During the 2022 EILO symposium dr Jolanda Maas showed the scientific proof.

1. Vitamin G
The importance of green space for our
health
Dr. Jolanda Maas
Section Clinical Psychology
@Jolanda_Maas

7. Biophilia Hypothesis
• Biophila = love (philos) for
nature (bio)
• E.O. Wilson (1984)
• People feel an innate tendency
to seek connections with
nature and other forms of life
• If people connect to nature
they will get happier and
healthier

11. 1. IMPORTANCE OF GREEN SPACE FOR OUR HEALTH

12. Green space Health
??
Hardly any scientific evidence…
‘We already know green space is good for our
health’
Is green space important for our
health?
2004

13. Feeling healthier
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
%
Unhealthy
people
% green space
Association between green space and health
The probability of feeling unhealthy is 1,5 times larger when
living in an environment with little green space
Maas, J., Verheij, R. A., Groenewegen, P. P., De Vries, S., & Spreeuwenberg, P. (2006). Green space, urbanity, and health: how strong is the
relation?. Journal of epidemiology & community health, 60(7), 587-592.

14. Less visits to the GP
0
10
20
30
40
50
Depression
Children
Migraine Depression Asthma Diabetes
10% green 90% green
Maas, J.; Verheij, R. A.; de Vries, S.; Spreeuwenberg, P.; Schellevis, F. G.; Groenewegen, P. P., Morbidity is related to a green living environment.
Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health 2009, 63 (12), 967-973.

17. ……
Cognitieve Ontwikkeling
Cognitieve Ontwikkeling
Cognitieve Ontwikkeling ……
……
?
? ?

18. Lifestyle
Cognitieve Ontwikkeling
Cognitieve Ontwikkeling
Cognitieve Ontwikkeling Environmental
nuisance
Psychological
Enhanced Immune functioning

24. 2. BENEFITS OF GREEN SPACES IN OFFICES

25. hoge kosten verzuim

27. 1. Humidity increases with 5%. In the winter even with 17%
2. Thermal comfort: temperature is less likely to be perceived as too hot
or too cold
3. Attractiveness: an increase in attractiveness score of 26%
4. Mood is more positive.
5. More satisfied with functioning
6. Less absenteeism: people who work in a work station with plants less
often call in sick (a decrease from 36% to 16%). This equates to an
average of 1.6 fewer sick days per employee per year.

32. 3. BENEFITS OF GREEN SPACES IN HOSPITALS

37. How would you feel when visiting
such a hospital?
?

39. Healing environment
a physical setting … that
supports patients and
families through the
stresses imposed by
illness, hospitalization,
medical visits, the proces
of healing…’ (Stichler,
2001)

42. ‹#› Het begint met een idee

43. Vergroening afdeling Geriatrie
Greening geriatric department

45. Vergroening afdeling Geriatrie
Van den Berg, A. E., Maas, J., Van den Hoven, L., & Tanja-Dijkstra, K. (2020). Greening a geriatric ward reduces functional decline in
elderly patients and is positively evaluated by hospital staff. Journal of Aging and Environment, 1-20.

46. Cordoza, M., Ulrich, R. S., Manulik, B. J., Gardiner, S. K., Fitzpatrick, P. S., Hazen, T. M., ... & Perkins, R. S. (2018). Impact of nurses taking daily
work breaks in a hospital garden on burnout. American Journal of Critical Care, 27(6), 508-512.

48. What percentage of new
interventions make it into
general use?
A. 14%
B. 24%
C. 64%
The importance of implementation

52. A. Evidence
strength &
Quality
B. Design Quality
& Packaging
C. Costs
D. Usage
A. Networks &
Communication
s
B. Culture
C. Implementation
Climate
D. Readiness for
Implementation
A. Knowledge &
Beliefs about
the Intervention
B. Other personal
Attributes
A. Designing
B. Planning
C. Engaging
D. Executing
Characteristics of
the external
environment that
influence the
implementation of
NBIs

53. Wat gaat u doen om te zorgen voor een
groene en gezonde toekomst?

54. Thank you for
your attention Dr. Jolanda Maas
Jolanda.maas@vu.nl
@Jolanda_Maas

55. 1. Benefits of green in high schools
and universities

56. ‹#› Het begint met een idee
GREEN HEALTHY
STUDENTS
Nicole van den Bogerd, Coosje Dijkstra,
Jaap Seidell en Jolanda Maas

57. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
SATISFACTION WITH GREEN AT UNIVERSITIES
3.9
4.2 4.2
4.4
5.2
5.5
6.3 6.4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Amount indoor Quality Indoor Amount outdoor Quality outdoor
VU (N=206)
Other (N=515)
Cijfer van 1 tot 10

62. 0
1
2
3
4
Collegezaal Klaslokaal Studiezaal
Preference
(0
–
4)
Preference for green
Standaard
Kleur poster
Natuur poster
Groene wand
Groene wand + planten
*
*
*
* * * *

63. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
OPERATION GREENING CLASSROOMS…

64. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

65. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

66. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

67. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam