School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
Graduate School of Design, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jan 11;18(2):545. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18020545.
Many empirical studies have shown evidence of multiple health benefits provided by green and blue spaces. Despite the importance of these spaces, investigations are scarce in details for blue spaces rather than green. Moreover, most research has focused on developed regions. A limited number of studies on blue spaces can be found in China with a focus on the city level. Outcomes have been mixed due to varying research scales, methodologies, and definitions. This study relies on a national-level social survey to explore how the self-rated health (SRH) of senior individuals is associated with local green and blue space availability in urban and rural areas. Results indicate that the coverage ratio of overall green spaces and waterbodies around a resident's home have marginal effects on SRH status in both urban and rural areas. In urban areas, living close to a park can is marginally beneficial for older people's health. Regarding different types of blue spaces, the presence of a major river (within 0.3-0.5 km) or coastline (within 1 km and 1-5 km) in the vicinity of home negatively affects SRH among the elderly in urban areas. Close proximity to lakes and other types of waterbodies with a water surface larger than 6.25 ha did not significantly influence SRH. These findings not only evaluate general health impacts of green/blue space development on senior populations across the county but inform decision makers concerning the health-promoting qualities and features of different green/blue spaces to better accommodate an aging population in the era of urbanization.
许多实证研究表明，绿色和蓝色空间为人们带来了多种健康益处。尽管这些空间很重要，但针对蓝色空间的研究细节却很少，相比之下，针对绿色空间的研究则比较多。此外，大多数研究都集中在发达地区。在中国，也有一些针对蓝色空间的研究，但主要集中在城市层面。由于研究规模、方法和定义的不同，研究结果也各不相同。本研究基于全国性的社会调查，旨在探讨老年人的自评健康（SRH）与城市和农村地区当地绿色和蓝色空间供应之间的关系。研究结果表明，居民住宅周围的整体绿色空间和水体覆盖率对城市和农村地区的 SRH 状况都有一定的影响。在城市地区，居住在公园附近对老年人的健康有一定的益处。关于不同类型的蓝色空间，居住地附近有主要河流（0.3-0.5 公里内）或海岸线（1 公里内和 1-5 公里内）对城市地区老年人的 SRH 有负面影响。而靠近湖泊和其他水面面积大于 6.25 公顷的水体则对 SRH 没有显著影响。这些发现不仅评估了全县绿色/蓝色空间开发对老年人群体的一般健康影响，还为决策者提供了有关不同绿色/蓝色空间的促进健康的质量和特征的信息，以便在城市化时代更好地适应老龄化人口。
