Green space around schools is linked to lower allostatic load in urban children

Studies published in the academic literature provide evidence of a positive association between green space and human health. Little is known, however, about the health-promoting effects of green space on biological markers (i.e., indicators of the severity or presence of some disease state). The aim of this study was to investigate the association between green space and allostatic load (AL), a measure of biological multi-system dysregulation.

Data for this study was drawn from a large population-based birth cohort from the Porto Metropolitan Area of Portugal. The data analysis considered seven biomarkers representing four regulatory systems – immune, inflammatory, metabolic, and cardiovascular – based on assessments of 3108 children at the age of seven. Satellite-based images using a Geographic Information System were used to estimate children’s access to greenspace around their home and school.

Children attending schools with more nearby greenspace exhibited significantly lower AL scores than children attending schools with less nearby greenspace. This association remained after potential confounders at the individual- and neighborhood-levels were accounted for. No significant associations with AL were observed with accessibility to green space around the home. The presence of a significant association between green space in the school – but not home – environment and AL may be related to how and where children spend most of their time. Portuguese children are generally at school nine hours a day.  It’s also likely that Portuguese children “spend more time in leisure and social activities in their school surroundings, including green spaces, than in the home surroundings.”

These findings indicate that “local authorities and city planners must not neglect the school environment when developing legislation to improve the built environment and land-use distribution.” While this research suggests that the provision of green space may contribute to improved population health beginning early in life, additional research is recommended to further the understanding of the association between green space accessibility and AL. Pediatric research incorporating biomarkers may shed additional light on the association between exposures to environmental stressors and lifelong health.