Article

Neighbourhood blue space and mental health: A nationwide ecological study of antidepressant medication prescribed to older adults

Details

Citation

McDougall C, Hanley N, Quilliam R, Bartie P, Robertson T, Griffiths M & Oliver D (2021) Neighbourhood blue space and mental health: A nationwide ecological study of antidepressant medication prescribed to older adults. Landscape and Urban Planning, 214, Art. No.: 104132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2021.104132

Abstract
As global populations age rapidly, older adult mental health is becoming an increasingly important public health issue. The consequences of poor mental health in later life are severe and include reduced physical and cognitive functioning and greater risk of morbidity and mortality. Neighbourhood characteristics, such as the presence of aquatic environments - or ‘blue spaces’ - can positively impact mental health. However, evidence supporting the potential of neighbourhood blue space to promote mental health among older adults remains tentative. This study used negative binomial regression modelling to quantify the association between multiple metrics of neighbourhood blue space availability and antidepressant medication prevalence among older adults in Scotland. The study combined nationwide antidepressant prescription data for over two million older adults and geospatial data of blue space availability for over six thousand neighbourhoods and adjusted for a range of demographic and socioeconomic covariates. The availability of both freshwater and coastal blue space was associated with lower antidepressant medication prevalence among older adults in Scotland. Specifically, high neighbourhood freshwater coverage (> 3%) (p < 0.001) and residing in close proximity (< 1 km) to the coast (p < 0.001) and large freshwater lakes (p < 0.05) was associated with lower antidepressant medication prevalence. Our findings also suggest that neighbourhood blue space availability may have a greater impact on antidepressant medication prevalence among older adults than neighbourhood green space availability. Freshwater and coastal blue space, therefore, merit greater consideration in public health and urban planning policy and in the design of environments that aim to promote mental health and healthy aging.

Keywords
Freshwater; Coastal; Green space; Urban planning; Depression; Healthy ageing;

Journal
Landscape and Urban Planning: Volume 214

StatusPublished
FundersScottish Government
Publication date31/10/2021
Publication date online20/05/2021
Date accepted by journal22/04/2021
URLhttp://hdl.handle.net/1893/32626
ISSN0169-2046

People (3)

Professor David Oliver

Professor David Oliver

Professor, Biological and Environmental Sciences

Professor Richard Quilliam

Professor Richard Quilliam

Professor, Biological and Environmental Sciences

Dr Tony Robertson

Dr Tony Robertson

Lecturer in Geographies of Public Health, Biological and Environmental Sciences