Author:
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Ruijsbroek, Annemarie; Droomers, Mariël; Kruize, Hanneke; Kempen, Elise van; Gidlow, Christopher J.; Hurst, Gemma; Andrusaityte, Sandra; Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J.; Maas, Jolanda; Hardyns, Wim; Stronks, Karien; Groenewegen, Peter P.
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Abstract:
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It has been suggested that certain residents, such as those with
a low socioeconomic status, the elderly, and women, may benefit
more from the presence of neighbourhood green space than others.
We tested this hypothesis for age, gender, educational level,
and employment status in four European cities. Data were
collected in Barcelona (Spain; n = 1002), Kaunas (Lithuania; n =
989), Doetinchem (The Netherlands; n = 847), and Stoke-on-Trent
(UK; n = 933) as part of the EU-funded PHENOTYPE project.
Surveys were used to measure mental and general health,
individual characteristics, and perceived neighbourhood green
space. Additionally, we used audit data about neighbourhood
green space. In Barcelona, there were positive associations
between neighbourhood green space and general health among
low-educated residents. In the other cities and for the other
population groups, there was little evidence that the
association between health and neighbourhood green space
differed between population groups. Overall, our study does not
support the assumption that the elderly, women, and residents
who are not employed full-time benefit more from neighbourhood
green space than others. Only in the highly urbanised city of
Barcelona did the low-educated group benefit from neighbourhood
green spaces. Perhaps neighbourhood green spaces are more
important for the health of low-educated residents in
particularly highly urbanised areas. |