Big Data Analytics Exploration of Green Space and Mental Health in Melbourne

Abstract

Numerous researchers have shown that urban green space, e.g. parks and gardens, is positively associated with health and general well-being. However, these works are typically based on surveys that have many limitations related to the sample size and the questionnaire design. Social media offers the possibility to systematically assess how human emotion is impacted by access to green space at a far larger scale that is more representative of society. In this paper, we explore how Twitter data was used to explore the relationship between green space and human emotion (sentiment). We consider the relationship between Twitter sentiment and green space in the suburbs of Melbourne and consider the impact of socio-economics and related demographic factors. We develop a linear model to explore the extent that access to green space has on the sentiment of tweeters.