Perceived Social Support Mediates the Relationship between Use of Greenspace and Geriatric Depression: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Sample of South-Italian Older Adults

Elisabetta Ricciardi; Giuseppina Spano; Luigi Tinella; Antonella Lopez; Carmine Clemente; Andrea Bosco; Alessandro Oronzo Caffò

doi:10.3390/ijerph20085540

Perceived Social Support Mediates the Relationship between Use of Greenspace and Geriatric Depression: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Sample of South-Italian Older Adults

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Apr 17;20(8):5540. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20085540.

Authors

Elisabetta Ricciardi¹, Giuseppina Spano¹, Luigi Tinella¹, Antonella Lopez^{1

2}, Carmine Clemente¹, Andrea Bosco¹, Alessandro Oronzo Caffò¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Studies of Bari, 70122 Bari, Italy.
² Faculty of Law, Giustino Fortunato University, 82100 Benevento, Italy.

Abstract

A growing body of evidence is suggestive for the beneficial role of contact with greenspace (e.g., use of greenspace, visual access to greenspace, etc.) on mental health (e.g., depression, anxiety, etc.). In addition, several studies have pointed out the benefits of social support and social interaction on psychological wellbeing. Even if evidence on the association between contact with greenspace and perceived social support were mixed, it was supposed that the use of greenspace could enhance social interactions and perceived social support, especially among older adults. The present study aims to explore the effect of use of greenspace on geriatric depression in a sample of South-Italian older adults and the mediating role of perceived social support in this association. A structural equation model was tested in a sample of 454 older adults (60-90 years old) residing in the Metropolitan Area of Bari, Apulia. The fit indices revealed the goodness of fit of the model (CFI = 0.934; TLI = 0.900; IFI = 0.911; NFI = 0.935; RMSEA = 0.074; SRMR = 0.056). Results showed that the use of greenspace was inversely associated with geriatric depression through perceived social support. These findings underlined the relevance of perceived social support on the pathway linking use of greenspace and geriatric depressive symptoms. This evidence may be useful to policymakers to plan interventions for promoting physical access to greenspace and social participation in an age-friendly city framework.

Keywords: ageing; depression; greenspace; perceived social support; structural equation modeling.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cross-Sectional Studies
Depression* / epidemiology
Mental Health
Parks, Recreational*

Grants and funding

E.R. was supported by the project “EN.G.AGE.—The linking between ENvironment and coGnitive AGEing”. Action was cofounded by POR Puglia FESR FSE 2014–2020-Asse X-Azione 10.4. (CUP Code: H96D20000320008). G.Sp. was supported by the project “Role of PSychological and social factors in the conservation of biodivErsity and the ECOsystemic heritage for the fight against climate change (PsEEco)”, action was cofounded by Programma Operativo (PON) Ricerca E Innovazione 2014–2020-Azione IV.6 “Contratti di ricerca su tematiche Green” (CUP H95F21001420006). A.O.C. and A.B. were supported by the project “GAME: Green, smArt and Mobile urban communitiEs: promotion of inclusive, equitable and integrated social policies for human well-being in cities” funded by the Horizon Europe SEEDS (2022–2023)—University of Bari Aldo Moro.