City residents with increased exposure to urban green spaces are associated with reduced dependence on mental health services, according to a recent study conducted by the Texas A&M University School of Public Health. Published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, the research, led by Dr. Jay Maddock, a Regents Professor of environmental and occupational health at Texas A&M, utilized the NatureScore metric to gauge urban greenness and its impact on mental health.
NatureScore integrates diverse datasets, encompassing factors such as air, noise, and light pollution, as well as park and tree canopy coverage. The comprehensive metric ranges from 0-19 points, indicating Nature Deficient, to 80-100 points, representing Nature Utopia.
To analyze the correlation between urban nature exposure and mental health, the researchers employed data on mental health visits aggregated at the ZIP code level from Texas Hospital Outpatient Public Use Data Files spanning 2014 to mid-2019. The dataset, comprising 61,391,400 adult outpatient encounters for conditions like depression, bipolar disorders, stress, and anxiety, covered 1,169 urban Texas ZIP codes.
The study revealed that neighborhoods with higher NatureScores, categorized as Nature Rich and Utopia, exhibited significantly lower rates of mental health encounters compared to areas with the lowest NatureScore. Specifically, a NatureScore surpassing 40, denoted as Nature Adequate, was identified as a threshold for good mental health, demonstrating a 51 percent lower likelihood of developing depression and a 63 percent lower likelihood of bipolar disorders.
Dr. Maddock emphasized the study’s pioneering use of NatureScore, offering more intricate data than previous research methodologies. The findings, encompassing diverse demographics and mental health conditions, highlight the potential impact of green spaces on overall mental well-being.
Lead author Omar M. Makram underscored the study’s implications for urban planning, suggesting that enhancing green spaces in cities could play a pivotal role in promoting well-being and mental health. With over 22 percent of the U.S. adult population grappling with mental health disorders, the study advocates for urban planning strategies that prioritize the integration of green spaces to positively influence mental health outcomes.
