How university blue and green space affect students’ mental health: A scoping review

Abstract

University students frequently experience high levels of stress, depression, anxiety, and a variety of other mental health challenges. There is growing evidence that university campus landscapes may offer tangible benefits for mental health and overall well-being but to date this has not been brought together and synthesised. Therefore, a thorough analysis of the existing body of research on how and to what extent university campus landscapes can impact student mental health is needed. A scoping review of relevant studies was carried out with the aim of highlighting any gaps in knowledge and to offer recommendations for potential future research directions. The review was based on the PRISMA-ScR Checklist. Through a database search, 54 studies were identified as eligible for inclusion in the review, following several consecutive screening stages. We observed a considerable diversity in exposure data, study designs, outcome measures, landscape types and characteristics. Over 96 % of the included studies indicated a positive relationship between different aspects of university campus landscapes and student mental health while only two studies reported no association. The review uncovered gaps in the current evidence base regarding the effect of campus blue spaces and landscape design characteristics on student mental health. Furthermore, associations with some mental health conditions like schizophrenia, emotional and attentional problems, and eating disorders have not been investigated to date. The findings identify a need for additional studies addressing these specific aspects.