Mental health and well-being in times of COVID-19: A mixed-methods study of the role of neighborhood parks, outdoor spaces, and nature among US older adults

Gabriela Bustamante; Viveka Guzman; Lindsay C Kobayashi; Jessica Finlay

doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102813

Mental health and well-being in times of COVID-19: A mixed-methods study of the role of neighborhood parks, outdoor spaces, and nature among US older adults

Health Place. 2022 Jul:76:102813. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102813. Epub 2022 May 24.

Authors

Gabriela Bustamante¹, Viveka Guzman², Lindsay C Kobayashi³, Jessica Finlay⁴

Affiliations

¹ Program in Health Disparities Research, University of Minnesota, 717 Delaware St. SE, Suite 156, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, USA; School of Public Health, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Diego de Robles S/n, Quito, 170901, Ecuador. Electronic address: busta027@umn.edu.
² Division of Population Health, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaux Lane House, Mercer St Lower, Dublin 2, D02DH60, Ireland. Electronic address: vivekaguzman@rcsi.ie.
³ Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA. Electronic address: lkob@umich.edu.
⁴ Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Social Environment and Health Program, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, 426 Thompson Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, USA. Electronic address: jmfinlay@umich.edu.

Abstract

The role of parks and nature to support well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic is uncertain. To examine this topic, we used mixed-methods data collected in April-May 2020 from US adults aged ≥55 in the COVID-19 Coping Study. We quantitatively evaluated the associations between number of neighborhood parks and depression, anxiety, and loneliness; and conducted qualitative thematic analysis of participants' outdoor experiences. Among urban residents, depression and anxiety were inversely associated with the number of neighborhood parks. Thematic analysis identified diverse engagement in greenspaces that boosted physical, mental, and social well-being. The therapeutic potential of outdoor and greenspaces should be considered for interventions during future epidemics.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; Nature; Older adults; Outdoor spaces; Parks; Physical and mental health; Therapeutic landscapes; Urban/rural; Well-being.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Aged
COVID-19* / epidemiology
Humans
Loneliness / psychology
Mental Health
Pandemics
Parks, Recreational
Residence Characteristics

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding