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The relationship between natural outdoor environments and cognitive functioning and its mediators
Zijlema, Wilma Triguero-Mas, Margarita Smith, Graham Cirach, Marta Martínez, David Dadvand, Payam Gascon, Mireia Jones, Marc V. Gidlow, Christopher Hurst, Gemma
Zijlema, Wilma
Triguero-Mas, Margarita
Smith, Graham
Cirach, Marta
Martínez, David
Dadvand, Payam
Gascon, Mireia
Jones, Marc V.
Gidlow, Christopher
Hurst, Gemma
Author
Zijlema, Wilma
Triguero-Mas, Margarita
Smith, Graham
Cirach, Marta
Martínez, David
Dadvand, Payam
Gascon, Mireia
Jones, Marc V.
Gidlow, Christopher
Hurst, Gemma
Masterson, Daniel
Ellis, Naomi
van den Berg, Magdalena
Maas, Jolanda
va Kamp, Irene
van den Hazel, Peter
Kruize, Hanneke
Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark
Julvez, Jordi
Triguero-Mas, Margarita
Smith, Graham
Cirach, Marta
Martínez, David
Dadvand, Payam
Gascon, Mireia
Jones, Marc V.
Gidlow, Christopher
Hurst, Gemma
Masterson, Daniel
Ellis, Naomi
van den Berg, Magdalena
Maas, Jolanda
va Kamp, Irene
van den Hazel, Peter
Kruize, Hanneke
Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark
Julvez, Jordi
Abstract
Background Urban residents may experience cognitive fatigue and little opportunity for mental restoration due to a lack of access to nature. Natural outdoor environments (NOE) are thought to be beneficial for cognitive functioning, but underlying mechanisms are not clear. Objectives To investigate the long-term association between NOE and cognitive function, and its potential mediators. Methods This cross-sectional study was based on adult participants of the Positive Health Effects of the Natural Outdoor Environment in Typical Populations in Different Regions in Europe (PHENOTYPE) project. Data were collected in Barcelona, Spain; Doetinchem, the Netherlands; and Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom. We assessed residential distance to NOE, residential surrounding greenness, perceived amount of neighborhood NOE, and engagement with NOE. Cognitive function was assessed with the Color Trails Test (CTT). Mediation analysis was undertaken following Baron and Kenny. Results Each 100 m increase in residential distance to NOE was associated with a longer CTT completion time of 1.50% (95% CI 0.13, 2.89). No associations were found for other NOE indicators and cognitive function. Neighborhood social cohesion was (marginally) significantly associated with both residential distance to NOE and CTT completion time, but no evidence for mediation was found. Nor were there indications for mediation by physical activity, social interaction with neighbors, loneliness, mental health, air pollution worries, or noise annoyance. Conclusions Our findings provide some indication that proximity to nature may benefit cognitive function. We could not establish which mechanisms may explain this relationship.
Keywords
Date
2017
Type
Journal article
Journal
Environmental Research
Book
Volume
155
Issue
Page Range
268-275
Article Number
ACU Department
Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
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Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled