O ESPAÇO VERDE DO BAIRRO ESTÁ ASSOCIADO AO AUMENTO DA CONEXÃO À NATUREZA EM ADULTOS E IDOSOS
Authors: TEİXEİRA Andreia , GABRİEL Ronaldo , MARTİNHO José , PİNTO Graça , QUARESMA Luís , MOREİRA Helena 
Published: October 2022

Introduction: The evidence suggests that natural environments are essential for sustainable urban development, for the quality of life and well-being of the population, through improved health and physical activity (PA). However, the relationship between the connectedness to nature (CN), the percentage of vegetation cover in the neighborhood, and levels of PA still need further investigation. Purpose: The current study examines the associations between residential green space, PA, and CN in subjects between the ages of 18 and 75 years. Methods: The sample included 194 individuals, 61 men (41.42±15.37 years) and 133 women (39.93±15.60 years). Green space coverage (%) was appreciated through the Simplified Land Occupation Map. Total PA, moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and steps/day were measured using triaxial accelerometers (wGT3X-BT) which were worn on the non-dominant wrist for 4 consecutive days. Levels of MVPA ≥150 min/week and steps/day ≥10 000 were considered recommended and the Connectedness to Nature Scale was applied. The data were analyzed using the Student’s T test or the Mann-Whitney U test. For one of the analyses, a cutoff value of 44 years was considered, based on the division into two groups with equal numbers of observations. We also performed Pearson’s correlation and partial correlation analyses. Statistical significance was set at p ≤0.05. Results: The sample belonged to an area with high vegetation cover (71.51±15.15%) and exhibited a medium-high affective relationship with nature (3.73±0.43 points). The MVPA levels and steps/day identified in each gender were within the values recommended in the literature (182.75 ± 110.24 min/week and 13166.23± 3843.36 steps/day in men and 175.86±118.84 min/week and 125886.14±3783.46 steps/day in women). No statistically significant differences were identified between the two genders in relation to age, physical activity, green space coverage and connectedness to nature. In both genders, age showed a positive association with CN (r=0.303 in men and r=0.277 in women, p ≤0.05). In women, a significant correlation was also identified between age and the green area (r=0.286, p ≤0.01). Our results also indicated that in both genders, living in an area with high vegetation cover contributes to a greater affective and experiential connection with nature (r=0.426 for men and r=0.107 for women, p ≤0.05). Controlling for age this association in men was 0.390 for p ≤0.01 with a confidence of 15.2%. In women this association lost statistical significance with age control. Concerning the variables evaluated by accelerometry, we identified only in women a relationship between the CN and the number of daily steps (r=0.189, p ≤0.05). In both genders, the results also revealed that individuals aged 44 or older were those who exhibited a higher CN and performed a greater number of daily steps compared to individuals aged ≤44 years. Conclusions: Our results suggest that older individuals and those living in areas with a high percentage of vegetation cover exhibited greater affective connection with the natural environment. Women more connected to the natural environment and live in areas with greater vegetation cover tend to be more active, performing a greater number of daily steps. Funding: This work is supported by National Funds by FCT-Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, under the projects UIDB/04033/2020, UID04045/2020 and UIDB/00073/2020. The investigation was also supported by European funding program Interreg Atlantic Area, under the project (EAPA_772/2018-Triple-C).