Perceived and objective availability of green and blue spaces and quality of life in people with dementia: results from the IDEAL programme

Wu, Yu Tzu; Clare, Linda; Jones, Ian Rees; Nelis, Sharon M.; Quinn, Catherine; Martyr, Anthony; Victor, Christina R.; Lamont, Ruth A.; Rippon, Isla; Matthews, Fiona E.

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between quality of life and both perceived and objective availability of local green and blue spaces in people with dementia, including potential variation across rural/urban settings and those with/without opportunities to go outdoors. Methods: This study was based on 1540 community-dwelling people with dementia in the Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life (IDEAL) programme. Quality of life was measured by the Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease (QoL-AD) scale. A list of 12 types of green and blue spaces was used to measure perceived availability while objective availability was estimated using geographic information system data. Regression modelling was employed to investigate the associations of quality of life with perceived and objective availability of green and blue spaces, adjusting for individual factors and deprivation level. Interaction terms with rural/urban areas or opportunities to go outdoors were fitted to test whether the associations differed across these subgroups. Results: Higher QoL-AD scores were associated with higher perceived availability of local green and blue spaces (0.82; 95% CI 0.06, 1.58) but not objective availability. The positive association between perceived availability and quality of life was stronger for urban (1.50; 95% CI 0.52, 2.48) than rural residents but did not differ between participants with and without opportunities to go outdoors. Conclusions: Only perceived availability was related to quality of life in people with dementia. Future research may investigate how people with dementia utilise green and blue spaces and improve dementia-friendliness of these spaces.

Citation

Wu, Y. T., Clare, L., Jones, I. R., Nelis, S. M., Quinn, C., Martyr, A., …Matthews, F. E. (2021). Perceived and objective availability of green and blue spaces and quality of life in people with dementia: results from the IDEAL programme. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 56(9), 1601-1610. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-021-02030-y

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 6, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Jan 23, 2021
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2021
• Deposit Date: Mar 31, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 3, 2024
• Journal: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
• Print ISSN: 0933-7954
• Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
• Publisher: Springer
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 56
• Issue: 9
• Pages: 1601-1610
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-021-02030-y
• Keywords: People with dementia; Quality of life; Green spaces; Blue spaces; Perceived and objective environment measures
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4451300