Changes in use of natural outdoor environments and health of women in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Natural outdoor environments (NOE) provide health benefits; meanwhile, gentrification and touristification can be detrimental to health equity by modifying who benefits from NOE. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated gender-based health inequities and changed the use of NOE, while it also affected the course of neighborhood gentrification and touristification. We carried out a cross-sectional study in Barcelona to test whether changes in the use of NOE were related to women's health and if perceived gentrification/touristification modified these associations. We found that maintained or increased use of NOE (particularly those closest to one's residence) was significantly associated with lower odds of reporting poor general and mental health. Perceived gentrification and touristification were not effect modifiers of the associations. Our results indicate that contact with NOE should be promoted during pandemics like COVID-19.