Gray space and green space proximity associated with higher anxiety in youth with autism

This study used ZIP code level data on children's health (National Survey of Children's Health, 2012) and land cover (National Land Cover Database, 2011) from across the United States to investigate connections between proximity to green space (tree canopy), gray space (impervious surfaces...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health & place 2018-09, Vol.53, p.94-102
Main Authors: Larson, Lincoln R., Barger, Brian, Ogletree, Scott, Torquati, Julia, Rosenberg, Steven, Gaither, Cassandra Johnson, Bartz, Jody Marie, Gardner, Andrew, Moody, Eric, Schutte, Anne
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anxiety
Autism
Autistic children
Canopies
Children
Children & youth
Childrens health
Diagnostic systems
Green development
Health care
Health technology assessment
Land cover
Land use
Mental health
Nature
Parks & recreation areas
Polls & surveys
Proximity
Special needs children
Trees
Youth
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Summary:This study used ZIP code level data on children's health (National Survey of Children's Health, 2012) and land cover (National Land Cover Database, 2011) from across the United States to investigate connections between proximity to green space (tree canopy), gray space (impervious surfaces), and expression of a critical co-morbid condition, anxiety, in three groups of youth: children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD, n = 1501), non-ASD children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN, n = 15,776), and typically developing children (n = 53,650). Both impervious surface coverage and tree canopy coverage increased the risk of severe anxiety in youth with autism, but not CSHCN or typical children. Children with ASD might experience the stress-reducing benefits of nature differently than their typically developing peers. More research using objective diagnostic metrics at finer spatial scales would help to illuminate complex relationships between green space, anxiety, and other co-morbid conditions in youth with ASD. •Impervious surface (gray space) linked to anxiety in youth with autism.•Dense tree canopy coverage (green space) linked to anxiety in youth with autism.•Youth with autism may experience nature differently than typically-developing peers.•Research needed to explore effects of nature on youth with mental health disorders.
ISSN:1353-8292
1873-2054
DOI:10.1016/j.healthplace.2018.07.006