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Citation
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Van Aart CJC, Michels N, Sioen I, De Decker A, Bijnens EM, Janssen BG, De Henauw S, Nawrot TS. Environ. Int. 2018; 120: 456-463. |
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Affiliation
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Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 43, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leuven University, Kapucijnenvoer 35 blok d, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. |
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Abstract
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BACKGROUND: The effects of residential landscape, i.e., land use and traffic, on psychosocial stress in children are unknown, even though childhood stress might negatively affect normal development. In a longitudinal study, we investigate whether the residential landscape predicts childhood psychosocial stress and whether associations are independent of noise and air pollution.
METHODS: Belgian children aged 6.7-12.2 (N = 172, 50.9% boys) were followed for three years (2012-2015). Information on stress was obtained using standardized behavioral and emotional questionnaires and by a measure of hair cortisol. Residential landscape, including natural, agricultural, industrial, residential areas, and traffic, in a 100-m to 5-km radius around each child's home was characterized. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between psychosocial stress and the residential landscape were studied using linear regression and mixed models, while adjusting for age, sex, and parental socioeconomic status.
RESULTS: Natural landscapes were positively associated with better emotional status (increased happiness and lower sadness, anxiousness, and total negative emotions, β = 0.14-0.17, 95% CI = 0.01-0.30). Similarly, we observed an inverse association between residential and traffic density with hyperactivity problems (β = 0.13-0.18, 95% CI = 0.01-0.34). In longitudinal analyses, industrial area was a predictor of increases in negative emotions, while a natural landscape was for increases in happiness. Only the effect of natural landscape was partly explained by residential noise.
CONCLUSION: Residential greenness in proximity to a child's residence might result in a better childhood emotional status, whereas poorer emotional status and behavioral problems (hyperactivity problems) were seen with residential and industrial areas and increased traffic density in proximity to a child's home.
Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Language: en |