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Nature diversity and well-being in old age

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Abstract

Background

The research aim was to study the associations of nature diversity with quality of life (QoL) and depressive symptoms among older people, and whether physical activity explains the associations.

Methods

Community-dwelling people aged 75–90 years (n = 848) living in Central Finland were interviewed in their homes. QoL was assessed with a short version of the World Health Organization Quality-of-Life Assessment (range 0–130, higher score indicates better QoL) and depressive symptoms with the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (range 0–30, higher scores indicate more depressive symptoms). Self-reported physical activity was assessed by intensity and duration using a single question with seven response options ranging from mostly resting to competitive sports. Nature diversity (Shannon Diversity Index) was assessed objectively within a 500-m buffer around participants’ homes using a geographic information system (GIS).

Results

Mean QoL was 100.3 (SD 11.8) and mean CES-D 9.6 (SD 6.8). Those in the highest nature diversity tertile had better QoL than those in the lowest tertile (p = .022). Physical activity did not explain the association between nature diversity and QoL. Adjustment for health indicators did not change the results. Nature diversity was not associated with depressive symptoms.

Conclusion

A diverse environment, especially when this includes elements of nature, is associated with better QoL. Good quality of the green infrastructure and adding natural elements to residential areas may enhance well-being among community-dwelling older people.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture (to MR and EP) and Academy of Finland [Grant No. 285747 (to MR)]. The study sponsors had no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the paper for publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Gerontology Research Center, University of Jyvaskyla, P.O. Box 35 (viv), 40014, Jyvaskyla, Finland

    Merja Rantakokko, Kirsi E. Keskinen, Katja Kokko & Erja Portegijs

Authors
  1. Merja Rantakokko
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  2. Kirsi E. Keskinen
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  3. Katja Kokko
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  4. Erja Portegijs
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Merja Rantakokko.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Participants were informed about the project and they signed a written informed consent prior to the baseline interviews.

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Rantakokko, M., Keskinen, K.E., Kokko, K. et al. Nature diversity and well-being in old age. Aging Clin Exp Res 30, 527–532 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-017-0797-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-017-0797-5

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