Are Rurality, Area Deprivation, Access to Outside Space, and Green Space Associated with Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic?: A Cross Sectional Study (CHARIS-E)

Gill Hubbard; Chantal den Daas; Marie Johnston; Peter Murchie; Catharine Ward Thompson; Diane Dixon

doi:10.3390/ijerph18083869

Are Rurality, Area Deprivation, Access to Outside Space, and Green Space Associated with Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Cross Sectional Study (CHARIS-E)

Gill Hubbard^* (Corresponding Author), Chantal den Daas, Marie Johnston, Peter Murchie, Catharine Ward Thompson, Diane Dixon

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

53 Citations (Scopus)

6 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The study investigated if rurality, area deprivation, access to outside space (Study 1), and frequency of visiting and duration in green space (Study 2) are associated with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and examined if individual demographics (age, gender, COVID-19 shielding status) and illness beliefs have a direct association with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. A serial, weekly, nationally representative, cross-sectional, observational study of randomly selected adults was conducted in Scotland during June and July 2020. If available, validated instruments were used to measure psychological distress, individual demographics, illness beliefs, and the following characteristics: Rurality, area deprivation, access to residential outside space, frequency of visiting, and duration in green space. Simple linear regressions followed by examination of moderation effect were conducted. There were 2969 participants in Study 1, of which 1765 (59.6%) were female, 349 (11.9%) were in the shielding category, and the median age was 54 years. There were 502 participants in Study 2, of which 295 (58.60%) were female, 58 (11.6%) were in shielding category, and the median age was 53 years. Direct effects showed that psychological distress was worse if participants reported the following: Urban, in a deprived area, no access to or sharing residential outside space, fewer visits to green space (environment), younger, female, in the shielding category (demographics), worse illness (COVID-19) representations, and greater threat perception (illness beliefs). Moderation analyses showed that environmental factors amplified the direct effects of the individual factors on psychological distress. This study offers pointers for public health and for environmental planning, design, and management, including housing design and public open space provision and regulation.

Original language	English
Article number	3869
Number of pages	17
Journal	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume	18
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18083869
Publication status	Published - 7 Apr 2021

Bibliographical note

Acknowledgments: CHARIS is supported by the following consortium of behavioural scientists, psychologists and social scientists in Scotland: Julia Allan, University of Aberdeen; Michelle Beattie, University of the Highlands and Islands; Mioara Cristea, Heriot-Watt University; Alice Davis, The
Institute of Occupational Medicine; Fiona Dobbie, University of Edinburgh; Niamh Fitzgerald, University of Stirling; Leanne Fleming, University of Strathclyde; Barbara Farquharson, University of Stirling; Liz Forbat, University of Stirling, Trish Gorely, University of the Highlands and Islands;
Cindy Gray, University of Glasgow; Mark Grindle, University of the Highlands and Islands; Eileen Harkess-Murphy, University of the West of Scotland; Bianca Hatin, University of the West of Scotland, Kate Hunt, University of Stirling; Robin Ion, University of the West of Scotland; Lisa Kidd, University of Glasgow; Terry Lansdown, Heriot-Watt University; Leah Macaden, University of the Highlands and Islands; Wendy Maltinsky, University of Stirling; Stewart Mercer, University of Edinburgh; SarahAnne Munoz, University of the Highlands and Islands; Ronan O’Carroll, University of Stirling; Kate O’Donnell, University of Glasgow; Gozde Ozakinci, University of St Andrews; Amanda Pitkethly, Edinburgh Napier University; Kate Reid, University of Glasgow; Sean Semple, University of Stirling; Dina Sidhva, University of the West of Scotland; Martine Stead, University of Stirling; Mary E Stewart, Heriot-Watt University; Debbie Tolson, University of the West of Scotland; Sally Wyke, University of Glasgow.

Funding: This research was funded by Chief Scientist Office, Scotland

Keywords

COVID-19
environment
place
rural
urban
area deprivation
green space
mental health
pandemic

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.3390/ijerph18083869Licence: CC BY

Hubbard_etal_IJERPH_Are_Rurality_Area_VoR
Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Final published version, 461 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

Hubbard, G., Daas, C. D., Johnston, M., Murchie, P., Thompson, C. W., & Dixon, D. (2021). Are Rurality, Area Deprivation, Access to Outside Space, and Green Space Associated with Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Cross Sectional Study (CHARIS-E). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(8), Article 3869. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18083869

Are Rurality, Area Deprivation, Access to Outside Space, and Green Space Associated with Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Cross Sectional Study (CHARIS-E). / Hubbard, Gill (Corresponding Author); Daas, Chantal den ; Johnston, Marie et al.
In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol. 18, No. 8, 3869, 07.04.2021.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Hubbard, G, Daas, CD , Johnston, M , Murchie, P, Thompson, CW & Dixon, D 2021, 'Are Rurality, Area Deprivation, Access to Outside Space, and Green Space Associated with Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Cross Sectional Study (CHARIS-E)', International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 18, no. 8, 3869. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18083869

@article{aad5541a00ce46998f82c43842fc8c9b,

title = "Are Rurality, Area Deprivation, Access to Outside Space, and Green Space Associated with Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic?: A Cross Sectional Study (CHARIS-E)",

abstract = "The study investigated if rurality, area deprivation, access to outside space (Study 1), and frequency of visiting and duration in green space (Study 2) are associated with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and examined if individual demographics (age, gender, COVID-19 shielding status) and illness beliefs have a direct association with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. A serial, weekly, nationally representative, cross-sectional, observational study of randomly selected adults was conducted in Scotland during June and July 2020. If available, validated instruments were used to measure psychological distress, individual demographics, illness beliefs, and the following characteristics: Rurality, area deprivation, access to residential outside space, frequency of visiting, and duration in green space. Simple linear regressions followed by examination of moderation effect were conducted. There were 2969 participants in Study 1, of which 1765 (59.6%) were female, 349 (11.9%) were in the shielding category, and the median age was 54 years. There were 502 participants in Study 2, of which 295 (58.60%) were female, 58 (11.6%) were in shielding category, and the median age was 53 years. Direct effects showed that psychological distress was worse if participants reported the following: Urban, in a deprived area, no access to or sharing residential outside space, fewer visits to green space (environment), younger, female, in the shielding category (demographics), worse illness (COVID-19) representations, and greater threat perception (illness beliefs). Moderation analyses showed that environmental factors amplified the direct effects of the individual factors on psychological distress. This study offers pointers for public health and for environmental planning, design, and management, including housing design and public open space provision and regulation.",

keywords = "COVID-19, environment, place, rural, urban, area deprivation, green space, mental health, pandemic",

author = "Gill Hubbard and Daas, {Chantal den} and Marie Johnston and Peter Murchie and Thompson, {Catharine Ward} and Diane Dixon",

note = "Acknowledgments: CHARIS is supported by the following consortium of behavioural scientists, psychologists and social scientists in Scotland: Julia Allan, University of Aberdeen; Michelle Beattie, University of the Highlands and Islands; Mioara Cristea, Heriot-Watt University; Alice Davis, The Institute of Occupational Medicine; Fiona Dobbie, University of Edinburgh; Niamh Fitzgerald, University of Stirling; Leanne Fleming, University of Strathclyde; Barbara Farquharson, University of Stirling; Liz Forbat, University of Stirling, Trish Gorely, University of the Highlands and Islands; Cindy Gray, University of Glasgow; Mark Grindle, University of the Highlands and Islands; Eileen Harkess-Murphy, University of the West of Scotland; Bianca Hatin, University of the West of Scotland, Kate Hunt, University of Stirling; Robin Ion, University of the West of Scotland; Lisa Kidd, University of Glasgow; Terry Lansdown, Heriot-Watt University; Leah Macaden, University of the Highlands and Islands; Wendy Maltinsky, University of Stirling; Stewart Mercer, University of Edinburgh; SarahAnne Munoz, University of the Highlands and Islands; Ronan O{\textquoteright}Carroll, University of Stirling; Kate O{\textquoteright}Donnell, University of Glasgow; Gozde Ozakinci, University of St Andrews; Amanda Pitkethly, Edinburgh Napier University; Kate Reid, University of Glasgow; Sean Semple, University of Stirling; Dina Sidhva, University of the West of Scotland; Martine Stead, University of Stirling; Mary E Stewart, Heriot-Watt University; Debbie Tolson, University of the West of Scotland; Sally Wyke, University of Glasgow. Funding: This research was funded by Chief Scientist Office, Scotland",

year = "2021",

month = apr,

day = "7",

doi = "10.3390/ijerph18083869",

language = "English",

volume = "18",

journal = "International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health",

issn = "1660-4601",

publisher = "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)",

number = "8",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Are Rurality, Area Deprivation, Access to Outside Space, and Green Space Associated with Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic?

T2 - A Cross Sectional Study (CHARIS-E)

AU - Hubbard, Gill

AU - Daas, Chantal den

AU - Johnston, Marie

AU - Murchie, Peter

AU - Thompson, Catharine Ward

AU - Dixon, Diane

N1 - Acknowledgments: CHARIS is supported by the following consortium of behavioural scientists, psychologists and social scientists in Scotland: Julia Allan, University of Aberdeen; Michelle Beattie, University of the Highlands and Islands; Mioara Cristea, Heriot-Watt University; Alice Davis, The Institute of Occupational Medicine; Fiona Dobbie, University of Edinburgh; Niamh Fitzgerald, University of Stirling; Leanne Fleming, University of Strathclyde; Barbara Farquharson, University of Stirling; Liz Forbat, University of Stirling, Trish Gorely, University of the Highlands and Islands; Cindy Gray, University of Glasgow; Mark Grindle, University of the Highlands and Islands; Eileen Harkess-Murphy, University of the West of Scotland; Bianca Hatin, University of the West of Scotland, Kate Hunt, University of Stirling; Robin Ion, University of the West of Scotland; Lisa Kidd, University of Glasgow; Terry Lansdown, Heriot-Watt University; Leah Macaden, University of the Highlands and Islands; Wendy Maltinsky, University of Stirling; Stewart Mercer, University of Edinburgh; SarahAnne Munoz, University of the Highlands and Islands; Ronan O’Carroll, University of Stirling; Kate O’Donnell, University of Glasgow; Gozde Ozakinci, University of St Andrews; Amanda Pitkethly, Edinburgh Napier University; Kate Reid, University of Glasgow; Sean Semple, University of Stirling; Dina Sidhva, University of the West of Scotland; Martine Stead, University of Stirling; Mary E Stewart, Heriot-Watt University; Debbie Tolson, University of the West of Scotland; Sally Wyke, University of Glasgow. Funding: This research was funded by Chief Scientist Office, Scotland

PY - 2021/4/7

Y1 - 2021/4/7

N2 - The study investigated if rurality, area deprivation, access to outside space (Study 1), and frequency of visiting and duration in green space (Study 2) are associated with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and examined if individual demographics (age, gender, COVID-19 shielding status) and illness beliefs have a direct association with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. A serial, weekly, nationally representative, cross-sectional, observational study of randomly selected adults was conducted in Scotland during June and July 2020. If available, validated instruments were used to measure psychological distress, individual demographics, illness beliefs, and the following characteristics: Rurality, area deprivation, access to residential outside space, frequency of visiting, and duration in green space. Simple linear regressions followed by examination of moderation effect were conducted. There were 2969 participants in Study 1, of which 1765 (59.6%) were female, 349 (11.9%) were in the shielding category, and the median age was 54 years. There were 502 participants in Study 2, of which 295 (58.60%) were female, 58 (11.6%) were in shielding category, and the median age was 53 years. Direct effects showed that psychological distress was worse if participants reported the following: Urban, in a deprived area, no access to or sharing residential outside space, fewer visits to green space (environment), younger, female, in the shielding category (demographics), worse illness (COVID-19) representations, and greater threat perception (illness beliefs). Moderation analyses showed that environmental factors amplified the direct effects of the individual factors on psychological distress. This study offers pointers for public health and for environmental planning, design, and management, including housing design and public open space provision and regulation.

AB - The study investigated if rurality, area deprivation, access to outside space (Study 1), and frequency of visiting and duration in green space (Study 2) are associated with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and examined if individual demographics (age, gender, COVID-19 shielding status) and illness beliefs have a direct association with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. A serial, weekly, nationally representative, cross-sectional, observational study of randomly selected adults was conducted in Scotland during June and July 2020. If available, validated instruments were used to measure psychological distress, individual demographics, illness beliefs, and the following characteristics: Rurality, area deprivation, access to residential outside space, frequency of visiting, and duration in green space. Simple linear regressions followed by examination of moderation effect were conducted. There were 2969 participants in Study 1, of which 1765 (59.6%) were female, 349 (11.9%) were in the shielding category, and the median age was 54 years. There were 502 participants in Study 2, of which 295 (58.60%) were female, 58 (11.6%) were in shielding category, and the median age was 53 years. Direct effects showed that psychological distress was worse if participants reported the following: Urban, in a deprived area, no access to or sharing residential outside space, fewer visits to green space (environment), younger, female, in the shielding category (demographics), worse illness (COVID-19) representations, and greater threat perception (illness beliefs). Moderation analyses showed that environmental factors amplified the direct effects of the individual factors on psychological distress. This study offers pointers for public health and for environmental planning, design, and management, including housing design and public open space provision and regulation.

KW - COVID-19

KW - environment

KW - place

KW - rural

KW - urban

KW - area deprivation

KW - green space

KW - mental health

KW - pandemic

U2 - 10.3390/ijerph18083869

DO - 10.3390/ijerph18083869

M3 - Article

C2 - 33917067

SN - 1660-4601

VL - 18

JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

IS - 8

M1 - 3869

ER -