Green spaces in cities increase well-being, study says

GlobalPost

Green urban spaces improves the quality of life in cities, according to a new study.

University of Exeter researchers found that living in an urban area with parks, gardens and trees led to better well-being among residents.

They study looked at about 5000 households in the UK over 17 years.

It involved 10,000 people between 1991 and 2008.

Using surveys, the researchers found that those city-dwellers living near green spaces were happier and had higher life satisfaction.

The researchers used a scael of well-being that compared living among parks and greenery with other positive events in one's life.

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“Living in an urban area with relatively high levels of green space compared to one with relatively low levels of green space was associated with a positive impact on well-being equivalent to roughly a third of the impact of being married vs. unmarried and a tenth of the impact of being employed vs. unemployed," said study author, Matthew White.

"These kinds of comparisons are important for policymakers when trying to decide how to invest scarce public resources, such as for park development or upkeep, and figuring out what bang they'll get for their buck." 

The study was published in the journal Psychological Science.

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