People who live in greener neighbourhoods smoke and drink less on average – and those who make regular visits to nature are less likely to smoke, a new study has shown.
The research, by an international collaboration including the University of Plymouth, found residential greenspace is associated with a significant reduction in health risk behaviours such as smoking and everyday drinking.
It found people living in the greenest neighbourhoods were 13 per cent less likely to be current smokers and 31 per cent less likely to drink alcohol every day than those in less green areas.
Published in the Health & Place journal, the research has for the first time analysed data across multiple countries and different types of nature contact and highlights the potential of greenspaces as a public health intervention.
The findings are consistent across different countries, household income and educational attainment, indicating that the presence of green spaces near someone’s home lowering health risk behaviours appears to be beneficial to all and not limited to particular groups.
The researchers also found that people who make intentional visits to nature away from their home at least once a week are less likely to smoke.
Lead author Dr Leanne Martin began the research while working towards her PhD at the University of Plymouth, having graduated from the BSc (Hons) Psychology and
Research Methods in Psychology
programmes. She is now based at the European Centre for Environment and Human Health at the University of Exeter.
Professor Jon May