Replacing Greenbelt Land with Social Housing and
Commercial Markets: A brief review of mental health implications
Compiled April 2019, by Adam Laws, BSc. Psychology (Hons.)
MSc. Clinical Psychology and Mental Health Student at
the University of Sussex
Please request authors’ permission to edit or reproduce
this review (via this blog).
Mental health problems
and psychiatric disorders remain a leading cause of global burden, accounting
for a large portion of the world’s years lived with disability (Becker &
Kleinman, 2013; Vigo, Thornicroft & Atun, 2016). Thus, it is essential that
steps are taken to reduce the likelihood of the development of such problems
and disorders.
This brief review presents recent evidence dictating that the
shifting of greenbelt land into more urbanised housing, schools and markets
would negatively impact on the mental health outcomes of residents, particularly
children and adolescents.
Benefits of Green Space: Mental
Health Outcomes and Health Behaviours
Initially, research
failed to identify a mechanism to explain the association between growing up in
urban areas and poorer mental health outcomes, though the relationship is
well-evidenced (Engemann et al., 2019). However, recent studies have identified
that this association may be explained by the lack of green space in urban
areas. Following a systematic review, Vanaken and Danckaerts (2018) concluded
that local green space exposure is key to protecting the mental health and
wellbeing of children and adolescents. Particularly, this relationship was
prominent in the development of emotional and behavioural problems including
hyperactivity and inattention problems, linked to attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; American Psychiatric Association, 2013) and
several other psychiatric problems (Rajendran, Oneill & Halperin, 2013). A
protective role was also identified for depressive symptoms.
Further, Barton and
Mitchell (2017) observed that greenspaces are associated with reduced anxiety,
mental distress and depression, and that greenspaces reduce the impact of life
stresses on wellbeing. Most research found that these relationships existed
even when other confounding variables, including parental mental health,
socioeconomic status and other measures of urbanisation (Vanaken &
Danckaerts, 2018; Engemann et al., 2019). Bondo (2019) highlights that mental
health benefits of even low level greenspace exposure extend from childhood
well into adulthood.
Additionally, increased
greenspace availability is closely linked to increased physical activity
(Barton, 2016), recommended by both the NHS (2018) and NICE (2019) for
improving mental wellbeing both in presence and absence of mental health
problems. Mitchell (2013) found that those who use greenspaces for physical
activity at least once per week have only half the risk of poor mental health,
with further reductions seen with greater weekly usage.
Impacts of Noise Pollution: Mental
Health and Cognitive Ability
The construction of
houses and maintenance of wholesale markets is likely to involve a large amount
of noise pollution at varying times of the day. Dzhambov et al. (2017)
highlight the contribution of increases in residential noise levels to
residents’ mental health. The authors found that daytime noise pollution
predicted higher levels of annoyance, sleep disturbance and reduced physical
activity, all of which in turn predicted poorer mental health outcomes on the
widely-used General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Mental health outcomes measured
included both anxiety and depression. Ma et al. (2018) expand on this,
concluding that noise pollution predicts fatigue, stress, anxiety, sleep
disturbance and headaches, regardless of participants’ social environments.
Indeed, housing satisfaction was directly correlated with perceived stress and
levels of anxiety.
Makopa, Agoub and Ahami
(2014) demonstrate an impact of residential noise on the cognitive functioning
of residents. The authors found that noise disturbs memory, distracts attention
and produces poorer performance in cognitive tasks. Epidemiological studies
reviewed by the authors suggested that students in schools located in noisy
areas are more likely to present cognitive impairment.
Traffic and Commuting
With the increased public
attention and attendance associated with commercial markets, as well as
schools, traffic is an inevitable and potentially harmful burden. Research, for
a number of years, has shown that increased commuting and travel times is
linked to poorer mental health. Stutzer and Frey (2008) report reduced
subjective wellbeing in those with longer commutes and long commutes are linked
to reduced health satisfaction, causing more frequent visits to general
practitioners (Künn-Nelen, 2015). Feng and Boyle (2013) reiterate that long journeys
are a stressful event for many and long-term impacts on wellbeing are observed,
primarily in women and children.
Conclusion
This brief review outlines the several ways in which replacing greenbelt
land with commercial markets, social housing and schools may impact residents’
mental health. Primarily, these impacts are seen as a direct result of removing
greenbelt land, which has well-evidenced mental health benefits. However, there
are also mental health implications which stem from the practical elements of
these changes, including noise pollution and increased commuting time.
References:
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exercise linking nature, health and well-being. London: Routledge, Taylor &
Francis Group, Earthscan from Routledge.
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surrounded by green space in childhood may improve mental health of adults.
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