Faculty Collaboration Database

Exposure to neighborhood green space and sleep: evidence from the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin. Sleep Health 2018 Oct;4(5):413-419

Date

09/23/2018

Pubmed ID

30241655

Pubmed Central ID

PMC6152838

DOI

10.1016/j.sleh.2018.08.001

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85052075578 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   61 Citations

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Adequate sleep duration and quality are protective against many adverse health outcomes. Many individual-level predictors of poor sleep have been examined, but few studies have examined neighborhood-level influences. Despite known associations between neighborhood green space and sleep influencing factors (eg, physical activity, mental health), few studies have examined green space and sleep's relationship. Furthermore, little work has examined the relationship between the magnitude and type of neighborhood sounds and sleep.

STUDY METHODS: We analyzed data from the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin database (n = 2712) for 2008-2013, a representative sample of Wisconsin residents ages 21-74. Outcomes included weekday and weekend sleep duration and self-rated sleep quality. Primary predictors were the proportion tree canopy (National Land Cover Database) and mean decibel levels of outdoor sound (US National Park Service) at the census block group level. Survey regression analysis was used to examine statistical associations, controlling for individual and neighborhood-level covariates.

RESULTS: Models suggest a significant relationship (P < .05) between weekday sleep duration and green space, and between weekend/day sleep duration and human-made and total neighborhood sound. Increased percent tree canopy in a census block group was associated with lower odds of short weekday sleep (<6 hours) (OR 0.76 [0.58-0.98]). Increased human-made and total mean decibel levels were associated with increased instances of short weekend and weekday sleep (OR 1.05 [1.01-1.08] and 1.03 [1.01-1.06] respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: Neighborhood tree canopy and sound levels may influence sleep duration and are potential targets for neighborhood-level interventions to improve sleep.

Author List

Johnson BS, Malecki KM, Peppard PE, Beyer KMM

Author

Kirsten M. Beyer PhD, MPH Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Female
Health Surveys
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Noise
Residence Characteristics
Sleep
Time Factors
Trees
Wisconsin
Young Adult