Linking Joint Exposures to Residential Greenness and Air Pollution with Adults' Social Health in Dense Hong Kong.

Despite the growing recognition of the impact of urban environments on social health, limited research explores the combined associations of multiple urban exposures, particularly in dense cities. This study examines the interplay between greenspace, air pollution, and social health as well as the underlying pathways and population heterogeneity in Hong Kong using cross-sectional survey data from 1,977 adults and residential environmental data. Social health includes social contacts, relations, and support. Greenspace used street-view greenness (SVG), park density, and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). 100-m daily ground NO ₂ and O ₃ , indicative of air pollution, were derived using a spatiotemporal deep learning model. Mediators involved physical activity and negative emotions. Main analyses were performed in a 1000-m buffer with multivariate logistical regressions, stratification, interaction, and Partial Lease Square - Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Multi-exposure models revealed positive associations between park density/SVG and social contacts, as well as between SVG and social relations, while O ₃ was negatively associated with social relations/support. Significant moderators included age, birthplace, employment, and education. PLS-SEM indicated direct positive associations between SVG and social contacts/relations and significant indirect negative associations between NO ₂ /O ₃ and social health via negative emotions. This study adds to urban health research by exploring complex relationships between greenspace, air pollution, and social health, highlighting the role of the environment in fostering social restoration.
Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest ☒ The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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