Associations between urban greenspace and depressive symptoms in Mexico's cities using different greenspace metrics

• DOI: 10.1016/j.apgeog.2024.103219
• Publication Date: 2024-02-08T13:35:37Z
• Authors: Maryia Bakhtsiyarava; Yang Ju; Mika Moran; Daniel A. Rodríguez; Iryna Dronova; Xavier Delclòs-Alió; Kari Moore; Marianela Castill...; Cecilia Anza-Ramirez
• Keywords: Odds

Greenspace has been shown to be positively associated with mental wellbeing, but studies from the global South have scarce. We advance understanding of relationship between greenspace and depressive symptoms by using multiple clearly defined metrics describing neighborhood greenness urban parks in an understudied region rapid growth. linked individual-level health survey data for residents Mexico (n = 17,258 respondents 84 cities) measures such as satellite-derived normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), percent green area, characteristics, kernel-density-derived continuous indicator. estimated odds ratios experiencing at residential neighborhoods adjusted individual area-level characteristics. Among various investigated, amount measured NDVI was smaller symptoms. An increase one standard deviation median annual maximum level is 8.7 % (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.913, 95 CI 0.853–0.977) lower symptoms, find some evidence that, when neighborhood-level accounted for, broader availability outside may found no statistically significant associations a parks, results were not sensitive seasonal changes greenness. Neighborhood-level particulate matter (PM2.5) lessen benefits Higher Mexico's cities, whereas many other are not. The influence choice on subsequent highlights importance clear operational definitions need consider complementary greenspace-health research.