Longitudinal effects of green, blue, and gray spaces on early adolescent mental health in the United States.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Physical environments are linked to adolescents' well-being in various ways. Green and blue (natural) spaces may protect against psychopathology, while gray (urban) spaces may confer risk. The present study examines how exposure to green, blue, and gray spaces is associated with the growth of psychopathology in early adolescence.

Method

We analyzed four waves of data (ages 9-13) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (N = 11,866, 47.8% female). At each wave, parents rated youths' mental health symptom severity in broad domains of total, externalizing, and internalizing problems. Latent growth curve models were estimated to model symptom trajectories. We examined the associations of residential proximity to green, blue, and gray spaces with symptoms

SUBMITTER: Shaughnessy S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12079718 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature