ArticleBMC public health2023
Does physical activity mediate the associations between blue space and mental health? A cross-sectional study in Australia.
Article in BMC public health, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed.
- Separate and combined associations of heatwaves, air pollution, green spaces, and blue spaces with depressive symptoms: a national cohort study.Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique · 2026Article
- Assessing physical-exercise suitability in an urban canal corridor: evidence from the Cangzhou reach of China's Grand Canal.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- A Cross-Sectional Study Exploring a Mediation Model of Nature Exposure and Quality of Life: The Roles of Nature-Based and Overall Physical Activity.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Mediating Role of Physical Activity on Associations Between Neighborhood Environments and Mental Health in China.Journal of urban health : bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine · 2025Article
- General Practitioners' Perceptions on Prescribing Coastal Visits for Mental Health in Flanders (Belgium).Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Exploring the psychological impacts of water-based outdoor physical activities on university students: a qualitative interview study.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Exploring the pathways between physical activity, love for nature and eco-friendly behavior in children.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Article
- A systematic observation of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity levels in Australian natural blue space locations.Health promotion international · 2024Article
- How Green Space Justice in urban built-up areas affects public mental health: a moderated chain mediation model.Frontiers in public health · 2024Article
- The swimming habits of women who cold water swim.Women's health (London, England)Article
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundResearch has begun to examine whether blue space is beneficial to mental health. While results are promising, it is difficult to know which aspects of mental health or mental ill-health may benefit most. Physical activity has been proposed as one potential mechanism via which blue space may be associated with better mental health. However, very few studies have examined mechanisms. We examined associations between blue space proximity and a range of mental health outcomes and examined which of these associations were mediated by physical activity.
methods350 participants (M = 38.74, SD = 14.92, 70% female) self-reported their weekly physical activity and completed measures of depression, anxiety, and psychological wellbeing. We then used GIS software to calculate blue space proximity (i.e., coastal and inland), and structural equation modelling with mediation paths to determine the role of physical activity in the associations between bluespace and mental health.
resultsPhysical activity partially mediated the associations between coastal proximity and depression (β = 0.02, 95% CI = 0.001, 0.05), anxiety (β = 0.03, 95% CI = 0.01, 0.06), and wellbeing (β = - 0.03, 95% CI = - 0.08, - 0.01), and fully mediated the associations between inland water proximity and depression (β = 0.02, 95% CI = 0.003, 0.05), anxiety (β = 0.03, 95% CI = 0.01, 0.07), and wellbeing (β = - 0.03, 95% CI = - 0.07, - 0.01).
conclusionWhile physical activity appears to explain associations between inland blue space and mental health outcomes, it only partially explains the association between coastal blue space and mental health, suggesting other mechanisms may play a role and even inactive exposure may be beneficial.
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