Urban vegetation and well‐being: A cross‐sectional study in Montreal, Canada
Abstract As urbanisation continues to accelerate, urban green spaces are increasingly recognised as key elements for enhancing people's health and well‐being. However, most research has used vegetation metrics that may not capture the specific associations between different types of vegetation...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-02-01
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| Series: | People and Nature |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10771 |
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| author | Rita Sousa‐Silva Yan Kestens Zoé Poirier Stephens Benoit Thierry Daniel Schoenig Daniel Fuller Meghan Winters Audrey Smargiassi |
| author_facet | Rita Sousa‐Silva Yan Kestens Zoé Poirier Stephens Benoit Thierry Daniel Schoenig Daniel Fuller Meghan Winters Audrey Smargiassi |
| author_sort | Rita Sousa‐Silva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract As urbanisation continues to accelerate, urban green spaces are increasingly recognised as key elements for enhancing people's health and well‐being. However, most research has used vegetation metrics that may not capture the specific associations between different types of vegetation and different mental health outcomes. In this study, we investigate the cross‐sectional associations between residential vegetation exposure and individual well‐being in Montreal, Canada, using different vegetation and well‐being measures: The proportion of grass cover, tree cover, and average NDVI value within buffers of various radii (100–1000 m) were linked to each participant's residence (n = 1072, aged 18 years or older), while well‐being was assessed using subjective happiness, emotional well‐being, and personal well‐being scales. The associations were analysed using generalised additive regression models. Our findings show that more vegetation was linked to enhanced well‐being, although the effect sizes were relatively small. Irrespective of the buffer distance, the positive associations for grass and NDVI were more pronounced than those for trees, though these associations varied across the different well‐being outcome measures. We also observed that increasing tree coverage has a stronger positive effect on the well‐being of individuals who are dissatisfied with the current number of street trees. Synthesis and applications. Everyday exposure to nearby nature is associated with better self‐reported mental health, suggesting urban greening policies should focus on including more vegetation within built spaces, from individual street trees to small and large parks. Our study also highlights the importance of distinguishing between different types of vegetation (e.g. grass vs. trees) when studying the effects of vegetation on well‐being or other health‐related outcomes. Likewise, using different measures of well‐being may provide a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of how vegetation impacts people's well‐being. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-54090b0cf6e64f718ceaa442a7e88789 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2575-8314 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | People and Nature |
| spelling | doaj-art-54090b0cf6e64f718ceaa442a7e887892025-02-06T05:27:38ZengWileyPeople and Nature2575-83142025-02-017239841410.1002/pan3.10771Urban vegetation and well‐being: A cross‐sectional study in Montreal, CanadaRita Sousa‐Silva0Yan Kestens1Zoé Poirier Stephens2Benoit Thierry3Daniel Schoenig4Daniel Fuller5Meghan Winters6Audrey Smargiassi7Department of Environmental Biology, Institute of Environmental Sciences Leiden University Leiden The NetherlandsDepartment of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health Université de Montréal Montréal Québec CanadaCentre de Recherche en Santé Publique (CReSP) Montréal Québec CanadaCentre de Recherche en Santé Publique (CReSP) Montréal Québec CanadaUniversité du Québec à Montréal Montréal Québec CanadaDepartment of Community Health and Epidemiology University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon Saskatchewan CanadaFaculty of Health Sciences Simon Fraser University Burnaby British Columbia CanadaDépartement de Santé Environnementale et Santé au Travail, School of Public Health Université de Montréal Montréal CanadaAbstract As urbanisation continues to accelerate, urban green spaces are increasingly recognised as key elements for enhancing people's health and well‐being. However, most research has used vegetation metrics that may not capture the specific associations between different types of vegetation and different mental health outcomes. In this study, we investigate the cross‐sectional associations between residential vegetation exposure and individual well‐being in Montreal, Canada, using different vegetation and well‐being measures: The proportion of grass cover, tree cover, and average NDVI value within buffers of various radii (100–1000 m) were linked to each participant's residence (n = 1072, aged 18 years or older), while well‐being was assessed using subjective happiness, emotional well‐being, and personal well‐being scales. The associations were analysed using generalised additive regression models. Our findings show that more vegetation was linked to enhanced well‐being, although the effect sizes were relatively small. Irrespective of the buffer distance, the positive associations for grass and NDVI were more pronounced than those for trees, though these associations varied across the different well‐being outcome measures. We also observed that increasing tree coverage has a stronger positive effect on the well‐being of individuals who are dissatisfied with the current number of street trees. Synthesis and applications. Everyday exposure to nearby nature is associated with better self‐reported mental health, suggesting urban greening policies should focus on including more vegetation within built spaces, from individual street trees to small and large parks. Our study also highlights the importance of distinguishing between different types of vegetation (e.g. grass vs. trees) when studying the effects of vegetation on well‐being or other health‐related outcomes. Likewise, using different measures of well‐being may provide a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of how vegetation impacts people's well‐being. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10771grass coverhealth and well‐beingmental healthNDVItree coverurban green space |
| spellingShingle | Rita Sousa‐Silva Yan Kestens Zoé Poirier Stephens Benoit Thierry Daniel Schoenig Daniel Fuller Meghan Winters Audrey Smargiassi Urban vegetation and well‐being: A cross‐sectional study in Montreal, Canada People and Nature grass cover health and well‐being mental health NDVI tree cover urban green space |
| title | Urban vegetation and well‐being: A cross‐sectional study in Montreal, Canada |
| title_full | Urban vegetation and well‐being: A cross‐sectional study in Montreal, Canada |
| title_fullStr | Urban vegetation and well‐being: A cross‐sectional study in Montreal, Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | Urban vegetation and well‐being: A cross‐sectional study in Montreal, Canada |
| title_short | Urban vegetation and well‐being: A cross‐sectional study in Montreal, Canada |
| title_sort | urban vegetation and well being a cross sectional study in montreal canada |
| topic | grass cover health and well‐being mental health NDVI tree cover urban green space |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10771 |
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