratory evidence that GSAE is associated with variations in multidimensional health among older adults. The findings underscore the value of integrating exposure-based indicators into environmental health research and urban policy. GAMs offer a flexible analytical tool to explore and visualize potential exposure ranges, which may help generate hypotheses for future research and planning considerations
Additive model · Generalized additive model · Population · Health disparities and outcomes · Older Adults Driving Studies · Urban Green Space and Health
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| Highly cited | No |
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