Zhang Ru, Zhang Chun-Qing, Rhodes Ryan E
School of Physical Education & Sports Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.
Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Environ Res. 2021 Jul;198:111233. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111233. Epub 2021 Apr 30.
With an increasing volume of research exploring the pathways linking greenspace exposure to mental health, there is a need to synthesise the strength of evidence on the mediation mechanisms. Synthesising the strength of evidence on the pathways can help us better understand how greenspace exposure affects mental health and guide future green space interventions to improve mental health.
The purpose of this study was to synthesise current evidence on the pathways linking objectively-measured greenspace exposure and mental health using a systematic review approach.
Literature searches were conducted in March 2020 from five common databases (i.e., MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science) using search terms of green spaces and mental health. English language and human population were imposed as search limits. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guideline was followed to synthesise and report results.
The initial systematic searches yielded 16,415 records, of which 26 studies met the inclusion criteria. Mixed or non-significant evidence was revealed for the mediating effects of air quality, physical activity, perceived stress, perceived restorativeness, residential noise, social cohesion, and social support on the pathways from greenspace exposure to mental illness. The effect of greenspace exposure on mental well-being was mediated by air quality, perceived stress, and physical activity. In addition, mixed evidence was revealed for the mediating role of social cohesion on the path from greenspace exposure to mental well-being.
This systematic review highlighted the key pathways linking green spaces to mental well-being via harmful mitigation, psychological restoration, and encouragement of health-related behaviours. Evidence for the pathway between greenspace exposure and mental illness is equivocal at present. Future research is recommended to adopt well-designed longitudinal and experimental studies to establish causal inferences on mental health benefits of greenspace exposure.
随着越来越多的研究探索绿地接触与心理健康之间的联系途径，有必要综合关于中介机制的证据强度。综合这些途径的证据强度可以帮助我们更好地理解绿地接触如何影响心理健康，并指导未来改善心理健康的绿地干预措施。
本研究的目的是采用系统评价方法综合当前关于客观测量的绿地接触与心理健康之间联系途径的证据。
2020年3月，使用绿地和心理健康的检索词在五个常见数据库（即MEDLINE、Embase、PsycINFO、SPORTDiscus和Web of Science）中进行文献检索。将英语语言和人类人群作为检索限制。遵循系统评价和Meta分析的首选报告项目（PRISMA）指南来综合和报告结果。
初步系统检索产生了16415条记录，其中26项研究符合纳入标准。对于空气质量、身体活动、感知压力、感知恢复力、住宅噪音、社会凝聚力和社会支持在从绿地接触到精神疾病途径中的中介作用，发现了混合或不显著的证据。绿地接触对心理健康的影响通过空气质量、感知压力和身体活动介导。此外，对于社会凝聚力在从绿地接触到心理健康途径中的中介作用，发现了混合证据。
本系统评价强调了通过有害缓解、心理恢复和鼓励与健康相关行为将绿地与心理健康联系起来的关键途径。目前，绿地接触与精神疾病之间途径的证据尚不明确。建议未来的研究采用精心设计的纵向和实验研究，以建立关于绿地接触对心理健康益处的因果推断。
