title: Perception of safety is a prerequisite for the association between neighbourhood green qualities and physical activity: Results from a cross-sectional study in Sweden.
abstract: In this study, we assess how the Scania Green Score (SGS5), and the five distinct perceived neighbourhood green dimensions within this area-aggregated index (1km2squares), is associated with self-reported physical activity and general health, and if perceived safety and social coherence has a moderating effect. Two independent surveys, both conducted in Scania, Sweden, was used for data on SGS5 and health outcomes (N=28 198 and N=23 693), respectively. SGS5 was more clearly associated with physical activity (OR 1.06; 95% CI 1.02-1.10) than with general health (OR 1.02; 95% CI 1.00-1.04). This association was moderated by safety (p for interaction <0.001); SGS5 was positively associated with physical activity only among individuals who perceived high safety in their neighbourhood (OR 1.07; 95% CI 1.02-1.11). No moderating effect was seen for social coherence. Among specific dimensions, cultural history was positively associated with both physical activity and general health. Our results suggest that perception of safety is a prerequisite for the positive effects of neighbourhood green qualities.
authors.affiliation: Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, SE-221 85 Lund, Sweden. Electronic address: hanna.weimann@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Weimann
authors.affiliation: Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, SE-221 85 Lund, Sweden. Electronic address: lars.rylander@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rylander
authors.affiliation: Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, SE-221 85 Lund, Sweden; Department of Work Science, Business Economics and Environmental Psychology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-230 53 Alnarp, Sweden; School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4. Electronic address: matilda.vandenbosch@ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Matilda Annerstedt
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van den Bosch
authors.affiliation: Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, SE-221 85 Lund, Sweden; Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-113 65 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: maria.albin@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albin
authors.affiliation: Department of Landscape Architecture, Planning and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-230 53 Alnarp, Sweden. Electronic address: erik.skarback@slu.se.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Skärbäck
authors.affiliation: Department of Work Science, Business Economics and Environmental Psychology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-230 53 Alnarp, Sweden. Electronic address: patrik.grahn@slu.se.
authors.forename: Patrik
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grahn
authors.affiliation: Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, SE-221 85 Lund, Sweden. Electronic address: jonas.bjork@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Björk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004779:Environment Design; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000068316:Parks, Recreational; D010465:Perception; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012449:Safety; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013548:Sweden
keywords: General health; Green quality; Green space; Neighbourhood safety; Neighbourhood social coherence; Physical activity