Living on a greener street or having views of blue spaces from your home will help you sleep for longer, research finds.

Summary: New research led by the University of Exeter’s European Centre for Environment and Human Health, involving 18 countries, reveals that living on greener streets, with visible grass, trees, and vegetation, is linked to better sleep. Researchers say the study is the first of its kind to analyze the impact of different types of natural environments on sleep quality across various nations. The findings suggest that views of green and blue spaces from one’s home can significantly enhance sleep duration.

Key Points: 

• A study across 18 countries reveals the health benefits of living in greener areas, emphasizing the importance of urban planning that incorporates natural elements.
• The research not only confirms previous findings on the benefits of green spaces for sleep but also extends the understanding by analyzing various types of natural environments, including views of rivers, lakes, and coasts.

Living on a greener street or having views of blue spaces from your home will help you sleep for longer.

New research across 18 countries, led by the University of Exeter’s European Centre for Environment and Human Health, found that living on greener streets—those with visible grass, trees, and vegetation—is linked to better sleep. While past research has found a connection between green spaces and better sleep, researchers say this is the first time several different types of natural environments have been analyzed across different countries.

The paper is published in ScienceDirect.

Lack of sleep, typically defined as fewer than six hours a night, is a significant public health issue in industrialized countries, affecting around 16% of UK adults. Poor sleep is linked to a range of adverse health and well-being outcomes, including non-communicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions, as well as increased risks of mortality.

“People that lived in greener streets reported better mental health, which was the driving factor behind getting a better night’s sleep. Streetscape greening initiatives already exist in urban cities to tackle environmental risks like flooding and heat island effects, but our findings suggest policymakers should extend that to residential areas to support public health by promoting healthier sleep habits,” says lead author Leanne Martin, PhD, from the University of Exeter’s European Centre for Environment and Human Health, in a release.

Data was used from over 16,000 people across 14 European countries, as well as Australia, Canada, the United States, and Hong Kong, as part of the BlueHealth International Survey—a cross-sectional survey coordinated by the European Centre for Environment and Human Health in Penryn. 

Respondents were asked about the amount of greenery on their street, whether they had views of rivers, lakes, and coasts (collectively known as blue spaces) from home, how much leisure time spent in natural spaces, as well as their mental health and how many hours they slept a night.

The research found individuals who lived in greener streets or had views of blue spaces from their home tended to report better mental health, which in turn was associated with healthier amounts of sleep. Individuals who spent more recreational time in green and blue spaces also reported better mental health and healthier sleep durations.

Overall, results found 17% of people who lived on green streets reported getting fewer than six hours sleep a night, compared to 22 percent of those who did not live on green streets.

“Whilst a 5% difference may seem small, these findings are comparable to the difference in sleep between people who are coping on their present income and those under financial strain. With money worries widely recognized as an important determinant of sleep, we think this demonstrates street greenness should be recognized by governments as an important public health issue,” says co-author Mathew White, PhD, from the University of Vienna, in a release. 

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