We tested whether neighborhood greenness is a promotive and/or a protective factor in the development of adolescent externalizing behavior problems and explored a possible mechanism of its effects via respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) recovery after stress. Data from a longitudinal multi-method study on adolescents (N=715) was used. Result showed that neighborhood greenness was neither a promotive nor a protective factor. However, adolescents who reported more stressful life events showed more externalizing behavior and –contrary to our expectation− this effect was stronger for adolescents who grew up in greener neighborhoods (vs. less green neighborhoods).

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doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.102163, hdl.handle.net/1765/122502
Health & Place
Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences

Weeland, J., Laceulle, O., Nederhof, E., Overbeek, G., & Reijneveld, S. (2019). The greener the better? Does neighborhood greenness buffer the effects of stressful life events on externalizing behavior in late adolescence?. Health & Place. doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.102163