Publications by authors named "M Helbich"
Physical urban environment and cardiometabolic diseases in the five largest Bulgarian cities.
Int J Hyg Environ Health
December 2024
This study investigated the associations between residential environmental characteristics and the prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases in the five largest Bulgarian cities. Representative cross-sectional survey data (N = 4640 adults) was collected in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, and Ruse. Participants self-reported diagnosis or medication intake for hypertension, ischemic heart disease (IHD), stroke, and diabetes mellitus, as well as domestic burning of solid fuel and having a domestic garden.
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- - The study investigates how moving to different neighborhoods impacts mental health over time, focusing on physical and social characteristics of those neighborhoods in the Netherlands.
- - Analyzing data from 3,000 adults between 2008-2013, the research finds that improvements in mental health are linked to lower air pollution, reduced population density, and decreased socioeconomic deprivation after relocating.
- - However, changes in green and blue spaces in neighborhoods did not significantly affect mental health, while increased social fragmentation was also associated with mental health improvement.
Effect of pre- and post-migration neighborhood environment on migrants' mental health: the case of Shenzhen, China.
Int J Environ Health Res
October 2024
Existing mental health studies usually disregard people's neighborhood experiences in the past, which may have long-lasting mental health effects. This may particularly be true for migrants. To assess how the perceived pre- and post-migration neighborhood environment shapes migrants' mental health later on in life, a quasi-longitudinal survey ( = 591) among migrants was conducted in Shenzhen, China.
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- Research shows that living near greenery is beneficial for physical and mental health, often assessed from a bird's eye view, while street view images (SVI) offer a new perspective on greenery experienced daily by residents.
- A systematic review analyzed 35 articles on the connection between SVI-measured greenery and mental health, finding that about two-thirds of studies reported positive links, but the overall evidence quality was low.
- The review highlights the potential of SVI as a valuable tool for assessing greenery's health benefits and suggests future research should focus on standardizing datasets and expanding studies beyond high-income countries for better applicability.
Introduction: Urban youth are experiencing increasing mental health problems due to diverse personal, social and environmental concerns. Youths' detachment from natural environments, including green and blue spaces, may intensify such issues further. Contact with nature can benefit mental health and promote pro-environmental behaviour (PEB).
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