Positive health effects on the natural outdoor environment in typical populations of different regions in Europe (PHENOTYPE)

Centre for Health and Development (CHAD)

There is evidence that contact with natural environments is beneficial to human health and wellbeing, but the mechanisms are not well understood. PHENOTYPE was a four-year European-funded, multi-country project intended to provide a better understanding of the potential mechanisms, and better integration of human health needs into land use planning and green space management.

PHENOTYPE investigated the underlying mechanisms in different population groups using a range of research methods. The project further examined the effects of different characteristics of the natural outdoor environment, and address the implications for land-use planning and green space management.

Find out more information at http://www.phenotype.eu/en

Associated researchers

Dr Naomi Ellis

Associate Professor Of Health Research

I've been involved with a number of research projects relating to physical activity and mental health, green space and health; health in mid-life; sport and mental health in prisons.

Naomi's profile

Dr Gemma Hurst

Course Director

I am the Course Leader for the MSc Health Psychology. My research focuses on measuring the impact of environment exposures on health and wellbeing and exploring the wider determinants of health in relation to health inequality. I am also experie…

Gemma's profile

Collaborators and partners

ISGlobal - Barcelona Institute for Global Health

RIVM - National Institute for Public Health and the Environment

VDU - Vytauto Didziojo Universitetas

UNIGE - University of Geneva

VUA - Vereniging voor Christelijk Hoger Onderwijs Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek en patientzorg

VGGM - Public Health Services Gelderland Midden

UCB - University of California Berkeley

Funding body

EU FP7

Publications

Smith, Graham, Cirach, Marta, Swart, Wim, DÄ—delÄ—, Audrius, Gidlow, Christopher, van Kempen, Elise, Kruize, Hanneke, GraÅ¾uleviÄienÄ—, Regina and Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J. (2017) Characterisation of the natural environment: quantitative indicators across Europe. International Journal of Health Geographics, 16:16. pp. 1-15. ISSN 1476-072X )
Zijlema, Wilma L., Avila-Palencia, Ione, Triguero-Mas, Margarita, GIDLOW, Christopher, Maas, Jolanda, Kruize, Hanneke, Andrusaityte, Sandra, Grazuleviciene, Regina and Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J. (2018) Active commuting through natural environments is associated with better mental health: Results from the PHENOTYPE project. Environment International, 121. pp. 721-727. ISSN 01604120 )
GIDLOW, Christopher, van Kempen, Elise, Smith, Graham, Triguero-Mas, Margarita, Kruize, Hanneke, GraÅ¾uleviÄienÄ—, Regina, ELLIS, Naomi, HURST, Gemma, MASTERSON, Daniel, Cirach, Marta, van den Berg, Magdalena, Smart, Wim, DÄ—delÄ—, Audrius, Maas, Jolanda and Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J. (2018) Development of the natural environment scoring tool (NEST). Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 29. 322 - 333. )
Triguero-Mas, Margarita, Donaire-Gonzalez, David, Seto, Edmund, ValentÃƒÂn, AntÃƒÂ²nia, Smith, Graham, MartÃƒÂnez, David, Carrasco-Turigas, GlÃƒÂ²ria, MASTERSON, Daniel, van den Berg, Magdalena, AmbrÃƒÂ²s, Albert, MartÃƒÂnez-Ãƒï¿½ÃƒÂ±iguez, Tania, Dedele, Audrius, HURST, Gemma, ELLIS, Naomi, Grazulevicius, Tomas, Voorsmit, Martin, Cirach, Marta, Cirac-Claveras, Judith, Swart, Wim, Clasquin, Eddy, Maas, Jolanda, Wendel-Vos, Wanda, Jerrett, Michael, GraÃ…Â¾uleviÃ„ï¿½ienÃ„ï¿½, Regina, Kruize, Hanneke, GIDLOW, Christopher and Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J. (2017) Living Close to Natural Outdoor Environments in Four European Cities: Adults' Contact with the Environments and Physical Activity. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14 (10). p. 1162. ISSN 1660-4601 )
Triguero-Mas, Margarita, Donaire-Gonzalez, David, Seto, Edmund, ValentÃn, AntÃ²nia, MartÃnez, David, SMITH, Graham, HURST, Gemma, Carrasco-Turigas, GlÃ²ria, MASTERSON, Daniel, van den Berg, Magdalena, AmbrÃ²s, Albert, MartÃnez-ÃÃ±iguez, Tania, Dedele, Audrius, ELLIS, Naomi, Grazulevicius, Tomas, Voorsmit, Martin, Cirach, Marta, Cirac-Claveras, Judith, Swart, Wim, Clasquin, Eddy, Ruijsbroek, Annemarie, Maas, Jolanda, Jerret, Michael, GraÅ¾uleviÄienÄ—, Regina, Kruize, Hanneke, GIDLOW, Christopher and Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J (2017) Natural outdoor environments and mental health: Stress as a possible mechanism. Environmental research, 159. pp. 629-638. ISSN 1096-0953 )
Ruijsbroek, Annemarie, Droomers, MariÃ«l, Kruize, Hanneke, van Kempen, Elise, GIDLOW, Christopher, HURST, Gemma, Andrusaityte, Sandra, Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark, Maas, Jolanda, Hardyns, Wim, Stronks, Karien and Groenewegen, Peter (2017) Does the Health Impact of Exposure to Neighbourhood Green Space Differ between Population Groups? An Explorative Study in Four European Cities. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14 (6). p. 618. ISSN 1660-4601 )
Ruijsbroek, Annemarie, Mohnen, Sigrid M., Droomers, MariÃ«l, Kruize, Hanneke, GIDLOW, Christopher, GraÅ¾uleviÄiene, Regina, Andrusaityte, Sandra, Maas, Jolanda, Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J., Triguero-Mas, Margarita, MASTERSON, Daniel, ELLIS, Naomi, van Kempen, Elise, Hardyns, Wim, Stronks, Karien and Groenewegen, Peter P. (2017) Neighbourhood green space, social environment and mental health: an examination in four European cities. International Journal of Public Health. ISSN 1661-8556 )
Zijlema, Wilma L., Triguero-Mas, Margarita, SMITH, Graham, Cirach, Marta, Martinez, David, Dadvand, Payam, Gascon, Mireia, JONES, Marc, GIDLOW, Christopher, HURST, Gemma, MASTERSON, Daniel, ELLIS, Naomi, van den Berg, Magdalena, Maas, Jolanda, van Kamp, Irene, van den Hazel, Peter, Kruize, Hanneke, Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J. and Julvez, Jordi (2017) The relationship between natural outdoor environments and cognitive functioning and its mediators. Environmental Research, 155. pp. 268-275. ISSN 00139351 )
Triguero-Mas, Margarita, GIDLOW, Christopher, MartÃnez, David, de Bont, Jeroen, Carrasco-Turigas, GlÃ²ria, MartÃnez-ÃÃ±iguez, Tania, HURST, Gemma, MASTERSON, Daniel, Donaire-Gonzalez, David, Seto, Edmund, Jones, Marc V and Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J (2017) The effect of randomised exposure to different types of natural outdoor environments compared to exposure to an urban environment on people with indications of psychological distress in Catalonia. PloS one, 12 (3). e0172200. ISSN 1932-6203 )
GIDLOW, Christopher, SMITH, Graham, David, Martinez, Richard, Wilson, Paul, Trinder, Regina, GraÅ¾uleviÄienÄ— and Mark, Nieuwenhuijsen (2016) Research note: Natural environments and prescribing in England. Landscape and Urban Planning. ISSN 0169-2046 (In Press) )
GIDLOW, Christopher, RANDALL, Jason, GILLMAN, Jamie, SMITH, Graham and JONES, Marc (2016) Natural environments and chronic stress measured by hair cortisol. Landscape and Urban Planning, 148. pp. 61-67. ISSN 0169-2046 )
Van den Berg, Magdalena, van Poppel, Mireille, van Kemp, Irene, Andrusaityte, Sandra, Balseviciene, Birute, Cirach, Marta, Danileviciute, Asta, ELLIS, Naomi, HURST, Gemma, MASTERSON, Daniel, SMITH, Graham, Triguero-Mas, Margarita, Uzdanaviciute, Inga, de Wit, Puck, van Mechelen, Willem, GIDLOW, Christopher, Grazuleviciene, Regina, Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark, Kruize, Hanneke and Maas, Jolanda (2016) Visiting green space is associated with mental health and vitality: A cross-sectional study in four european cities. Health & Place, 38. pp. 8-15. ISSN 1353-8292 )
GIDLOW, Christopher, JONES, Marc, HURST, Gemma, MASTERSON, Daniel, CLARK-CARTER, David, Tarvainen, Mika P., SMITH, Graham and Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark (2015) Where to put your best foot forward: Psycho-physiological responses to walking in natural and urban environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 45. pp. 22-29. ISSN 02724944 )
McEachan, Rosie, Prady, S, SMITH, Graham, Fairley, Leslie, Cabieses, B, GIDLOW, Christopher, Wright, John, Dadvand, Payam and Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark (2015) The association between green space and depressive symptoms in pregnant women: moderating roles of socioeconomic status and physical activity. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 70 (3). pp. 253-259. ISSN 0143-005X )
Grazuleviciene, R, Vencloviene, J, Kubilius, R, Grizas, V, Dedele, A, Grazulevicius, T, Ceponiene, I, Tamuleviciute-Prasciene, E, Nieuwenhuijsen, M, JONES, Marc and GIDLOW, Christopher (2015) The Effect of Park and Urban Environments on Coronary Artery Disease Patients: A Randomized Trial. Biomed Research International. )
Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J, Kruize, Hanneke, GIDLOW, Christopher, Andrusaityte, Sandra, AntÃ³, Josep Maria, BasagaÃ±a, Xavier, Cirach, Marta, Dadvand, Payam, Danileviciute, Asta, Donaire-Gonzalez, David, Garcia, Judith, Jerrett, Michael, JONES, Marc, Julvez, Jordi, van Kempen, Elise, van Kamp, Irene, Maas, Jolanda, Seto, Edmund, SMITH, Graham, Triguero, Margarita, Wendel-Vos, Wanda, Wright, John, Zufferey, Joris, van den Hazel, Peter Jan, Lawrence, Roderick and Grazuleviciene, Regina (2014) Positive health effects of the natural outdoor environment in typical populations in different regions in Europe (PHENOTYPE): a study programme protocol. BMJ Open, 4 (4). e004951. ISSN 2044-6055 )
Dadvand, Payam, Wright, John, Martinez, David, BasagaÃ±a, Xavier, McEachan, Rosemary R.C., Cirach, Marta, GIDLOW, Christopher, de Hoogh, Kees, GraÅ¾uleviÄienÄ—, Regina and Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J. (2014) Inequality, green spaces, and pregnant women: Roles of ethnicity and individual and neighbourhood socioeconomic status. Environment International, 71. pp. 101-108. ISSN 0160-4120 )
Watson, C., Nieuwenhuijsen, M.J., Triguero-Mas, M., Cirach, M., Maas, J., GIDLOW, Christopher, Kruize, H., Andrusaityte, S., Grazuleviciene, R. and Zijlema, W.L. (2020) The association between natural outdoor environments and common somatic symptoms. Health & Place, 64. p. 102381. ISSN 13538292 )
Zijlema, W.L., Triguero-Mas, M., Cirach, M., GIDLOW, Christopher, Kruize, H., Grazuleviciene, R., Nieuwenhuijsen, M.J. and Litt, J.S. (2019) Understanding correlates of neighborhood aesthetic ratings: A European-based Four City comparison. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 47. p. 126523. ISSN 16188667 )
Kruize, Hanneke, van Kamp, Irene, van den Berg, Magdalena, van Kempen, Elise, Wendel-Vos, Wanda, Ruijsbroek, Annemarie, Swart, Wim, Maas, Jolanda, GIDLOW, Christopher, Smith, Graham, ELLIS, Naomi, HURST, Gemma, MASTERSON, Daniel, Triguero-Mas, Margarita, Cirach, Marta, GraÅ¾uleviÄienÄ—, Regina, van den Hazel, Peter and Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark (2019) Exploring mechanisms underlying the relationship between the natural outdoor environment and health and well-being â€“ Results from the PHENOTYPE project. Environment International. p. 105173. ISSN 0160-4120 )
Kondo, Michelle C., Triguero-Mas, Margarita, Donaire-Gonzalez, David, Seto, Edmund, ValentÃn, AntÃ²nia, HURST, Gemma, Carrasco-Turigas, GlÃ²ria, MASTERSON, Daniel, AmbrÃ²s, Albert, ELLIS, Naomi, Swart, Wim, Davis, Nora, Maas, Jolanda, Jerrett, Michael, GIDLOW, Christopher and Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J. (2019) Momentary mood response to natural outdoor environments in four European cities. Environment International. p. 105237. ISSN 01604120 )