Green spaces provide lasting benefits for the health of citizens - Gaianews.it

In 2012, the World Health Organization has cited depression as the leading cause of disability worldwide. Green spaces in cities have beneficial effects on citizens and could help to combat depression. To prove a study that investigated the effects on the long term and which was published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology . According to the results of policy-makers should encourage the presence of green spaces in the city for the beneficial effects on the mental condition of the citizens.

The scientists followed a group of people for five years and found that he moved in a more Green improvements on their mental health even after he again moved to a less green.

Research is one of the first studies that consider the effects of the green space in time and used the data delBritish Household Panel Survey, a repository of information collected from questionnaires completed by families across Britain.

Using data from over 1,000 participants, the research team at the University of Exeter has focused on two groups of people: those who have moved to urban areas greener and those who have moved to urban areas less green .

Scientists have found that, on average, who has moved in the green areas have experienced an immediate improvement in mental health that has been maintained for at least 3 years after the transfer. The study also showed that those who had moved to an area less effect green fell. It is interesting to note that this decline began before moving back to normal once the move had been completed.

Dr Ian Alcock, first author of the study, believes that the findings could have important implications: “We have shown that people who move to greener areas have significant and lasting improvements in the field of mental health. These findings are important for planners who are planning to introduce new green spaces in our cities, suggesting that it may provide sustained and long-term benefits for local communities. “

Scientists have focused on understanding how the effects of green spaces were to vary over time. Mathew White explained how this research has provided an important insight into a mechanism: “We needed to answer important questions about the effects of green spaces vary over time. People experience a novelty effect enjoying the move to the new green area. But then the effect wears off? What we found suggests that the mental health benefits of green spaces are not only immediate but sustainable for long periods of time. “