The health benefits of the great outdoors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of greenspace exposure and health outcomes

What the study found

Greater greenspace exposure was associated with lower salivary cortisol (-0.05), heart rate (-2.57) and diastolic blood pressure (-1.97), higher high-frequency heart rate variability, and lower risk of type II diabetes, all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, and preterm birth, among other outcomes.

Limitations

The authors note several pooled results are limited by poor study quality and high heterogeneity. Mostly observational; outdoor exposure, not interiors.

Neurodesign interpretation

The broadest pooled support for physiological effects of nature exposure. It concerns neighbourhoods and outdoor time, so it does not carry its strength to plants or views inside rooms.

Possible design implications

Supports access to greenspace as a health measure; indoor translation needs its own evidence.

Study design

Systematic review and meta-analysis

Population

103 observational and 40 interventional studies covering about 100 health outcomes.

Setting

Outdoor greenspace and neighbourhoods

Field

Biophilic design, Public health + exposure science

Mechanism

Autonomic stress recovery, Physiological relaxation

Spatial variable

Greenspace exposure

Keywords

greenspace, cortisol, heart rate variability, meta-analysis, health outcomes

Notes and follow-up

Related records: ND-0028, ND-0032, ND-0035, ND-0130.