Exposure to Residential Greenness, Perceived Stress, and Depressive Symptoms in a North American Preconception Cohort

2024  Journal Article

Exposure to Residential Greenness, Perceived Stress, and Depressive Symptoms in a North American Preconception Cohort

Pub TLDR

Overall, this study provides evidence for the potential of greenness as an important structural determinant of mental and preconception health, with implications for urban planning, public health interventions, and efforts to reduce health disparities.

 

College of Health researcher(s)

OSU Profile

Highlights

  • Higher greenness exposure was associated with reduced perceived stress levels and depressive symptoms among pregnancy planners.
  • Associations between greenness and mental health were stronger among participants residing in neighborhoods with low socio-economic status in urban areas.
  • Greenness may be an important structural determinant of mental and preconception health.

Abstract

Background/Aims

Studies suggest that greater exposure to natural vegetation (i.e., greenness) is associated with better mental health. However, there is limited research on greenness and mental health in the preconception period, a critical window of exposure in the life course. We investigated the associations of residential greenness with perceived stress and depressive symptoms using cross-sectional data from a cohort of pregnancy planners.

Methods

From 2013 to 2019, we enrolled female-identified participants aged 21-45 years who were trying to conceive without the use of fertility treatment into a North American preconception cohort study (Pregnancy Study Online [PRESTO]). On the baseline questionnaire, participants completed the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Major Depression Inventory (MDI). Using geocoded addresses, we estimated residential greenness exposure via satellite imagery (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index [NDVI]) in a 100m buffer. We estimated mean differences and 95% confidence intervals for the association of greenness with perceived stress and depression scores using linear regression models, adjusting for individual and neighborhood sociodemographic characteristics. We also evaluated the extent to which associations were modified by urbanicity and neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES).

Results

Among 9,718 participants, mean age was 29.9 years, 81.5% identified as non-Hispanic White, 25% had household incomes <$50,000, and mean neighborhood income was $61,932. In adjusted models, higher greenness was associated with lower stress and depression scores (mean difference per interquartile range in greenness: -0.20, 95% CI: -0.39, -0.01; and -0.19, 95% CI: -0.48, 0.10, respectively). The association was stronger among residents of lower SES neighborhoods in urban areas (PSS: -0.57, 95% CI: -1.00, -0.15; MDI: -0.72, 95% CI: -1.40, -0.04).

Conclusions

Higher greenness exposure was associated with lower stress and depressive symptoms among pregnancy planners, particularly in lower-SES neighborhoods.

Reimer, C.J., Willis, M.D., Wesselink, A.K., Hystad, P., Campbell, E.J., Hatch, E.E., Kirwa, K., Gradus, J.L., Vinceti, M., Wise, L.A., Jimenez, M.P. (2024) Exposure to Residential Greenness, Perceived Stress, and Depressive Symptoms in a North American Preconception CohortEnvironmental Research