dc.contributor.author | Lovell, R | |
dc.contributor.author | Wheeler, BW | |
dc.contributor.author | Higgins, Sahran L. | |
dc.contributor.author | Irvine, KN | |
dc.contributor.author | Depledge, MH | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2014-07-14T14:30:58Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2014-03-05 | |
dc.description.abstract | Recent ecosystem service models have placed biodiversity as a central factor in the processes that link the natural environment to health. While it is recognized that disturbed ecosystems might negatively affect human well-being, it is not clear whether biodiversity is related to or can promote "good" human health and well-being. The aim of this study was to systematically identify, summarize, and synthesize research that had examined whether biodiverse environments are health promoting. The objectives were twofold: (1) to map the interdisciplinary field of enquiry and (2) to assess whether current evidence enables us to characterize the relationship. Due to the heterogeneity of available evidence a narrative synthesis approach was used, which is textual rather than statistical. Extensive searches identified 17 papers that met the inclusion criteria: 15 quantitative and 2 qualitative. The evidence was varied in disciplinary origin, with authors approaching the question using different study designs and methods, and conceptualizations of biodiversity, health, and well-being. There is some evidence to suggest that biodiverse natural environments promote better health through exposure to pleasant environments or the encouragement of health-promoting behaviors. There was also evidence of inverse relationships, particularly at a larger scale (global analyses). However, overall the evidence is inconclusive and fails to identify a specific role for biodiversity in the promotion of better health. High-quality interdisciplinary research is needed to produce a more reliable evidence base. Of particular importance is identifying the specific ecosystem services, goods, and processes through which biodiversity may generate good health and well-being. | en_GB |
dc.description.sponsorship | European Regional Development Fund
Programme 2007 to 2013 | en_GB |
dc.description.sponsorship | European Social
Fund Convergence Programme for Cornwall
and the Isles of Scilly. | en_GB |
dc.identifier.citation | Vol. 17, Issue 1, pp. 1 - 20 | en_GB |
dc.identifier.doi | 10.1080/10937404.2013.856361 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10871/15196 | |
dc.language.iso | en | en_GB |
dc.publisher | Taylor & Francis | en_GB |
dc.relation.url | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24597907 | en_GB |
dc.rights.embargoreason | Publisher's policy | en_GB |
dc.rights | Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC | en_GB |
dc.subject | Animals | en_GB |
dc.subject | Biodiversity | en_GB |
dc.subject | Ecosystem | en_GB |
dc.subject | Environmental Health | en_GB |
dc.subject | Humans | en_GB |
dc.subject | Public Health | en_GB |
dc.title | A systematic review of the health and well-being benefits of biodiverse environments | en_GB |
dc.type | Article | en_GB |
dc.date.available | 2015-03-05T04:00:08Z | |
dc.identifier.issn | 1093-7404 | |
exeter.place-of-publication | England | |
dc.description | This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B: Critical Reviews on 05 Mar 2014, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10937404.2013.856361 | en_GB |
dc.identifier.journal | Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Part B: Critical Reviews | en_GB |