The depression et anxiety are psychological disorders that result from several social, psychological or physical factors, but the daily environment could also play a role. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 5% of adults worldwide suffer from depressionet 15 to 20% of the population are affected by anxiety disorders at some point in their life according to the Health Insurance website. These conditions are therefore quite widespread in society and can have real consequences on daily life patients.
If many factors like foodsleep, or even lack of physical activity can play on anxious and depressive feelings, the living environment would also be likely to influence them. This is what highlighted a Chinese study published on March 28, 2024 in the journal Nature Mental Healthwith the aim of deciphering the potential link between long-term exposure to green spaces near home and depression and anxiety.
Depression, anxiety: what are the benefits of green spaces on these disorders?
Why are we interested in the effects of green spaces on mental health? “There seems to be a consensus that green spaces can reduce the stress and improve moodhowever, it was just an idea in our minds, and we weren’t sure if there was scientific evidence to support it.”, explained to the media Medical XpressYaohua Tian, one of the researchers of this work.
To carry out this study, researchers analyzed data from more than 400,000 people, including their distance from green spaces, their self-reported well-being scores, as well as hospitalizations, hospital admissions and deaths in their area residential, for an average follow-up period of 11.9 years.
Living near green spaces reduces the risk of suffering from depression and anxiety
At the end of the observation period, approximately 4.1% of participants were diagnosed with anxiety and 3.5% with depression. According to scientists, Living near parks or other green spaces may reduce the risk of depression and anxiety. “We draw the important conclusion that long-term exposure to residential greenery is associated with a decreased risk of depression and anxiety, and that reducing air pollution in greener areas likely plays an important role in this trend”Yaohua Tian said. Indeed, the researchers also noted that reduction in air pollution appeared to be a mediator leading link between green spaces and reduced depression or anxiety.
“Our study therefore implies that expanding urban green spaces could support good mental health”, concluded Yaohua Tian. According to the study’s scientists, this work could indeed guide future urban planning efforts, by encouraging the creation of new parks or the extension of already existing green zones. They nevertheless emphasize the need for further research to explore the links between long-term exposure to natural environments and mental health.
Sources :
- Long-term exposure to residential greenness and decreased risk of depression and anxiety – Nature Mental Health – 28 mars 2024
- Study suggests that living near green spaces reduces the risk of depression and anxiety – Medical Xpress – 23 avril 2024
- Depressive disorder (depression) – World Health Organization
- Understanding adult anxiety disorders (serious anxiety) – Ameli.fr
