Access to nature tied to better sleep quality in men and seniors

Having access to natural environments in the form of a park, ocean

vistas or sandy beaches is linked to significantly better sleep quality in men and seniors,

according to a new study led by the University of Illinois.

Researchers suggest preserving the natural environment may be important for improving sleep quality.

In the journal Preventive Medicine, the team explains that while they found a

positive link between sleep and exposure to natural amenities for all adults in their sample, it

was much stronger for men, and for both men and women 65 and over.

Senior author Diana Grigsby-Toussaint, professor of kinesiology and community health, says

their findings suggest exposure to natural environments could help people get the sleep they

need to maintain good heath.

“Studies show that inadequate sleep is associated with declines in mental and physical health,

reduced cognitive function, and increased obesity,” she explains.

For their study, the researchers used data on 255,171 adults recorded in the Behavioral

Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Poor sleep linked to fewer natural amenities

The team correlated self-reported data on sleep quality from the BRFSS with data from the US

Department of Agriculture about the natural amenities in the vicinities of the respondents.

What the team found suggests poor quality sleep is linked to having fewer natural environments

nearby.

Specifically, their analysis shows that BRFSS respondents who reported having

insufficient sleep on 21-29 days in the previous month had consistently lower odds of access to

natural amenities compared to those who reported insufficient sleep on 1-6

days.

Speculating on reasons behind the link, Prof. Grigsby-Toussaint says living near green spaces

is linked to higher levels of physical activity, and this in turn could result in better quality

sleep.

She suggests one reason why men appear to benefit more than women could be because women may venture less into natural amenities –

perhaps through concerns about safety – but she says more research is needed before we can say

this is the case.

This is an important observation, since the study did not investigate whether the respondents

actually made use of the natural spaces – just whether they were available.

One message that does appear to come out of the study is that seniors who have trouble sleeping

may benefit from access to green spaces. The study also underlines the importance of preserving our natural environment for improving

sleep quality. Prof. Grigsby-Toussaint expands on this:

“And, specifically, our results provide an incentive for nursing homes and

communities with many retired residents to design buildings with more lighting, create nature

trails and dedicated garden spaces, and provide safe outdoor areas that encourage outdoor

activity for men and women.”

Meanwhile, Medical News Today recently learned that sleeping on one’s side may reduce the risk of developing

neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. In The Journal of

Neuroscience, researchers describe how experiments in rats revealed this position was best

for removal of brain waste.

Written by Catharine Paddock PhD

Copyright: Medical News Today