Urban vegetation and well-being: a cross-sectional study in Montreal, Canada.
Abstract
As urbanisation continues to accelerate, urban green spaces are increasingly recognised as key elements for enhancing people's health and well-being. However, most research has used vegetation metrics that may not capture the specific associations between different types of vegetation and different mental health outcomes. In this study, we investigate the cross-sectional associations between residential vegetation exposure and individual well-being in Montreal, Canada, using different vegetation and well-being measures: The proportion of grass cover, tree cover, and average NDVI value within buffers of various radii (100-1000 m) were linked to each participant's residence (n = 1072, aged 18 years or older), while well-being was assessed using subjective happiness, emotional well-being, and personal well-being scales. The associations were analysed using generalised additive regression models. Our findings show that more vegetation was linked to enhanced well-being, although the effect sizes were relatively small. Irrespective of the buffer distance, the positive associations for grass and NDVI were more pronounced than those for trees, though these associations varied across the different well-being outcome measures. We also observed that increasing tree coverage has a stronger positive effect on the well-being of individuals who are dissatisfied with the current number of street trees. Synthesis and applications. Everyday exposure to nearby nature is associated with better self-reported mental health, suggesting urban greening policies should focus on including more vegetation within built spaces, from individual street trees to small and large parks. Our study also highlights the importance of distinguishing between different types of vegetation (e.g. grass vs. trees) when studying the effects of vegetation on well-being or other health-related outcomes. Likewise, using different measures of well-being may provide a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of how vegetation impacts people's well-being.