Leanne, Mat, Lewis and James, working with collaborators from Europe, the US and Australia, have used survey data from 18 countries to explore the roles of specific types of nature exposure, and potential underlying mechanisms, on nature-sleep associations. The paper was published in Environmental Research. Insufficient sleep has been described as a significant public health issue.

The team explored links between insufficient sleep (which they defined as less than 6 hours vs. 7–10 hours per day) and six different types of nature exposure:

• streetscape greenery;
• blue view from home;
• green space within 1 km of home;
• coast within 1 km of home;
• green space visits; and
• blue space visits.

They tested whether relationships were mediated by better mental wellbeing and/or physical activity.

The team found that ‘nature visible from home (streetscape greenery, blue views) and recreational visits to green and blue spaces were independently associated with lower rates of insufficient sleep. These associations were mediated, to varying degrees, by better mental wellbeing.’

They concluded that if further studies, using designs which can explore causality, confirm the finding ‘then improved provision and maintenance of residential blue and green spaces may offer a viable strategy of improving mental wellbeing and promoting healthier sleep duration at the population-level. Further, more targeted nature-based interventions may be an appropriate strategy to assist people who are most affected by insufficient sleep.’

Martin, L., White, M. P., Elliott, L. R., Grellier, J., Astell-Burt, T., Bratman, G. N., … & Fleming, L. E. (2024). Mechanisms underlying the associations between different types of nature exposure and sleep duration: An 18-country analysis. Environmental Research, 118522.