---
_id: '11283'
abstract:
- lang: eng
text: 'Introduction: In recent decades, there has been a rise in mental illnesses.
Community infrastructures are increasingly acknowledged as important for sustaining
good mental health. Moreover, green spaces are anticipated to offer advantages
for both mental health and social cohesion. However, the mediating pathway between
green space, social cohesion and mental health and especially the proximity and
characteristics of green spaces that trigger these potential effects remain of
interest. Methods: We gathered data from 1365 individuals on self-reported social
cohesion and mental health across four satellite districts in European cities:
Nantes (France), Porto (Portugal), Sofia (Bulgaria), and Hoje-Taastrup (Denmark).
Green space data from OpenStreetMap was manually adjusted using the PRIGSHARE
guidelines. We used the AID-PRIGSHARE tool to generate 7 indicators about green
space characteristics measured in distances from 100-1500 m, every 100 m. This
resulted in 105 different green space variables that we tested in a single mediation
model with structural equation modelling. Results: Accessible greenness (900-1400
m), accessible green spaces (900-1500 m), accessible green space corridors (300-800
m), accessible total green space (300-800), and mix of green space uses (700-1100
m) were significantly associated with social cohesion and indirectly with mental
health. Green corridors also showed negative indirect and direct associations
with mental health in larger distances. Surrounding greenness and the quantity
of green space uses were not associated with social cohesion nor indirectly with
mental health. We also observed no positive direct associations between any green
space variable in any distance to mental health. Conclusions: Our results suggest
that accessibility, connectivity, mix of use and proximity are key characteristics
that drive the relationship between green spaces, social cohesion and mental health.
This gives further guidance to urban planners and decision-makers on how to design
urban green spaces to foster social cohesion and improve mental health.'
article_number: '128230'
author:
- first_name: Marcel
full_name: Cardinali, Marcel
id: '58462'
last_name: Cardinali
orcid: 0000-0002-8841-9345
- first_name: Mariëlle A.
full_name: Beenackers, Mariëlle A.
last_name: Beenackers
- first_name: Ghozlane
full_name: Fleury-Bahi, Ghozlane
last_name: Fleury-Bahi
- first_name: Philippe
full_name: Bodénan, Philippe
last_name: Bodénan
- first_name: Milena Tasheva
full_name: Petrova, Milena Tasheva
last_name: Petrova
- first_name: Arjan
full_name: van Timmeren, Arjan
last_name: van Timmeren
- first_name: Uta
full_name: Pottgiesser, Uta
id: '27166'
last_name: Pottgiesser
orcid: 0000-0002-8594-3168
citation:
ama: 'Cardinali M, Beenackers MA, Fleury-Bahi G, et al. Examining green space characteristics
for social cohesion and mental health outcomes: A sensitivity analysis in four
European cities. Urban forestry & urban greening. 2024;93. doi:10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128230'
apa: 'Cardinali, M., Beenackers, M. A., Fleury-Bahi, G., Bodénan, P., Petrova, M.
T., van Timmeren, A., & Pottgiesser, U. (2024). Examining green space characteristics
for social cohesion and mental health outcomes: A sensitivity analysis in four
European cities. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 93, Article
128230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128230'
bjps: 'Cardinali M et al. (2024) Examining Green Space Characteristics
for Social Cohesion and Mental Health Outcomes: A Sensitivity Analysis in Four
European Cities. Urban forestry & urban greening 93.'
chicago: 'Cardinali, Marcel, Mariëlle A. Beenackers, Ghozlane Fleury-Bahi, Philippe
Bodénan, Milena Tasheva Petrova, Arjan van Timmeren, and Uta Pottgiesser. “Examining
Green Space Characteristics for Social Cohesion and Mental Health Outcomes: A
Sensitivity Analysis in Four European Cities.” Urban Forestry & Urban
Greening 93 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128230.'
chicago-de: 'Cardinali, Marcel, Mariëlle A. Beenackers, Ghozlane Fleury-Bahi, Philippe
Bodénan, Milena Tasheva Petrova, Arjan van Timmeren und Uta Pottgiesser. 2024.
Examining green space characteristics for social cohesion and mental health outcomes:
A sensitivity analysis in four European cities. Urban forestry & urban
greening 93. doi:10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128230,
.'
din1505-2-1: 'Cardinali, Marcel ;
Beenackers, Mariëlle A. ; Fleury-Bahi, Ghozlane ; Bodénan,
Philippe ; Petrova, Milena Tasheva
; van Timmeren, Arjan ; Pottgiesser,
Uta: Examining green space characteristics for social cohesion and mental
health outcomes: A sensitivity analysis in four European cities. In: Urban
forestry & urban greening Bd. 93. [Amsterdam] , Elsevier BV (2024)'
havard: 'M. Cardinali, M.A. Beenackers, G. Fleury-Bahi, P. Bodénan, M.T. Petrova,
A. van Timmeren, U. Pottgiesser, Examining green space characteristics for social
cohesion and mental health outcomes: A sensitivity analysis in four European cities,
Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 93 (2024).'
ieee: 'M. Cardinali et al., “Examining green space characteristics for social
cohesion and mental health outcomes: A sensitivity analysis in four European cities,”
Urban forestry & urban greening, vol. 93, Art. no. 128230, 2024,
doi: 10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128230.'
mla: 'Cardinali, Marcel, et al. “Examining Green Space Characteristics for Social
Cohesion and Mental Health Outcomes: A Sensitivity Analysis in Four European Cities.”
Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, vol. 93, 128230, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128230.'
short: M. Cardinali, M.A. Beenackers, G. Fleury-Bahi, P. Bodénan, M.T. Petrova,
A. van Timmeren, U. Pottgiesser, Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 93 (2024).
ufg: 'Cardinali, Marcel u. a.: Examining green space characteristics for
social cohesion and mental health outcomes: A sensitivity analysis in four European
cities, in: Urban forestry & urban greening 93 (2024).'
van: 'Cardinali M, Beenackers MA, Fleury-Bahi G, Bodénan P, Petrova MT, van Timmeren
A, et al. Examining green space characteristics for social cohesion and mental
health outcomes: A sensitivity analysis in four European cities. Urban forestry
& urban greening. 2024;93.'
date_created: 2024-03-24T11:20:11Z
date_updated: 2025-06-25T12:43:06Z
department:
- _id: DEP1000
- _id: DEP1055
doi: 10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128230
external_id:
isi:
- '001181173100001'
intvolume: ' 93'
isi: '1'
keyword:
- Soil Science
- Ecology
- Forestry
- Green space
- Mediation
- Social cohesion
- Well-being
- Structural equation modelling
language:
- iso: eng
place: '[Amsterdam] '
publication: ' Urban forestry & urban greening'
publication_identifier:
eissn:
- 1610-8167
issn:
- 1618-8667
publication_status: published
publisher: Elsevier BV
status: public
title: 'Examining green space characteristics for social cohesion and mental health
outcomes: A sensitivity analysis in four European cities'
type: scientific_journal_article
user_id: '83781'
volume: 93
year: '2024'
...
---
_id: '12863'
abstract:
- lang: eng
text: This doctoral thesis critically examines green space characteristics and their
proximity to residents in their ability to help reduce the global disease burden
of non-communicable diseases. By dissecting three pivotal pathways of theorized
green space health effects through increased physical activity, increased social
cohesion, and reduced air pollution, the thesis aims to provide new insights into
which green space characteristics drive these relationships and in which distance
they occur. To achieve these aims, this thesis develops reporting guidelines for
the research field, a QGIS script for automatization of green space indicator
development and uses two complementary sources for data collection. It builds
on the self-reported data on physical activity, social cohesion, air pollution,
health and mental health from the URBiNAT project and its case studies in the
four European satellite neighbourhoods Nantes-Nord (France), Porto-Campanhã (Portugal),
Sofia-Nadezhda (Bulgaria), and Høje-Taastrup (Denmark) and complements it with
a rigorous spatial analysis. This enabled a rigorous sensitivity analysis based
on up to 135 structural equation models per pathway. The results of this doctoral
research revealed distinct green space characteristics and proximities that drive
each pathway, including thresholds where these associations disappear or even
change direction. It concludes that interconnected, multi-use green corridors
are more beneficial than isolated patches for all space strategies to shift focus
from mere ratios to green mobility infrastructures. Although rooted primarily
in European contexts and of a cross-sectional nature, the doctoral research provides
new evidence for urban planning and public health. It emphasizes the practical
implications of how to design green spaces to address health concerns. The results
not only resonate with the WHO's Urban Health Research Agenda but also provide
tangible recommendations for a healthier human habitat.
author:
- first_name: Marcel
full_name: Cardinali, Marcel
id: '58462'
last_name: Cardinali
orcid: 0000-0002-8841-9345
citation:
ama: Cardinali M. Green Health. Examining the Role of Green Space Characteristics
and Their Proximity in Green Space Health Pathways. Vol 9. A+BE; 2024. doi:10.71690/ABE.2024.09
apa: Cardinali, M. (2024). Green Health. Examining the role of green space characteristics
and their proximity in green space health pathways (Vol. 9). A+BE. https://doi.org/10.71690/ABE.2024.09
bjps: 'Cardinali M (2024) Green Health. Examining the Role of Green Space
Characteristics and Their Proximity in Green Space Health Pathways. Delft:
A+BE.'
chicago: 'Cardinali, Marcel. Green Health. Examining the Role of Green Space
Characteristics and Their Proximity in Green Space Health Pathways. Vol. 9.
A+BE (2024). Delft: A+BE, 2024. https://doi.org/10.71690/ABE.2024.09.'
chicago-de: 'Cardinali, Marcel. 2024. Green Health. Examining the role of green
space characteristics and their proximity in green space health pathways.
Bd. 9. A+BE (2024). Delft: A+BE. doi:10.71690/ABE.2024.09,
.'
din1505-2-1: 'Cardinali, Marcel: Green
Health. Examining the role of green space characteristics and their proximity
in green space health pathways, A+BE (2024). Bd. 9. Delft : A+BE, 2024'
havard: M. Cardinali, Green Health. Examining the role of green space characteristics
and their proximity in green space health pathways, A+BE, Delft, 2024.
ieee: 'M. Cardinali, Green Health. Examining the role of green space characteristics
and their proximity in green space health pathways, vol. 9. Delft: A+BE, 2024.
doi: 10.71690/ABE.2024.09.'
mla: Cardinali, Marcel. Green Health. Examining the Role of Green Space Characteristics
and Their Proximity in Green Space Health Pathways. A+BE, 2024, https://doi.org/10.71690/ABE.2024.09.
short: M. Cardinali, Green Health. Examining the Role of Green Space Characteristics
and Their Proximity in Green Space Health Pathways, A+BE, Delft, 2024.
ufg: 'Cardinali, Marcel: Green Health. Examining the role of green space
characteristics and their proximity in green space health pathways, Bd. 9, Delft
2024 (A+BE (2024)).'
van: 'Cardinali M. Green Health. Examining the role of green space characteristics
and their proximity in green space health pathways. Delft: A+BE; 2024. 312 p.
(A+BE (2024); vol. 9).'
date_created: 2025-04-24T15:30:41Z
date_updated: 2025-04-25T07:35:13Z
ddc:
- '710'
defense_date: 2024-04-22
department:
- _id: DEP1000
- _id: DEP1055
doi: 10.71690/ABE.2024.09
has_accepted_license: '1'
intvolume: ' 9'
keyword:
- Health
- Green Space
- Green Infrastructure
- Well-being
- Structural Equation Modeling
language:
- iso: eng
page: '312'
place: Delft
publication_identifier:
isbn:
- 978-94-6366-849-1
issn:
- 2212-3202
publication_status: published
publisher: A+BE
series_title: A+BE (2024)
status: public
supervisor:
- first_name: Uta
full_name: Pottgiesser, Uta
id: '27166'
last_name: Pottgiesser
orcid: 0000-0002-8594-3168
- first_name: Arjan
full_name: van Timmeren, Arjan
last_name: van Timmeren
- first_name: Mariëlle
full_name: Beenackers, Mariëlle
last_name: Beenackers
title: Green Health. Examining the role of green space characteristics and their proximity
in green space health pathways
type: dissertation
user_id: '83781'
volume: 9
year: '2024'
...
---
_id: '13013'
abstract:
- lang: eng
text: 'The relationship between green spaces and health is attracting more and more
societal and research interest. The research field is however still suffering
from its differing monodisciplinary origins. Now in a multidisciplinary environment
on its way to a truly interdisciplinary field, there is a need for a common understanding,
precision in green space indicators, and coherent assessment of the complexity
of daily living environments. In several reviews, common protocols and open-source
scripts are considered a high priority to advance the field. Realizing these issues,
we developed PRIGSHARE (Preferred Reporting Items in Greenspace Health Research).
It is accompanied by an open-source script that supports non-spatial disciplines
in assessing greenness and green space on different scales and types. The PRIGSHARE
checklist contains 21 items that have been identified as a risk of bias and are
necessary for understanding and comparison of studies. The checklist is divided
into the following topics: objectives (3 items), scope (3 items), spatial assessment
(7 items), vegetation assessment (4 items), and context assessment (4 items).
For each item, we include a pathway-specific (if relevant) rationale and explanation.
The PRIGSHARE guiding principles should be helpful to support a high-quality assessment
and synchronize the studies in the field while acknowledging the diversity of
study designs.'
article_number: '115893'
author:
- first_name: Marcel
full_name: Cardinali, Marcel
id: '58462'
last_name: Cardinali
orcid: 0000-0002-8841-9345
- first_name: Mariëlle A.
full_name: Beenackers, Mariëlle A.
last_name: Beenackers
- first_name: Arjan
full_name: van Timmeren, Arjan
last_name: van Timmeren
- first_name: Uta
full_name: Pottgiesser, Uta
id: '27166'
last_name: Pottgiesser
orcid: 0000-0002-8594-3168
citation:
ama: Cardinali M, Beenackers MA, van Timmeren A, Pottgiesser U. Preferred reporting
items in green space health research. Guiding principles for an interdisciplinary
field. Environmental Research. 2023;228. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2023.115893
apa: Cardinali, M., Beenackers, M. A., van Timmeren, A., & Pottgiesser, U. (2023).
Preferred reporting items in green space health research. Guiding principles for
an interdisciplinary field. Environmental Research, 228, Article
115893. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.115893
bjps: Cardinali M et al. (2023) Preferred Reporting Items in Green
Space Health Research. Guiding Principles for an Interdisciplinary Field. Environmental
Research 228.
chicago: Cardinali, Marcel, Mariëlle A. Beenackers, Arjan van Timmeren, and Uta
Pottgiesser. “Preferred Reporting Items in Green Space Health Research. Guiding
Principles for an Interdisciplinary Field.” Environmental Research 228
(2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.115893.
chicago-de: Cardinali, Marcel, Mariëlle A. Beenackers, Arjan van Timmeren und Uta
Pottgiesser. 2023. Preferred reporting items in green space health research. Guiding
principles for an interdisciplinary field. Environmental Research 228.
doi:10.1016/j.envres.2023.115893,
.
din1505-2-1: 'Cardinali, Marcel ;
Beenackers, Mariëlle A. ; van Timmeren, Arjan ; Pottgiesser,
Uta: Preferred reporting items in green space health research. Guiding
principles for an interdisciplinary field. In: Environmental Research Bd.
228, Elsevier BV (2023)'
havard: M. Cardinali, M.A. Beenackers, A. van Timmeren, U. Pottgiesser, Preferred
reporting items in green space health research. Guiding principles for an interdisciplinary
field., Environmental Research. 228 (2023).
ieee: 'M. Cardinali, M. A. Beenackers, A. van Timmeren, and U. Pottgiesser, “Preferred
reporting items in green space health research. Guiding principles for an interdisciplinary
field.,” Environmental Research, vol. 228, Art. no. 115893, 2023, doi:
10.1016/j.envres.2023.115893.'
mla: Cardinali, Marcel, et al. “Preferred Reporting Items in Green Space Health
Research. Guiding Principles for an Interdisciplinary Field.” Environmental
Research, vol. 228, 115893, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.115893.
short: M. Cardinali, M.A. Beenackers, A. van Timmeren, U. Pottgiesser, Environmental
Research 228 (2023).
ufg: 'Cardinali, Marcel u. a.: Preferred reporting items in green space health
research. Guiding principles for an interdisciplinary field., in: Environmental
Research 228 (2023).'
van: Cardinali M, Beenackers MA, van Timmeren A, Pottgiesser U. Preferred reporting
items in green space health research. Guiding principles for an interdisciplinary
field. Environmental Research. 2023;228.
date_created: 2025-06-24T13:12:20Z
date_updated: 2025-06-25T13:14:05Z
department:
- _id: DEP1600
doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115893
external_id:
isi:
- '000984485200001'
pmid:
- '37054830'
intvolume: ' 228'
isi: '1'
keyword:
- Greenspace
- Well-being
- Public health
- Pollution
- Behavior
- Stress
language:
- iso: eng
pmid: '1'
publication: Environmental Research
publication_identifier:
eissn:
- 1096-0953
issn:
- 0013-9351
publication_status: published
publisher: Elsevier BV
quality_controlled: '1'
status: public
title: Preferred reporting items in green space health research. Guiding principles
for an interdisciplinary field.
type: scientific_journal_article
user_id: '83781'
volume: 228
year: '2023'
...
---
_id: '13018'
abstract:
- lang: eng
text: 'Current societal challenges like climate change led to a general agreement
that our cities need to become greener and our lifestyles more sustainable. This
transformation of our daily living environments can also impact the prevalence
of non-communicable diseases as a global disease burden of our time. These positive
impacts of horizontal green spaces on human health are widely recognized. However,
it is still unclear whether the same is true for green walls, as a promising nature-based
solution for dense urban spaces which is increasingly applied. To date, the available
research on green walls has not been systematically synthesized along the potential
impact pathways of reducing environmental stressors (Mitigation), restoring capacities
(Restoration), and promoting healthier behavior (Instoration). We conducted a
systematic review of 30 reviews to synthesize available evidence on all three
pathways and direct health outcomes, following the established strategies of PICOS
and PRISMA. We assessed the review quality through AMSTAR. We found strong consistent
evidence that green walls can mitigate urban heat island effects (daylight surface
temperature: -0.3 °C to -31.9°, daylight air temperature: -0 °C to -8.7 °C), air
pollution (PM2.5: -25% to -99%, PM10: -23% to -60%), and noise pollution (sound
pressure level: -1dBA to -5dBA). We found some evidence for disaster risk reduction
and restoration effects. There were no reviews on the instoration pathway or direct
health outcomes. The underlying reviews rated low according to the AMSTAR checklist,
which might limit our findings. We recognize a generally young research field
and conclude that more in-field studies are needed in all pathways to better understand
the relationship between green walls and health.'
article_number: '100070'
author:
- first_name: Marcel
full_name: Cardinali, Marcel
last_name: Cardinali
- first_name: Alvaro
full_name: Balderrama, Alvaro
last_name: Balderrama
- first_name: Daniel
full_name: Arztmann, Daniel
last_name: Arztmann
- first_name: Uta
full_name: Pottgiesser, Uta
last_name: Pottgiesser
citation:
ama: 'Cardinali M, Balderrama A, Arztmann D, Pottgiesser U. Green walls and health:
An umbrella review. Nature-Based Solutions. 2023;3(12). doi:10.1016/j.nbsj.2023.100070'
apa: 'Cardinali, M., Balderrama, A., Arztmann, D., & Pottgiesser, U. (2023).
Green walls and health: An umbrella review. Nature-Based Solutions, 3(12),
Article 100070. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbsj.2023.100070'
bjps: 'Cardinali M et al. (2023) Green Walls and Health: An Umbrella
Review. Nature-Based Solutions 3.'
chicago: 'Cardinali, Marcel, Alvaro Balderrama, Daniel Arztmann, and Uta Pottgiesser.
“Green Walls and Health: An Umbrella Review.” Nature-Based Solutions 3,
no. 12 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbsj.2023.100070.'
chicago-de: 'Cardinali, Marcel, Alvaro Balderrama, Daniel Arztmann und Uta Pottgiesser.
2023. Green walls and health: An umbrella review. Nature-Based Solutions
3, Nr. 12. doi:10.1016/j.nbsj.2023.100070,
.'
din1505-2-1: 'Cardinali, Marcel ;
Balderrama, Alvaro ; Arztmann,
Daniel ; Pottgiesser, Uta:
Green walls and health: An umbrella review. In: Nature-Based Solutions
Bd. 3. Amsterdam, Elsevier (2023), Nr. 12'
havard: 'M. Cardinali, A. Balderrama, D. Arztmann, U. Pottgiesser, Green walls and
health: An umbrella review, Nature-Based Solutions. 3 (2023).'
ieee: 'M. Cardinali, A. Balderrama, D. Arztmann, and U. Pottgiesser, “Green walls
and health: An umbrella review,” Nature-Based Solutions, vol. 3, no. 12,
Art. no. 100070, 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.nbsj.2023.100070.'
mla: 'Cardinali, Marcel, et al. “Green Walls and Health: An Umbrella Review.” Nature-Based
Solutions, vol. 3, no. 12, 100070, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbsj.2023.100070.'
short: M. Cardinali, A. Balderrama, D. Arztmann, U. Pottgiesser, Nature-Based Solutions
3 (2023).
ufg: 'Cardinali, Marcel u. a.: Green walls and health: An umbrella review,
in: Nature-Based Solutions 3 (2023), H. 12.'
van: 'Cardinali M, Balderrama A, Arztmann D, Pottgiesser U. Green walls and health:
An umbrella review. Nature-Based Solutions. 2023;3(12).'
date_created: 2025-06-24T13:36:11Z
date_updated: 2025-06-24T13:41:26Z
department:
- _id: DEP1055
- _id: DEP1600
- _id: DEP1634
doi: 10.1016/j.nbsj.2023.100070
intvolume: ' 3'
issue: '12'
keyword:
- Nature-based solutions
- Green facades
- Living walls
- Health
- Environmental risk factors
- Well-being
- Environmental comfort
- Behavior
language:
- iso: eng
place: Amsterdam
publication: Nature-Based Solutions
publication_identifier:
eissn:
- 2772-4115
publication_status: published
publisher: 'Elsevier '
quality_controlled: '1'
status: public
title: 'Green walls and health: An umbrella review'
type: scientific_journal_article
user_id: '83781'
volume: 3
year: '2023'
...