Do Physical Activity, Social Cohesion, and Loneliness Mediate the Association Between Time Spent Visiting Green Space and Mental Health?
van den Berg, Magdalena M van Poppel, Mireille van Kamp, Irene Ruijsbroek, Annemarie Triguero-Mas, Margarita Gidlow, Christoffer Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J Gražulevičiene, Regina van Mechelen, Willem Kruize, Hanneke
van den Berg, Magdalena M
van Poppel, Mireille
van Kamp, Irene
Ruijsbroek, Annemarie
Triguero-Mas, Margarita
Gidlow, Christoffer
Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J
Gražulevičiene, Regina
van Mechelen, Willem
Kruize, Hanneke
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Series / Report no.
Open Access
Type
Article
Language
en
Date of publication
2019-02-01
Year of publication
Research Projects
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Journal Issue
Title
Do Physical Activity, Social Cohesion, and Loneliness Mediate the Association Between Time Spent Visiting Green Space and Mental Health?
Translated Title
Published in
Environ Behavior 2019; 51(2):144-66
Abstract
This cross-sectional study investigated whether physical activity, social cohesion, and loneliness mediate the association between time spent visiting green spaces and perceived mental health and vitality. Questionnaire data were collected from 3,948 residents from 124 neighborhoods across four European cities. Multilevel linear regression analysis revealed positive, but weak, associations between time spent visiting green space and Medical Outcome Study Short Form (SF-36) mental health and vitality score, which suggest small mental health benefits. Single mediation analyses showed that different indicators of physical activity (total, during leisure time, and walking during leisure time), social cohesion, and loneliness were mediators. Multiple mediation analyses showed that physical activity during leisure time and loneliness may explain about 25% of the relationship. The unmediated part of the association suggests that other mediators may explain the association.