# Green Space, Mental Health and Sleep

> **NIH NIH R01** · BROWN UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $608,220

## Abstract

The WHO indicates 10% to 20% of children and adolescents have pediatric mental health
disorders, contributing to a projected worldwide economic burden of $6 trillion by 2030. In RI,
approximately 19% of children under the age of 17 have mental health challenges that can
adversely affect their development, education, peer relationships, and physical health. Sleep is
an increasingly recognized contributor to mental health and well-being. In children, inadequate
sleep has been linked to diminished mental and physical health. Exposure to greenspace,
broadly defined as various forms of vegetation, has been shown to confer numerous health
benefits. In this study, we propose to explore the association between exposure to greenspace
and mental health outcomes in elementary school children. Aim 1. Sleep and greenspace.
Determine how green space utilization (GPS-derived measures of daily activity and
environmental features) is related to sleep (duration, timing, regularity) in children. Hypothesis
1.1 Children spending more time in greenspace as derived by GPS (i.e., utilization) will have
earlier, longer and more regular sleep than children spending less time in greenspace.
Hypothesis 1.2. Greenspace utilization will influence sleep through increased light exposure,
higher levels of physical activity measured using accelerometry, and lower levels of stress
measured by IL-1 beta. Aim 2. Mental health, greenspace and sleep. Determine whether
greenspace utilization is associated with mental health and wellbeing via sleep behaviors.
Hypothesis 2.1: Children spending more time in greenspace will have fewer mental health
symptoms as measured by validated PROMIS® measures of anxiety, cognitive functioning,
psychological stress and wellbeing compared to children spending less time in greenspace.
Hypothesis 2.2: Greenspace utilization will influence mental health and well-being through
sleep behavior (duration, timing, regularity) assessed using actigraphy. Aim 3. Exploratory
Aim. Greenspace, epigenetics, sleep and wellbeing. Explore the potential epigenetic
contribution of greenspace on sleep and wellbeing in children. Exploratory Hypothesis 1.1.
Patterns of differential DNA methylation between high and low greenspace users may differ in
genes associated with stress response, inadequate sleep, light exposure, or physical activity.
We will work in Rhode Island, which is currently engaged in expanding access to tree-canopy
across the entire state – a unique designation in the US. Thus, the health and policy
implications of our study is timely, and can have implications for other states interested in
exploring the use green space to improve health among children and their families.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10495185
- **Project number:** 5R01MD016241-02
- **Recipient organization:** BROWN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Diana Sylvia Grigsby
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $608,220
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-24 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10495185

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10495185, Green Space, Mental Health and Sleep (5R01MD016241-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10495185. Licensed CC0.

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