Greenspace Exposure and Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviors in Schoolchildren

Green environments are associated with improved child brain development and mental health. We study cross-sectionally the association of the availability of greenspace at home and school with obsessive-compulsive behaviors (OCB) in primary schoolchildren. Greenspace and tree cover surrounding home a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environment and behavior 2022-06, Vol.54 (5), p.893-916
Main Authors: Ezpeleta, Lourdes, Navarro, José Blas, Alonso, Lucía, de la Osa, Núria, Ambrós, Albert, Ubalde, Mònica, Penelo, Eva, Dadvand, Payam
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Behavior
Buffers
Child development
Children
Cognitive development
Compulsions
Girls
Indexes
Mental health
Natural environment
Normalized difference vegetative index
Obsessive compulsive disorder
Parents
Parents & parenting
Parks & recreation areas
Satellites
Socioeconomic status
Socioeconomics
Vegetation
Vegetation index
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Summary:Green environments are associated with improved child brain development and mental health. We study cross-sectionally the association of the availability of greenspace at home and school with obsessive-compulsive behaviors (OCB) in primary schoolchildren. Greenspace and tree cover surrounding home and school of 378 children aged 9 to 10 in Barcelona (Spain) were characterized using satellite-based indices [Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Modified Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (MSAVI), Vegetation Continuous Field (VCF)] across buffers of 100, 300, and 500 m, and distance to the nearest green space. OCB was assessed with the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale-Parent version. Linear and mixed effects models showed that greenspace at school, but not at home, was significantly related to a reduction in OCB across buffers, with benefits for girls and also children with graduate parents. Higher greenspace around the school might be associated with less obsessive-compulsive behavior in primary schoolchildren, especially in girls and those with higher socioeconomic status.
ISSN:0013-9165
1552-390X
DOI:10.1177/00139165221095384