Green neighbourhood environments - Implications for health promotion, physical activity and well-being

Hanna Weimann

Research output: ThesisDoctoral Thesis (compilation)

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Abstract

The proportion of people living in densely built up areas is gradually increasing,
forcing cities to generate new land to build homes upon. In this process there is a risk for an inexplicit decrease of green space. The green features of
neighbourhoods help to create a supportive environment for health and physical
activity, thus a reduction of greenness may reduce the general well-being in the
population.

The overall aim of this thesis was to study how green neighbourhood
environments are related to physical activity, health and well-being, to better
understand the implications for public health. Separate data was used for each
paper in the thesis. Objectively measured physical activity in children was used to assess the association with neighbourhood resources. Longitudinal survey data on general and mental health in prognostic groups was related to survey data on qualities in the green neighbourhood. These qualities was also related to cross-sectional data on physical activity and moderated by safety and social coherence. A qualitative interview study using content analysis is also included in the thesis.

An association between access to neighbourhood resources and objectively
measured physical activity was seen in children aged 4-11 years. Neighbourhood greenness was weakly associated with general health, but not mental health, and a beneficial effect of increased neighbourhood greenness on general health was indicated only in the most vulnerable subgroup. Access to high quality green areas promotes physical activity only among individuals who perceive their neighbourhood as being safe.

The size of the study samples and the extensive and partly longitudinal survey data used in two of the papers in this thesis provided unique possibilities to adjust for confounders and avoid single source bias, while at the same time provide new insights on causality.

There is rich variety in potential pathways through which greenness may promote well-being. Hence, there is a need to consider the green neighbourhood environment from multiple perspectives when densifying cities or planning for other changes.
Original languageEnglish
QualificationDoctor
Awarding Institution
  • Faculty of Medicine
Supervisors/Advisors
  • Björk, Jonas, Supervisor
  • Rylander, Lars, Supervisor
  • Albin, Maria, Supervisor
  • Skärbäck, Erik, Supervisor, External person
Award date2017 May 19
Place of PublicationLund
Publisher
ISBN (Print)978-91-7619-444-7
Publication statusPublished - 2017

Bibliographical note

Defence details
Date: 2017-05-19
Time: 09:00
Place: Belfragesalen, BMC D15, Klinikgatan 32, Lund
External reviewer(s)
Name: Troelsen, Jens
Title: professor
Affiliation: Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics. University of Southern Denmark
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ISSN: 1652-8220
Lund University, Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series 2017:64

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Medical and Health Sciences

Free keywords

  • Green space, Health, Public Health, Epidemiology, Qualitative Research

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