Study Finds Living Near Green Spaces Can Help You Quit Smoking

Study Finds Living Near Green Spaces Can Help You Quit Smoking

Over the years, researchers seem to always find reasons that people should have easy access to nature. A new study into this phenomenon has suggested that people living near green, natural spaces are more likely to quit smoking.

Earlier studies into the effects of green spaces have shown that living near to green spaces can help people to live longer and that short walks through natural environments or around water can boost the mood.

Smoking and green spaces

A new study by the University of Exeter Medical School investigated whether people are either less likely to smoke or more likely to quit smoking when they live in greener regions. The research team found that people were more likely to quit smoking when living in areas that are surrounded by greenery.

The results of this study into the effects of natural environments on smoking are consistent with earlier studies that suggest people experience fewer cravings when exposed to green spaces. According to the study’s co-author Matthew P. White, this is because cravings are often associated with a desire to increase mood, and cigarettes, alcohol and chocolate do achieve this within the short-term.

Exposure to nature can have a similar effect on mood, and so if you feel this effect whilst walking through your local area, you may have fewer cravings as you’ve found another way to boost your mood.

The study’s authors go on to say that whilst this theory is plausible, there is a lot of research that is still required to find truly concrete evidence to support this.

The statistics

Researchers used statistics from the 2012 Health Survey for England, as this is the survey that contained updated data on green spaces. Of the 8,059 adults in the survey, 19% stated they currently smoked. Fewer than half reported that they regularly smoked at some point in their life, and of the smokers, 58% reported that they had quit smoking.

The research team found that the rates of smoking decreased and rates of quitting increased the greater the green space. According to the study, individuals living in areas with a high proportion of green space were 20% less likely to currently smoke, and existing smokers are 12% more likely to successfully quit.

Guest Article.