The role of regular engagement with non-companion animals and proximity to green and blue space for mental health, wellbeing, and loneliness during Covid-19 social distancing measures: findings from a UK survey study

Emily Kate Shoesmith; Elena Ratschen

doi:10.1071/WR22125

The role of regular engagement with non-companion animals and proximity to green and blue space for mental health, wellbeing, and loneliness during Covid-19 social distancing measures: findings from a UK survey study

Emily Kate Shoesmith, Elena Ratschen

Health Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Context: The Covid-19 pandemic led to increased use of green/blue space as indoor spaces became frequently inaccessible. These changes impacted the direct interactions between humans and nature. Aims: To investigate the links between mental health, loneliness, wellbeing, and interaction with non-companion animals, proximity to and use of green/blue space. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of adult UK residents was conducted between April and June 2020. The questionnaire included validated and bespoke items measuring demographics and exposures and outcomes related to mental health, wellbeing, loneliness, human-animal interactions with non-companion animals (wildlife/farm animals), and proximity to and use of green/blue space before and since the first UK Covid-19 lockdown. Key results: Of 5,926 participants, 4,408 (74.4%) reported interacting with non-companion animals at least every other day. Frequent engagement with non-companion animals was significantly associated with smaller decreases in mental health scores (b = .131, 95% CI [.007 – .256], p =.038) and smaller increases in loneliness scores (b = -.135, 95% CI [-.241 – .030], p = .012). Just under half (48.4%, n=2,867) reported living directly next to a green/blue space, and over half (52.3%; n=3,097) reported using such space at least every day since lockdown. Regular use of green/blue space since lockdown was significantly associated with higher mental health (b = .154, 95% CI [.037 – .272], p = .010), lower loneliness (b = -.334, 95% CI [-.430 – -.238], p =.001), and higher wellbeing (b = .810, 95% CI [.572 – 1.047], p = .001). Closer proximity to such space was significantly associated with lower loneliness scores (b = -.224, 95% CI [-.319 - -.130], p = .001), and higher wellbeing scores (b = .632, 95% CI [.319 - .873], p =.001). Conclusion: The multi-faceted human-nature relationship may promote key human health benefits in the context of the lockdown. Implications: These findings highlight the importance of green/blue space and the human-animal relationship, and how they might play a critical role in maintaining people’s mental health within a pandemic context. Further targeted investigations relating to these areas and links with human health, are important within both pandemic and non-pandemic contexts.

Original language	English
Journal	Wildlife research
Early online date	13 Apr 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1071/WR22125
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 13 Apr 2023

Bibliographical note

This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. Further copying may not be permitted; contact the publisher for details

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10.1071/WR22125

INTACT4_accepted_23_03_23
This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. Further copying may not be permitted; contact the publisher for details
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Cite this

@article{3e991957742e4d37a402f0d35ea34c3f,

title = "The role of regular engagement with non-companion animals and proximity to green and blue space for mental health, wellbeing, and loneliness during Covid-19 social distancing measures: findings from a UK survey study",

abstract = "Context: The Covid-19 pandemic led to increased use of green/blue space as indoor spaces became frequently inaccessible. These changes impacted the direct interactions between humans and nature. Aims: To investigate the links between mental health, loneliness, wellbeing, and interaction with non-companion animals, proximity to and use of green/blue space. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of adult UK residents was conducted between April and June 2020. The questionnaire included validated and bespoke items measuring demographics and exposures and outcomes related to mental health, wellbeing, loneliness, human-animal interactions with non-companion animals (wildlife/farm animals), and proximity to and use of green/blue space before and since the first UK Covid-19 lockdown. Key results: Of 5,926 participants, 4,408 (74.4%) reported interacting with non-companion animals at least every other day. Frequent engagement with non-companion animals was significantly associated with smaller decreases in mental health scores (b = .131, 95% CI [.007 – .256], p =.038) and smaller increases in loneliness scores (b = -.135, 95% CI [-.241 – .030], p = .012). Just under half (48.4%, n=2,867) reported living directly next to a green/blue space, and over half (52.3%; n=3,097) reported using such space at least every day since lockdown. Regular use of green/blue space since lockdown was significantly associated with higher mental health (b = .154, 95% CI [.037 – .272], p = .010), lower loneliness (b = -.334, 95% CI [-.430 – -.238], p =.001), and higher wellbeing (b = .810, 95% CI [.572 – 1.047], p = .001). Closer proximity to such space was significantly associated with lower loneliness scores (b = -.224, 95% CI [-.319 - -.130], p = .001), and higher wellbeing scores (b = .632, 95% CI [.319 - .873], p =.001). Conclusion: The multi-faceted human-nature relationship may promote key human health benefits in the context of the lockdown. Implications: These findings highlight the importance of green/blue space and the human-animal relationship, and how they might play a critical role in maintaining people{\textquoteright}s mental health within a pandemic context. Further targeted investigations relating to these areas and links with human health, are important within both pandemic and non-pandemic contexts.",

author = "Shoesmith, {Emily Kate} and Elena Ratschen",

note = "This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher{\textquoteright}s self-archiving policy. Further copying may not be permitted; contact the publisher for details",

year = "2023",

month = apr,

day = "13",

doi = "10.1071/WR22125",

language = "English",

journal = "Wildlife research",

issn = "1035-3712",

publisher = "CSIRO Publishing",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - The role of regular engagement with non-companion animals and proximity to green and blue space for mental health, wellbeing, and loneliness during Covid-19 social distancing measures

T2 - findings from a UK survey study

AU - Shoesmith, Emily Kate

AU - Ratschen, Elena

N1 - This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. Further copying may not be permitted; contact the publisher for details

PY - 2023/4/13

Y1 - 2023/4/13

N2 - Context: The Covid-19 pandemic led to increased use of green/blue space as indoor spaces became frequently inaccessible. These changes impacted the direct interactions between humans and nature. Aims: To investigate the links between mental health, loneliness, wellbeing, and interaction with non-companion animals, proximity to and use of green/blue space. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of adult UK residents was conducted between April and June 2020. The questionnaire included validated and bespoke items measuring demographics and exposures and outcomes related to mental health, wellbeing, loneliness, human-animal interactions with non-companion animals (wildlife/farm animals), and proximity to and use of green/blue space before and since the first UK Covid-19 lockdown. Key results: Of 5,926 participants, 4,408 (74.4%) reported interacting with non-companion animals at least every other day. Frequent engagement with non-companion animals was significantly associated with smaller decreases in mental health scores (b = .131, 95% CI [.007 – .256], p =.038) and smaller increases in loneliness scores (b = -.135, 95% CI [-.241 – .030], p = .012). Just under half (48.4%, n=2,867) reported living directly next to a green/blue space, and over half (52.3%; n=3,097) reported using such space at least every day since lockdown. Regular use of green/blue space since lockdown was significantly associated with higher mental health (b = .154, 95% CI [.037 – .272], p = .010), lower loneliness (b = -.334, 95% CI [-.430 – -.238], p =.001), and higher wellbeing (b = .810, 95% CI [.572 – 1.047], p = .001). Closer proximity to such space was significantly associated with lower loneliness scores (b = -.224, 95% CI [-.319 - -.130], p = .001), and higher wellbeing scores (b = .632, 95% CI [.319 - .873], p =.001). Conclusion: The multi-faceted human-nature relationship may promote key human health benefits in the context of the lockdown. Implications: These findings highlight the importance of green/blue space and the human-animal relationship, and how they might play a critical role in maintaining people’s mental health within a pandemic context. Further targeted investigations relating to these areas and links with human health, are important within both pandemic and non-pandemic contexts.

AB - Context: The Covid-19 pandemic led to increased use of green/blue space as indoor spaces became frequently inaccessible. These changes impacted the direct interactions between humans and nature. Aims: To investigate the links between mental health, loneliness, wellbeing, and interaction with non-companion animals, proximity to and use of green/blue space. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of adult UK residents was conducted between April and June 2020. The questionnaire included validated and bespoke items measuring demographics and exposures and outcomes related to mental health, wellbeing, loneliness, human-animal interactions with non-companion animals (wildlife/farm animals), and proximity to and use of green/blue space before and since the first UK Covid-19 lockdown. Key results: Of 5,926 participants, 4,408 (74.4%) reported interacting with non-companion animals at least every other day. Frequent engagement with non-companion animals was significantly associated with smaller decreases in mental health scores (b = .131, 95% CI [.007 – .256], p =.038) and smaller increases in loneliness scores (b = -.135, 95% CI [-.241 – .030], p = .012). Just under half (48.4%, n=2,867) reported living directly next to a green/blue space, and over half (52.3%; n=3,097) reported using such space at least every day since lockdown. Regular use of green/blue space since lockdown was significantly associated with higher mental health (b = .154, 95% CI [.037 – .272], p = .010), lower loneliness (b = -.334, 95% CI [-.430 – -.238], p =.001), and higher wellbeing (b = .810, 95% CI [.572 – 1.047], p = .001). Closer proximity to such space was significantly associated with lower loneliness scores (b = -.224, 95% CI [-.319 - -.130], p = .001), and higher wellbeing scores (b = .632, 95% CI [.319 - .873], p =.001). Conclusion: The multi-faceted human-nature relationship may promote key human health benefits in the context of the lockdown. Implications: These findings highlight the importance of green/blue space and the human-animal relationship, and how they might play a critical role in maintaining people’s mental health within a pandemic context. Further targeted investigations relating to these areas and links with human health, are important within both pandemic and non-pandemic contexts.

U2 - 10.1071/WR22125

DO - 10.1071/WR22125

M3 - Article

SN - 1035-3712

JO - Wildlife research

JF - Wildlife research

ER -