(755) Self-reported greenspace exposure and perceived stress in a Black pregnancy cohort

Objective: Greenspace exposure may improve health particularly for racially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Most studies use area-level greenspace linked to geocoded residential addresses as a proxy for exposure. In contrast, we sought to determine whether self-reported greenspace use was associated with perceived stress in an urban, Black pregnancy cohort.

Study Design: We conducted a secondary analysis of the ongoing, prospective MOMENTUM cohort of 283 Black pregnant patients in Metro-Philadelphia. Participants completed a greenspace survey at < 16 weeks’ gestation. Greenspace exposure was used as a continuous variable (hrs per week) and categorized as none, as well as moderate and high dichotomized at the median among exposed (1.125 hrs per week). Perceived Stress Scores were obtained at 16-20 weeks’ gestation and used as a continuous variable and dichotomized as low ( < 30) and high (≥ 30). Multivariable regression was used to model associations of greenspace with stress adjusted for age, insurance, education, parity, smoking, and neighborhood cohesion (7 questions using a Likert scale and summed).

Results: Overall, 112 (39.6%) participants reported no, 78 (27.6%) moderate, and 93 (32.9%) high greenspace exposure, and 54 (19.1%) had high stress (Table 1). In adjusted models, greenspace exposure was significantly associated with lower stress; per hour increase, stress scores were 0.48 points (95% CI: -0.92, -0.04) lower (Table 2). Those with moderate and high greenspace exposure had non-significantly lower odds of high stress compared to those with none, but effects attenuated with covariate adjustment (aOR 0.98, 95%CI: 0.46, 2.07 and aOR 0.88, 95% CI: 0.42, 1.86, respectively). Higher neighborhood cohesion was significantly associated with lower odds of high stress (aOR 0.93, 95%CI: 0.87, 0.99).

Conclusion: In a Black pregnancy cohort, greenspace and higher neighborhood cohesion were associated with lower stress. Interventions to increase greenspace use and build cohesion exposure may be helpful during pregnancy to reduce disparities.