TY - JOUR
T1 - Mental health and well-being in times of COVID-19
T2 - A mixed-methods study of the role of neighborhood parks, outdoor spaces, and nature among US older adults
AU - Bustamante, Gabriela
AU - Guzman, Viveka
AU - Kobayashi, Lindsay C.
AU - Finlay, Jessica
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2022/7
Y1 - 2022/7
N2 - The role of parks and nature to support well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic is uncertain. To examine this topic, we used mixed-methods data collected in April–May 2020 from US adults aged ≥55 in the COVID-19 Coping Study. We quantitatively evaluated the associations between number of neighborhood parks and depression, anxiety, and loneliness; and conducted qualitative thematic analysis of participants’ outdoor experiences. Among urban residents, depression and anxiety were inversely associated with the number of neighborhood parks. Thematic analysis identified diverse engagement in greenspaces that boosted physical, mental, and social well-being. The therapeutic potential of outdoor and greenspaces should be considered for interventions during future epidemics.
AB - The role of parks and nature to support well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic is uncertain. To examine this topic, we used mixed-methods data collected in April–May 2020 from US adults aged ≥55 in the COVID-19 Coping Study. We quantitatively evaluated the associations between number of neighborhood parks and depression, anxiety, and loneliness; and conducted qualitative thematic analysis of participants’ outdoor experiences. Among urban residents, depression and anxiety were inversely associated with the number of neighborhood parks. Thematic analysis identified diverse engagement in greenspaces that boosted physical, mental, and social well-being. The therapeutic potential of outdoor and greenspaces should be considered for interventions during future epidemics.
KW - COVID-19 pandemic
KW - Nature
KW - Older adults
KW - Outdoor spaces
KW - Parks
KW - Physical and mental health
KW - Therapeutic landscapes
KW - Urban/rural
KW - Well-being
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85130550140&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102813
DO - 10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102813
M3 - Artículo
C2 - 35623164
AN - SCOPUS:85130550140
SN - 1353-8292
VL - 76
JO - Health and Place
JF - Health and Place
M1 - 102813
ER -
