title: "Nature is there; its free": Urban greenspace and the social determinants of health of immigrant families.
abstract: In this article, we draw on a 2012 Montreal-based study that examined the embodied, every day practices of immigrant children and families in the context of urban greenspaces such as parks, fields, backyards, streetscapes, gardens, forests and rivers. Results suggest that activities in the natural environment serve as a protective factor in the health and well-being of this population, providing emotional and physical nourishment in the face of adversity. Using the Social Determinants of Health model adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO, 1998), we analyze how participants accessed urban nature to minimize the effects of inadequate housing, to strengthen social cohesion and reduce emotional stress. We conclude with a discussion supporting the inclusion of the natural environment in the Social Determinants of Health Model.
authors.affiliation: McGill University, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Shawn Renee
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Hordyk
authors.affiliation: McGill University, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hanley
authors.affiliation: Les Amis de la Montagne, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Éric
authors.initials: É
authors.lastname: Richard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019368:Nature; D000068316:Parks, Recreational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011792:Quebec; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D064890:Social Determinants of Health; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Families; Immigration; Nature; Social determinants of health