Are public open space attributes associated with walking and depression?

Mohammad Javad Koohsari; Hannah Badland; Suzanne Mavoa; Karen Villanueva; Jacinta Francis; Paula Hooper; Neville Owen; Billie Giles-Corti

Journal article

Are public open space attributes associated with walking and depression?

Mohammad Javad Koohsari, Hannah Badland, Suzanne Mavoa, Karen Villanueva, Jacinta Francis, Paula Hooper, Neville Owen, Billie Giles-Corti

CITIES | ELSEVIER SCI LTD | Published : 2018

DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2017.11.011

Abstract

Public open spaces (POS) are key neighbourhood destinations shown to confer numerous physical and mental health benefits. The amount and spatial distribution of POS throughout cities are guided by urban planning policies and standards. However, empirical evidence is not generally used to create POS standards. Developing and testing POS indices associated with positive health outcomes, can inform evidence-based POS urban design and planning standards that support the creation of healthier cities. This study examined associations of urban design policy-derived and empirical measures of POS proximity and density with walking and depression. The 2011–12 Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Javad Koohsari Author Melbourne School of Population and Global Health

Billie Giles-Corti Author Melbourne School of Population and Global Health

Suzanne Mavoa Author Melbourne School of Population and Global Health

Related Projects (2)

ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN URBAN NATURE AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE RISK

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in Australia. Urban nature (e.g. greenness, water, species diversity) is likely t..

EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN URBAN PLANNING AND HEALTH AND THE APPLICATION OF RESEARCH FINDINGS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF AUSTRALIANS BY CREATING MORE HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES.

Globally there is growing concern about the health, social, environmental, and economic impacts of rising levels of inactivity and obesity, ..

Grants

Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)

Awarded by National Heart Foundation of Australia

Awarded by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

Awarded by NHMRC Program Grant

Awarded by NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellowship

Awarded by NHMRC

Funding Acknowledgements

The AusDiab study was co-coordinated by the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute. We gratefully acknowledge the support and assistance given by: K. Anstey, B. Atkins, B. Balkau, E. Barr, A. Cameron, S. Chadban, M. de Courten, A. Kavanagh, D. Magliano, S. Murray, K. Polkinghorne, J. Shaw, T. Welborn, P. Zimmet and all the study participants. For funding or logistical support, we are grateful to: National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC: #233200, #1007544), Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, Abbott Australasia Pty Ltd., Alphapharm Pty Ltd., Amgen Australia, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, City Health Centre-Diabetes Service-Canberra, Department of Health and Community Services - Northern Territory, Department of Health and Human Services - Tasmania, Department of Health - New South Wales, Department of Health - Western Australia, Department of Health - South Australia, Department of Human Services - Victoria, Diabetes Australia, Diabetes Australia Northern Territory, Eli Lilly Australia, Estate of the Late Edward Wilson, GlaxoSmithKline, Jack Brockhoff Foundation, Janssen-Cilag, Kidney Health Australia, Marian & FH Flack Trust, Menzies Research Institute, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Pty Ltd., Pratt Foundation, Queensland Health, Roche Diagnostics Australia, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Sanofi Aventis, and sanofi-synthelabo. Koohsari was supported by a Postdoctoral Fellowship (#100878) from the National Heart Foundation of Australia and a JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan (#17716) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Badland was supported by a RMIT University Vice Chancellor's Senior Research Fellowship. Owen was supported by an NHMRC Program Grant [#569940] and a NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellowship [#1003960]; and Giles-Corti by an NHMRC Principal Research Fellow Award (#1004900); and VicHealth.