Submitted Successfully!
To reward your contribution, here is a gift for you: A free trial for our video production service.
Thank you for your contribution! You can also upload a video entry or images related to this topic.
Version Summary Created by Modification Content Size Created at Operation
1
Yoshihiro Noda
 + 1317 word(s) 1317 2022-03-07 05:23:04 |
2 inserted ref
Yvaine Wei
-4 word(s) 1313 2022-03-08 05:13:34 |

Video Upload Options

Do you have a full video?
Send video materials Upload full video

Confirm

Are you sure to Delete?
Yes No
Cite
If you have any further questions, please contact Encyclopedia Editorial Office.
Noda, Y. Influence of Sunshine Exposure on Public Mental Health. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/20274 (accessed on 27 July 2024).
Noda Y. Influence of Sunshine Exposure on Public Mental Health. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/20274. Accessed July 27, 2024.
Noda, Yoshihiro. "Influence of Sunshine Exposure on Public Mental Health" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/20274 (accessed July 27, 2024).
Noda, Y. (2022, March 07). Influence of Sunshine Exposure on Public Mental Health. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/20274
Noda, Yoshihiro. "Influence of Sunshine Exposure on Public Mental Health." Encyclopedia. Web. 07 March, 2022.
Influence of Sunshine Exposure on Public Mental Health
Edit
This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/psychiatryint3010008

External environments, including natural sunlight, have a significant impact on public mental health. The results showed that exposure to sunlight, spending leisure time in green spaces, and physical activity each had a positive impact on people’s mental health, including depression, anxiety, and stress states. Specifically, moderate physical activity in an external environment with sunlight exposure or green space was found to be an important factor. 

public mental health sunlight green spaces physical activity COVID-19

1. Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has been currently spreading around the world since the end of 2019, forcing many countries and regions to lock down as a preventive measure against the outbreak. In such a situation, it is highly possible that not only the psychological frustration of not being able to go out freely but also the substantial reduction in time and opportunities for physical contact with the external environment, including natural light, has had a significant negative impact on mental health.

Previous studies have shown that moderate exercise has a positive impact on mental health. Specifically, there is evidence that exercise interventions are effective in improving symptoms of depression [1][2], and that adding moderate exercise to behavioral therapy is also effective for depression [3]. Furthermore, there is evidence that exercise provides temporary relief from a variety of stresses for people, and that regular exercise can increase their feelings of self-efficacy [4]. In addition, regular exercise not only improves mental health but also enhances the body’s immune capacity and leads to anti-inflammatory effects, which in turn reduces the risk of developing various chronic diseases [5].

2. Relationship between Living Environment and Mental Health

It was found that the presence of available green spaces [6][7][8][9][10][11] and parks [12][13] around the living environment had a positive impact on mental health. The presence of green space around the living environment tends to have a positive impact on mental health, and this may be due in part to the high likelihood of exposure to sunlight in green space and natural environments. In addition, as reported by Wang et al., air pollution such as PM2.5 may have a negative impact on mental health, partially because it reduces the duration of sunlight exposure. However, some of the studies did not show positive effects on mental health in rural areas with a lot of nature and green spaces [14], suggesting that the use and purpose of green spaces and parks may be more important than their existence itself. In other words, although there are more extensive green areas in rural areas, they do not contribute much to mental health if their primary use is for farming as a work. In contrast, if the purpose of the green area is for exercise and recreation, it appears to have a positive effect on mental health, regardless of whether the area is located in an urban or suburban/rural area [8]. Other included studies [8][15] suggested the importance of exposure to the natural environment as well as opportunities for interpersonal interaction.
Furthermore, rural areas have a relatively large older population, which differs from the composition of the urban population, making it difficult to compare the effects of external and internal factors directly in terms of public mental health. Moreover, rural areas are often medically depopulated and poorly served by public transportation, which usually makes it difficult to access medical institutions specializing in mental health [15]. However, this reflects the reality of super-aging societies in certain developed countries, where further depopulation of rural areas may become a major problem in the mental health of the elderly. On the other hand, another study showed that the prevalence of depression was higher among the urban poor, which makes it difficult to interpret the relationship between the external environment and mental health based on regional classifications such as urban and rural areas [16]. Again, regarding the relationship between sunlight exposure and mental health, all of the included studies except one [17] showed that sunlight may positively affect people’s mental health [14][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. However, the study by Beute et al. did not show a direct effect of exposure to the natural environment and sunlight exposure on emotional states but profiled higher hedonic tone and energy levels and lower tension levels in environments with higher exposure to both natural environment and sunlight, suggesting that, at least in part, sunlight exposure contributes to improved human mental health [17].

3. Relationship between Internal Factors and Mental Health

Regarding the relationship between internal factors/lifestyle and mental health, a number of studies have reported that daily exercise habits [25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] have a positive impact on mental health in general, while sedentary lifestyle [36][28][37][38][32][34] and long screen time [39][40] increase the risk of depression. Although several previous studies [41][42][43][37][44] have shown that exercise does not always have a positive impact on mental health for clinical populations experiencing a variety of mental health problems, a study by Barton et al. reported that mood disturbances and low self-esteem generally improve after participation in any exercise program [42]. Buchan et al. [43] showed that increased moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was associated with decreased anxiety and depressive symptoms in men. In addition, a study by Hahn et al. [44] showed that outdoor work in winter, with its short daylight hours, did not have a particularly negative effect on the development of depression, but rather could have a beneficial effect on mood, suggesting that exercise itself may have, at least in part, an antidepressant effect. On the other hand, interestingly, a study by Julien et al. [37] found no significant association between the amount of walking and depressive symptoms when assessed cross-sectionally, but showed that subjects with more depressive symptoms tended to walk less frequently afterwards, indicating that longitudinally, depressive symptoms may cause a decrease in walking frequency.

4. Relationship between Mixture of Internal/External Factors and Mental Health

On the other hand, a mixture of internal factors such as physical activity as well as specific external environmental factors such as walking activity in rural areas and green spaces decreases stress and negative emotions [45][46][47][35], increases memory performance [48][49], promotes emotional and cognitive recovery [49], and decreases activity in brain regions associated with mental illness [50]. Furthermore, a study by Shanahan et al. [11] showed that visiting a green space at least once a week for an average of 30 min or more can prevent depression by up to 7%, suggesting that daily habits such as frequent visits to green spaces may reduce the risk of developing depression.
In addition, an exercise experiment [41] conducted under the condition of viewing images of a cycling course rather than an actual green space reported less mood disturbance and perceived exhaustion compared to the achromatic or red filtered image condition, indicating that green-related visual stimuli may also have a synergistic effect on the anti-stress effects of exercise. Other studies using light stimuli have also shown that exposure to green or blue light reduces anxiety [51] and increases calmness [52], suggesting a close relationship between light exposure and mental health. Therefore, moderate exercise in specific external environments or environments that mimic external environments may play an important role in the maintenance and improvement of mental health. Furthermore, with respect to external environmental factors, light stimulation at specific wavelengths may serve as a key to the effects on mental health. In addition, interestingly but paradoxically, living in a walkable neighborhood was associated with a slightly higher diagnosis of depression and level of antidepressant use, and walkability was associated with greater depressive symptoms in more deprived neighborhoods. While dense urban environments may provide opportunities for physical activity, they may also increase exposure to noise, air pollution, and social stressors, which may increase levels of depression [53].

5. Conclusions

The results showed that exposure to sunlight, exposure to and use of green spaces, and physical activity each positively affected mental health. The use of green space was also associated with exposure to sunlight and promotion of physical activity, suggesting that internal factors as represented by moderate physical activity under specific external conditions or in an environment that mimics the external environment may contribute to further improvement of mental health.

References

  1. Chen, Z.; Lan, W.; Yang, G.; Li, Y.; Ji, X.; Chen, L.; Zhou, Y.; Li, S. Exercise Intervention in Treatment of Neuropsychological Diseases: A Review. Front. Psychol. 2020, 11, 569206.
  2. Pascoe, M.C.; Bailey, A.P.; Craike, M.; Carter, T.; Patten, R.; Stepto, N.K.; Parker, A.G. Exercise Interventions for Mental Disorders in Young People: A Scoping Review. BMJ Open Sport Exerc. Med. 2019, 6, e000678.
  3. Bourbeau, K.; Moriarty, T.; Ayanniyi, A.; Zuhl, M. The Combined Effect of Exercise and Behavioral Therapy for Depression and Anxiety: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Behav. Sci. 2020, 10, 7.
  4. Shephard, R.J.; Verde, T.J.; Thomas, S.G.; Shek, P. Physical Activity and the Immune System. Can. J. Sport Sci. 1991, 16, 169–185.
  5. Petruzzello, S.J.; Landers, D.M.; Hatfield, B.D.; Kubitz, K.A.; Salazar, W. A Meta-Analysis on the Anxiety-Reducing Effects of Acute and Chronic Exercise. Outcomes and Mechanisms. Sports Med. 1991, 11, 143–182.
  6. Pun, V.C.; Manjourides, J.; Suh, H.H. Association of Neighborhood Greenness with Self-Perceived Stress, Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in Older U.S Adults. Environ. Health A Glob. Access Sci. Source 2018, 17, 39.
  7. Rantakokko, M.; Keskinen, K.E.; Kokko, K.; Portegijs, E. Nature Diversity and Well-Being in Old Age. Aging Clin. Exp. Res. 2018, 30, 527–532.
  8. Liu, Y.; Wang, R.; Xiao, Y.; Huang, B.; Chen, H.; Li, Z. Exploring the Linkage between Greenness Exposure and Depression among Chinese People: Mediating Roles of Physical Activity, Stress and Social Cohesion and Moderating Role of Urbanicity. Health Place 2019, 58, 102168.
  9. Cox, D.T.C.; Shanahan, D.F.; Hudson, H.L.; Fuller, R.A.; Anderson, K.; Hancock, S.; Gaston, K.J. Doses of Nearby Nature Simultaneously Associated with Multiple Health Benefits. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 172.
  10. Dean, J.H.; Shanahan, D.F.; Bush, R.; Gaston, K.J.; Lin, B.B.; Barber, E.; Franco, L.; Fuller, R.A. Is Nature Relatedness Associated with Better Mental and Physical Health? Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15, 1371.
  11. Shanahan, D.F.; Bush, R.; Gaston, K.J.; Lin, B.B.; Dean, J.; Barber, E.; Fuller, R.A. Health Benefits from Nature Experiences Depend on Dose. Sci. Rep. 2016, 6, 28551.
  12. Min, K.-B.; Kim, H.-J.; Kim, H.-J.; Min, J.-Y. Parks and Green Areas and the Risk for Depression and Suicidal Indicators. Int. J. Public Health 2017, 62, 647–656.
  13. Mukherjee, D.; Safraj, S.; Tayyab, M.; Shivashankar, R.; Patel, S.A.; Narayanan, G.; Ajay, V.S.; Ali, M.K.; Narayan, K.V.; Tandon, N.; et al. Park Availability and Major Depression in Individuals with Chronic Conditions: Is There an Association in Urban India? Health Place 2017, 47, 54–62.
  14. Wang, R.; Liu, Y.; Xue, D.; Yao, Y.; Liu, P.; Helbich, M. Cross-Sectional Associations between Long-Term Exposure to Particulate Matter and Depression in China: The Mediating Effects of Sunlight, Physical Activity, and Neighborly Reciprocity. J. Affect. Disord. 2019, 249, 8–14.
  15. Murayama, Y.; Inoue, K.; Yamazaki, C.; Kameo, S.; Nakazawa, M.; Koyama, H. Association between Depressive State and Lifestyle Factors among Residents in a Rural Area in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Study. Tohoku J. Exp. Med. 2019, 249, 101–111.
  16. Tan, K.L.; Yadav, H. Depression among the Urban Poor in Peninsular Malaysia: A Community Based Cross-Sectional Study. J. Health Psychol. 2013, 18, 121–127.
  17. Beute, F.; de Kort, Y.A.W. The Natural Context of Wellbeing: Ecological Momentary Assessment of the Influence of Nature and Daylight on Affect and Stress for Individuals with Depression Levels Varying from None to Clinical. Health Place 2018, 49, 7–18.
  18. An, M.; Colarelli, S.M.; O’Brien, K.; Boyajian, M.E. Why We Need More Nature at Work: Effects of Natural Elements and Sunlight on Employee Mental Health and Work Attitudes. PLoS ONE 2016, 11, e0155614.
  19. Levandovski, R.; Pfaffenseller, B.; Carissimi, A.; Gama, C.S.; Hidalgo, M.P.L. The Effect of Sunlight Exposure on Interleukin-6 Levels in Depressive and Non-Depressive Subjects. BMC Psychiatry 2013, 13, 75.
  20. Canazei, M.; Pohl, W.; Bauernhofer, K.; Papousek, I.; Lackner, H.K.; Bliem, H.R.; Marksteiner, J.; Weiss, E.M. Psychophysiological Effects of a Single, Short, and Moderately Bright Room Light Exposure on Mildly Depressed Geriatric Inpatients: A Pilot Study. Gerontology 2017, 63, 308–317.
  21. Sarran, C.; Albers, C.; Sachon, P.; Meesters, Y. Meteorological Analysis of Symptom Data for People with Seasonal Affective Disorder. Psychiatry Res. 2017, 257, 501–505.
  22. Kim, S.Y.; Bang, M.; Wee, J.H.; Min, C.; Yoo, D.M.; Han, S.-M.; Kim, S.; Choi, H.G. Short- and Long-Term Exposure to Air Pollution and Lack of Sunlight Are Associated with an Increased Risk of Depression: A Nested Case-Control Study Using Meteorological Data and National Sample Cohort Data. Sci. Total Environ. 2021, 757, 143960.
  23. Burns, A.C.; Saxena, R.; Vetter, C.; Phillips, A.J.K.; Lane, J.M.; Cain, S.W. Time Spent in Outdoor Light Is Associated with Mood, Sleep, and Circadian Rhythm-Related Outcomes: A Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Study in over 400,000 UK Biobank Participants. J. Affect. Disord. 2021, 295, 347–352.
  24. Brown, M.J.; Jacobs, D.E. Residential Light and Risk for Depression and Falls: Results from the LARES Study of Eight European Cities. Public Health Rep. 2011, 126, 131–140.
  25. Kleppang, A.L.; Hartz, I.; Thurston, M.; Hagquist, C. The Association between Physical Activity and Symptoms of Depression in Different Contexts-a Cross-Sectional Study of Norwegian Adolescents. BMC Public Health 2018, 18, 1368.
  26. Xu, Y.; Qi, J.; Yang, Y.; Wen, X. The Contribution of Lifestyle Factors to Depressive Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Study in Chinese College Students. Psychiatry Res. 2016, 245, 243–249.
  27. Castillo, F.; Francis, L.; Wylie-Rosett, J.; Isasi, C.R. Depressive Symptoms Are Associated with Excess Weight and Unhealthier Lifestyle Behaviors in Urban Adolescents. Child. Obes. 2014, 10, 400–407.
  28. Lee, H.-Y.; Yu, C.-P.; Wu, C.-D.; Pan, W.-C. The Effect of Leisure Activity Diversity and Exercise Time on the Prevention of Depression in the Middle-Aged and Elderly Residents of Taiwan. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15, 654.
  29. Wang, S.; Ma, W.; Wang, S.-M.; Yi, X. Regular Physical Activities and Related Factors among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in Jinan, China: A Cross-Sectional Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 10362.
  30. Wang, S.; Ma, W.; Wang, S.-M.; Yi, X. A Cross Sectional Examination of the Relation Between Depression and Frequency of Leisure Time Physical Exercise among the Elderly in Jinan, China. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15, 2041.
  31. Jo, H.; Lee, J.; Lee, S.; Lee, H.; Ahn, Y.-S.; Koh, S.-B. The Longitudinal Effect of Leisure Time Physical Activity on Reduced Depressive Symptoms: The ARIRANG Study. J. Affect. Disord. 2021, 282, 1220–1225.
  32. Abe, T.; Hamano, T.; Onoda, K.; Takeda, M.; Okuyama, K.; Yamasaki, M.; Isomura, M.; Nabika, T. Additive Effect of Physical Activity and Sedentary Time on Depressive Symptoms in Rural Japanese Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study. J. Epidemiol. Jpn. Epidemiol. Assoc. 2019, 29, 227–232.
  33. Haider, S.; Smith, L.; Markovic, L.; Schuch, F.B.; Sadarangani, K.P.; Lopez Sanchez, G.F.; Lopez-Bueno, R.; Gil-Salmerón, A.; Rieder, A.; Tully, M.A.; et al. Associations between Physical Activity, Sitting Time, and Time Spent Outdoors with Mental Health during the First COVID-19 Lock Down in Austria. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 9168.
  34. Pengpid, S.; Peltzer, K. High Sedentary Behaviour and Low Physical Activity Are Associated with Anxiety and Depression in Myanmar and Vietnam. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 1251.
  35. Marselle, M.R.; Irvine, K.N.; Warber, S.L. Walking for Well-Being: Are Group Walks in Certain Types of Natural Environments Better for Well-Being than Group Walks in Urban Environments? Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2013, 10, 5603–5628.
  36. Vancampfort, D.; Stubbs, B.; Firth, J.; Van Damme, T.; Koyanagi, A. Sedentary Behavior and Depressive Symptoms among 67,077 Adolescents Aged 12–15 Years from 30 Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Int. J. Behav. Nutr. Phys. Act. 2018, 15, 73.
  37. Julien, D.; Gauvin, L.; Richard, L.; Kestens, Y.; Payette, H. Longitudinal Associations between Walking Frequency and Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults: Results from the VoisiNuAge Study. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 2013, 61, 2072–2078.
  38. Nam, J.Y.; Kim, J.; Cho, K.H.; Choi, J.; Shin, J.; Park, E.-C. The Impact of Sitting Time and Physical Activity on Major Depressive Disorder in South Korean Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study. BMC Psychiatry 2017, 17, 274.
  39. Kojima, R.; Sato, M.; Akiyama, Y.; Shinohara, R.; Mizorogi, S.; Suzuki, K.; Yokomichi, H.; Yamagata, Z. Problematic Internet Use and Its Associations with Health-Related Symptoms and Lifestyle Habits among Rural Japanese Adolescents. Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci. 2019, 73, 20–26.
  40. Khouja, J.N.; Munafò, M.R.; Tilling, K.; Wiles, N.J.; Joinson, C.; Etchells, P.J.; John, A.; Hayes, F.M.; Gage, S.H.; Cornish, R.P. Is Screen Time Associated with Anxiety or Depression in Young People? Results from a UK Birth Cohort. BMC Public Health 2019, 19, 82.
  41. Deng, Y.; Paul, D.R. The Relationships Between Depressive Symptoms, Functional Health Status, Physical Activity, and the Availability of Recreational Facilities: A Rural-Urban Comparison in Middle-Aged and Older Chinese Adults. Int. J. Behav. Med. 2018, 25, 322–330.
  42. Barton, J.; Griffin, M.; Pretty, J. Exercise-, Nature- and Socially Interactive-Based Initiatives Improve Mood and Self-Esteem in the Clinical Population. Perspect. Public Health 2012, 132, 89–96.
  43. Buchan, M.C.; Romano, I.; Butler, A.; Laxer, R.E.; Patte, K.A.; Leatherdale, S.T. Bi-Directional Relationships between Physical Activity and Mental Health among a Large Sample of Canadian Youth: A Sex-Stratified Analysis of Students in the COMPASS Study. Int. J. Behav. Nutr. Phys. Act. 2021, 18, 132.
  44. Hahn, I.H.; Grynderup, M.B.; Dalsgaard, S.B.; Thomsen, J.F.; Hansen, Å.M.; Kærgaard, A.; Kærlev, L.; Mors, O.; Rugulies, R.; Mikkelsen, S.; et al. Does Outdoor Work during the Winter Season Protect against Depression and Mood Difficulties? Scand. J. Work Environ. Health 2011, 37, 446–449.
  45. Marselle, M.R.; Warber, S.L.; Irvine, K.N. Growing Resilience through Interaction with Nature: Can Group Walks in Nature Buffer the Effects of Stressful Life Events on Mental Health? Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 986.
  46. Song, C.; Ikei, H.; Kagawa, T.; Miyazaki, Y. Effects of Walking in a Forest on Young Women. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 229.
  47. Song, C.; Ikei, H.; Kobayashi, M.; Miura, T.; Taue, M.; Kagawa, T.; Li, Q.; Kumeda, S.; Imai, M.; Miyazaki, Y. Effect of Forest Walking on Autonomic Nervous System Activity in Middle-Aged Hypertensive Individuals: A Pilot Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12, 2687–2699.
  48. Berman, M.G.; Kross, E.; Krpan, K.M.; Askren, M.K.; Burson, A.; Deldin, P.J.; Kaplan, S.; Sherdell, L.; Gotlib, I.H.; Jonides, J. Interacting with Nature Improves Cognition and Affect for Individuals with Depression. J. Affect. Disord. 2012, 140, 300–305.
  49. Roe, J.; Aspinall, P. The Restorative Benefits of Walking in Urban and Rural Settings in Adults with Good and Poor Mental Health. Health Place 2011, 17, 103–113.
  50. Bratman, G.N.; Hamilton, J.P.; Hahn, K.S.; Daily, G.C.; Gross, J.J. Nature Experience Reduces Rumination and Subgenual Prefrontal Cortex Activation. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2015, 112, 8567–8572.
  51. Kaya, N.; Epps, H.H. Relationship between Color and Emotion: A Study of College Students. Coll. Stud. J. 2014, 38, 396–405.
  52. Goldstein, K. Some Experimental Observations Concerning the Influence of Colors on the Function of the Organism. Occup. Ther. 1942, 21, 147–151.
  53. James, P.; Hart, J.E.; Banay, R.F.; Laden, F.; Signorello, L.B. Built Environment and Depression in Low-Income African Americans and Whites. Am. J. Prev. Med. 2017, 52, 74–84.
More
© Text is available under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
Upload a video for this entry
Information
Subjects: Health Care Sciences & Services
Contributor MDPI registered users' name will be linked to their SciProfiles pages. To register with us, please refer to https://encyclopedia.pub/register :
Yoshihiro Noda
View Times: 348
Entry Collection: Environmental Sciences
Revisions: 2 times (View History)
Update Date: 10 Mar 2022
Table of Contents
    1000/1000
    Hot Most Recent
    Video Production Service
    Feedback