BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhuanet) -- Green spaces seem to exert a positive effect on the wellbeing of urban residents, according to a study in the journal Psychological Science Tuesday.
A research team, led by Dr. Mathew White and others from the European Centre for the Environment and Human Health, conducted a survey involving over 5,000 UK households and 10,000 individuals between 1991 and 2008.
They kept observing the data as their subjects moved houses, and they found that participants living in greener areas seem to suffer from less mental distress and take higher life satisfaction.
"We've found that living in an urban area with relatively high levels of green space can have a significantly positive impact on wellbeing, roughly equal to a third of the impact of being married." said White.
The effect exerted by green spaces is believed to be a tenth of the impact of being employed, according to the findings.
"These kinds of comparisons are important for policymakers when trying to decide how to invest scarce public resources, such as for park development or upkeep, and figuring out what bang they'll get for their buck," said White .
"We believe this is food for thought for any policymaker involved in urban planning, or local authority developing its public health strategy." said Beth Murphy, information manager at the mental health charity Mind.
He added: “ For people living busy lifestyles in densely populated areas, being able to get outdoors and access green space is a great way to escape the stresses of day-to-day life.”
(Agencies)
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