Positivehealtheffects of thenaturaloutdoor environment intypicalpopulations in different regions inEurope (PHENOTYPE): a study programme protocol

Abstract

IntroductionGrowing evidence suggests that close contact with nature brings benefits to human health and well-being, but the proposed mechanisms are still not well understood and the associations with health remain uncertain. The Positive Health Effects of the Natural Outdoor environment in Typical Populations in different regions in Europe (PHENOTYPE) project investigates the interconnections between natural outdoor environments and better human health and well-being.Aims and methodsThe PHENOTYPE project explores the proposed underlying mechanisms at work (stress reduction/restorative function, physical activity, social interaction, exposure to environmental hazards) and examines the associations with health outcomes for different population groups. It implements conventional and new innovative high-tech methods to characterise the natural environment in terms of quality and quantity. Preventive as well as therapeutic effects of contact with the natural environment are being covered. PHENOTYPE further addresses implications for land-use planning and green space management. The main innovative part of the study is the evaluation of possible short-term and long-term associations of green space and health and the possible underlying mechanisms in four different countries (each with quite a different type of green space and a different use), using the same methodology, in one research programme. This type of holistic approach has not been undertaken before. Furthermore there are technological innovations such as the use of remote sensing and smartphones in the assessment of green space.ConclusionsThe project will produce a more robust evidence base on links between exposure to natural outdoor environment and human health and well-being, in addition to a better integration of human health needs into land-use planning and green space management in rural as well as urban areas.

Residential green spaces and mortality: A systematic review

“…Other determinants such as the quality of green spaces and how these are perceived might also be relevant, as well as other aspects of the built environment (e.g. degree of urbanization or ease of accessibility) that have been poorly explored (Nieuwenhuijsen et al 2014). These issues need to be further studied and clarified.…”

Natural outdoor environments and mental and physical health: Relationships and mechanisms

“…It started in 2010 and it will finish in 2014 (Alcañiz-Zanón et al, 2014). As part of the EC funded PHENOTYPE study (Nieuwenhuijsen et al, 2014) we assigned indicators for natural outdoor environments and evaluated the relationship between these and health indicators.…”

“…Moreover, various mechanisms (increasing physical activity (De Vries et al, 2013;Sugiyama et al, 2008;Richardson et al, 2013), increasing social contacts (De Vries et al, 2013;Maas et al, 2009;Sugiyama et al, 2008), increasing restoration/ stress reduction (De Vries et al, 2013;Roe et al, 2013), and decreasing environmental hazard exposure (Dadvand et al, 2012a)) have been suggested to explain the associations between green space and health (De Vries et al, 2013), but there is not a clear understanding of them yet (Nieuwenhuijsen et al, 2014;Hartig et al, 2014). Furthermore, little research has been conducted regarding types or characteristics of green spaces that may improve people's health (De Vries et al, 2013;Nieuwenhuijsen et al, 2014;Adevi and Grahn, 2011). Most of the existing studies have been performed in the northwest of Europe and the US, and the applicability of their conclusions to other parts of the world is uncertain (Nieuwenhuijsen et al, 2014).…”

“…Furthermore, little research has been conducted regarding types or characteristics of green spaces that may improve people's health (De Vries et al, 2013;Nieuwenhuijsen et al, 2014;Adevi and Grahn, 2011). Most of the existing studies have been performed in the northwest of Europe and the US, and the applicability of their conclusions to other parts of the world is uncertain (Nieuwenhuijsen et al, 2014). Finally, most of available evidence on the health effects of natural outdoor environment has focused on green spaces and the available studies on potential health benefits of blue spaces (i.e.…”

Adapting a gis version of the Irvine-Minnesota inventory (IMI) for Bulgarian settings

“…"Maintenance", on its own, might be related to crime and incivilities (6,7), while the presence and abundance of high quality and maintained green spaces and other natural elements might act as a protective measure and suppress such violent behaviours (37,38). On its own, "Nature and Landscape" domain may be studied in reference to various psychosomatic health outcomes, as promoted by the PHENOTYPE study (39), including birth weight (40), psychological noise attenuation (41), etc. Finally, both attractiveness and diversity of the build environment can add to the value of a neighbourhood by increasing people's morale (7).…”