Are there publications on studies showing solid facts that living in the forest or near the forest or large green groves really prolong the lives of people or their life expectancy? Any citations?
Among the publications of the city of Yekaterinburg were once the results, that the life expectancy of people living near the forest is about 8-9 years longer than people who live in the city center or in industrial areas.
I am sorry that I do not have the paper. However, I heard for the first time such a research. I think that such research result is very important in advancing the natural regeneration in the in the city or urban area. Moreover, it is very straightforward reason to the general public. Although i am conducting the research of flora and vegetation in urban area of Tokyo, Japan, I would like to take a paper. I am going to look for such a content paper.
Hello Victor
I looked up about your interesting question and found a surprising result that contradicted what you stated in your question (and what I had previously believed!)
This was the link:
http://www.medicaldaily.com/life-expectancy-gap-between-city-and-country-folk-widens-how-access-health-care-plays-part-267929
. . and the study cited was:
Singh, G. K., & Siahpush, M. (2014). Widening rural–urban disparities in life expectancy, US, 1969–2009. American journal of preventive medicine, 46(2), e19-e29.
http://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797%2813%2900590-4/fulltext
I'll be most interested to read the answers from other RG members.
Very best wishes,
Mary
Yes, Mary, the difference in longevity of rural and urban folks is well known phenomena http://demoscope.ru/weekly/2014/0621/tema02.php (see fluctuation in pictures: green lines - a rural population; red lines - an urban population; blue lines - a total population). It would be interesting to see wether the longevity within cities depends or not on the living near the urban forests or big green parks.
Здравствуйте, Виктор Яковлевич! Даже когда я занималась наукой я бы не смогла вам помочь, поскольку сферой моих исследований была биохимия животных. :-)
Morita et al ,Public Health, 2007, 121, 54-63
Abstract Objectives: Shinrin-yoku (walking and/or staying in forests in order to
promote health) is a major form of relaxation in Japan; however, its effects have yet
to be completely clarified. The aims of this study were: (1) to evaluate the
psychological effects of shinrin-yoku in a large number of participants; and (2) to
identify the factors related to these effects.
Methods: Four hundred and ninety-eight healthy volunteers took part in the study.
Surveys were conducted twice in a forest on the same day (forest day) and twice on a
control day. Outcome measures were evaluated using the Multiple Mood Scale-Short
Form (hostility, depression, boredom, friendliness, wellbeing and liveliness) and the
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory A-State Scale. Statistical analyses were conducted
using analysis of variance and multiple regression analyses.
Results: Hostility (Po0.001) and depression (Po0.001) scores decreased significantly,
and liveliness (P ¼ 0.001) scores increased significantly on the forest day
compared with the control day. The main effect of environment was also observed
with all outcomes except for hostility, and the forest environment was advantageous.
Stress levels were shown to be related to the magnitude of the shinrin-yoku
effect; the higher the stress level, the greater the effect.
Thank you, Richard! Yes, the short-range effect is well described.
And your comment, Gandhidas, is appreciated greatly. And good references with strong scientific evidences would be appreciated as well.
I just received the information about the answer (pdf-file attached):
"Women live longer in areas with more green vegetation, according to new research funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health. Women with the highest levels of vegetation, or greenness, near their homes had a 12 percent lower death rate compared to women with the lowest levels of vegetation near their homes. The results were published Apr. 14 in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives."
CITATION: James P, Hart JE, Banay RF, Laden F. Exposure to greenness and mortality in a nationwide prospective cohort study of women. Environmental Health Perspectives; doi:10.1289/ehp.1510363 [Online 14 Apr 2016].
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsroom/releases/2016/april15/
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