space map for health research Elizabeth Richardson Using Scotlands - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Using Scotland’s green space map for health research Elizabeth Richardson

Using Scotland’s green space map for health research • Background to green space and health research • Methods • Findings • Lessons learned

Green space and health research • Common sense? • How does it get under the skin? • Psychological restoration • Social contact • Physical activity • Reduced exposure to environmental risk factors (e.g., noise, air pollution)

How researched? • Is the health of individuals/populations related to the green space they experience? ? Green space Health • If so, how? And for whom? Potential Green space Health pathway

Study 1: Is neighbourhood green space related to childhood development? • Growing Up in Scotland survey • 3K children, at ages 4, 5 and 6 years • All urban-dwelling • Outcome: scores for hyperactivity, conduct, emotional problems, peer problems, prosocial behaviour • Green space: total, parks • Access: UK Data Service’s Secure Lab

Study 1: Is neighbourhood green space related to childhood development? • Most outcomes better if had private garden access • Prosocial behaviour: better with more overall green space • Boys: • Peer and Conduct problems lower with more park space • Girls: • Hyperactivity, Peer and Total Difficulties lower with more overall green space.

Study 2: Is green space around the homes of pregnant women related to birth weight? • Scottish Longitudinal Study (SLS) • Data linkage: census + birth registrations + maternity data • 40K births, 1991-2010 • Sibling study design • Outcome: birth weight • Green space: total, plus parks, woodlands, open water, and ‘all accessible’ • Access: SLS safe setting

Data linkage for the birthweight study CENSUS PRENATAL Age Mother in BOOKING Education SLS Smoking Ethnicity Height Tenure Weight SES Deprivation BIRTH GREEN SPACE REGISTRATION MAP Infant Birth weight Green space Sex availability, by Date of birth type, within Parity 100 m Postcode

Study 2: Is green space around the homes of pregnant women related to birth weight? • Big sample: ‘sibling study design’ • Significant increase in birth weight for: • women with children • women with school-level education • Total green space (public + private) important • Individual types less important

Lessons learned SGM is a great resource • Fine resolution, detailed categorisation Constraints of original SGM: now addressed with OS green space product • A few inconsistencies • Single point in time • Can a nearby space be entered easily? • Scotland only Further improvements? • Green space QUALITY data

Acknowledgements • Centre for Research on Environment, Society and Health (CRESH) • Prof Jamie Pearce • Dr Niamh Shortt • Prof Richard Mitchell • European Research Council funding • GUS families and ScotCen • Scottish Longitudinal Study • NHS Information Services Division • NHS Health Scotland • National Records of Scotland • UK Data Service