A review links green gentrification with mixed mental health experiences
Research on neighborhood greening describes stress linked to housing costs and exclusion, alongside opportunities for relaxation and a stronger sense of community.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The review describes ways that neighborhood greening and gentrification may affect residents' mental health. Rising housing costs, weakened belonging and barriers to using new green spaces were linked to stressful experiences. Green spaces also offered relaxation and community benefits. The evidence summarized here does not establish a single overall mental health effect.
The abstract summarizes proposed pathways without reporting pooled effect sizes, participant totals or follow-up periods. It calls for longitudinal research, so the direction of the relationships and their size remain uncertain.
Housing and belonging
The review connects rising housing prices with financial pressure and worries about housing availability and quality. Changes in neighborhood demographics may also weaken established social connections, while longtime residents can face barriers to using new green spaces.
Benefits alongside concerns
Some accounts described relaxation, improved neighborhood appearance and a stronger community feeling. Others involved anxiety about possible exposure to historic contaminants at restored sites. The abstract reports these experiences without quantifying their balance across residents.
The original publication
A systematic review of green gentrification and mental health.
Brown CD, Rigolon A, Zdrodowski P et al.
Health Place · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41455223
- Record checked
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