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The prospective association between greenspace exposure and emotional symptoms from childhood to adolescence

Mood Disorders Centre Think Tank Seminar Series

Our guest speaker is Liuqing Tian from the University of Exeter.


Event details

Abstract

Depressive symptoms, which affects about 16% adolescents and adults and 1.5% of children, may be associated with impaired functioning such as academic underachievement, decreased perceived social support and future mental health problems if they are untreated (Clayborne et al., 2019; Naicker et al., 2013). Therefore, the risk factors warrant further exploration to prevent the detrimental effects of depressive symptoms. Greenspace exposure – defined as any open land with vegetation like grass or trees – is negatively associated with depressive symptoms and emotional difficulties in children and adolescents (Bezold et al., 2018; Madzia et al., 2019). However, most studies have adopted cross-sectional designs, limiting causal inference and raising concerns about recall bias. Furthermore, relatively little attention has been paid to potential moderators of seasonal variation, individual traits and family characteristics in this relationship. In particular, the role of nature connectedness – individuals’ subjective sense of bond with the natural world – has often been overlooked.

Our proposed research comprises three interrelated studies. Study 1 will utilise longitudinal data from the Millennium Cohort Study to examine the prospective associations between greenspace exposure and depressive symptoms and emotional difficulties from childhood to adolescence, as well as the moderating effects of gender and socio-economic status. Study 2 will adopt experience sampling methods to assess daily associations between greenspace exposure and depressive symptoms, considering seasonal variation and the moderating role of nature connectedness. Study 3 will employ a quasi-experimental design to investigate how virtual greenspace and outdoor nature environments influence depressive symptoms and mental well-being in adolescents, and whether these effects are moderated by nature connectedness. Together, the findings aim to inform urban greenspace planning and nature-based mental health interventions.

Location:

The Sir Henry Wellcome Building for Mood Disorders Research, G17 (Hybrid)