Spatial statistical analysis of the relationship between self-reported mental health during the COVID-19 lockdown and closeness to green infrastructure

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has produced alterations in the behaviour and psychological health of people, who have had to learn living under uncertain circumstances escaping their control. This situation has been aggravated in those countries applying strict home confinement rules to try bending their epidemic curve. This is the case of Spain, where the stringent lockdown period was extended over three months. This study aimed at proving a research hypothesis whereby living close to Green Infrastructure (GI) during the confinement period was beneficial for mental health. To this end, La Palma (Canary Islands) and Zaragoza (Peninsular Spain) were taken as case studies, since both locations distributed a questionnaire to address citizenry's self-reported mental health under strict lockdown conditions. A spatial statistical analysis of the responses collected by these questionnaires revealed that variables such as stress, anger, medication use, alcohol consumption or visits to the doctor significantly decreased if citizens were close to GI, whereas people having very high expectations of enjoying the city after the confinement were positively correlated to proximity of green areas. Although these outcomes are limited by the inferential capacity of correlation analysis, they point out to a sense of relief derived from having visual contact with vegetated landscapes and feeling stimulated about using them for recreation, aesthetical or sporting purposes. The joint consideration of these psychological gains with the social and environmental benefits provided by GI emphasizes the importance of approaching urban regeneration through the design and implementation of interconnected green spaces.

Keywords: COVID-19; Green infrastructure; Lockdown; Mental health; Urban planning.

Fig. 1

Flowchart to model the association of self-reported mental health during the COVID-19 lockdown with closeness to Green Infrastructure (GI).

Fig. 2

Situation map of the case studies: La Palma and Zaragoza.

Fig. 3

Geoprocessing tasks for the modelling of self-reported mental health and Green Infrastructure (GI) variables.

Fig. 4

Scheme of the tasks required to couple closeness to Green Infrastructure (GI) with self-reported mental health variables.

Fig. 5

Spatial breakdown of La Palma into municipalities and buffer areas indicating closeness to Green Infrastructure (GI).

Fig. 6

Statistically significant correlations between self-reported mental health variables and closeness to Green Infrastructure (GI) in La Palma.

Fig. 7

Distribution of Zaragoza’s neighbourhoods and location of the sites where proximity to Green Infrastructure (GI) at 150 m was measured.

Fig. 8

Statistically significant correlations between mental health variables and closeness to Green Infrastructure (GI) in Zaragoza.

Fig. 9

Boxplots associated with the mental health variables yielding statistically significant differences between low and high ratios of closeness to Green Infrastructure (GI).