Mechanisms Underlying the Associations Between Different Types of Nature Exposure and Sleep Duration: An 18-Country Analysis
Citation
Martin, L., White, M. P., Elliott, L. R., Grellier, J., Astell-Burt, T., Bratman, G. N., … & Fleming, L. E. (2024). Mechanisms underlying the associations between different types of nature exposure and sleep duration: An 18-country analysis. Environmental Research, 118522. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2024.118522
Getting enough sleep is important for overall health, and spending time in nature may help. Yet, few studies have explored which kinds of nature matter most, why they help, or whether the effects are the same in different places. This study looked at survey responses from more than 16,000 adults across 18 countries to explore these questions.
Researchers examined six types of nature exposure:
- Street trees and plants
- Seeing water from home
- Green space within 1 km of home
- Coast within 1 km of home
- Visiting local green spaces
- Visiting local blue spaces
They then compared these with people’s sleep duration. The study found that simply living near green space or the coast was not linked to better sleep. However, people who could see greenery or water from their homes and those who visited green and blue spaces had more sufficient sleep. These benefits appeared to work mainly through improved mental well-being, rather than through physical activity.
Making sure people can see nature—like trees, plants, or water—from their homes may help improve sleep across the population. In addition, programs that encourage people to spend time in nearby parks or along waterways could be a useful way to support those who struggle to get enough sleep.
Abstract
Whilst green space has been linked to healthier sleep outcomes, the roles of specific types of nature exposure, potential underlying mechanisms, and between-country variations in nature-sleep associations have received little attention. Drawing on cross-sectional survey data from an 18-country sample of adults (N = 16,077) the current study examined: 1) the relative associations between six different types of nature exposure (streetscape greenery, blue view from home, green space within 1 km, coast within 1 km, green space visits, blue space visits) and insufficient sleep (<6 h vs. 7–10 h per day); 2) whether these relationships were mediated by better mental wellbeing and/or physical activity; and 3) the consistency of these pathways among the different countries. After controlling for covariates, neighbourhood nature measures (green space, coast within 1 km) were not significantly associated with insufficient sleep; but nature visible from home (streetscape greenery, blue views and recreational visits to green and blue spaces were each associated with less insufficient sleep. Significant nature-sleep associations were mediated, to varying degrees, by better mental wellbeing, but not self-reported physical activity. Country-level heterogeneity in the strength of nature-sleep associations was observed. Increasing nature visible from the home may represent a promising strategy for promoting healthier sleep duration at the population level, whilst nature-based interventions encouraging individuals to spend time in local green/blue spaces may be an appropriate target to assist individuals affected by insufficient sleep.