Journal article

Associations between coastal proximity and children's mental health in Australia

Laura H Oostenbach, Jennifer Noall, Karen E Lamb, Amber L Pearson, Suzanne Mavoa, Lukar E Thornton

GEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH | WILEY | Published : 2023

Abstract

Limited research has explored associations between blue spaces and mental health, specifically in children. This study assessed links between coastal proximity and depression and anxiety among children in Australia and tested whether duration of residency at current address moderated associations. It also explored associations between within-individual changes in coastal proximity and changes in depression and anxiety. Data were from 2400 children aged 11–12 years in Wave 5 (2012) and aged 14–15 years in Wave 6 (2014) of the national Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Outcomes were children’s self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety. Exposure was coastal proximity (<2, 2–<5, ..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Awarded by Australian National Health and Medical Research Council fellowship


Funding Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge and thank Ralf Schroers, Tenniel Guiver, and Galina Daraganova for their assistance with creating and linking the coastal proximity measures. SM was supported by an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council fellowship (#1121035) and a University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences Research Fellowship (grant number not applicable). Open access publishing facilitated by Deakin University, as part of the Wiley-Deakin University agreement via the Council of Australian University Librarians.