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Blue space and health/well-being: An overview of six meta-analyses and their evidence certainty (PRIOR item 1) .

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Blue space and health/well-being: An overview of six meta-analyses and their evidence certainty (PRIOR item 1) .
Authors: Han KT, Zhang XL
Source: Water research [Water Res] 2026 Jan 01; Vol. 288 (Pt A), pp. 124530. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Sep 02.
Publication Type: Journal Article; Systematic Review
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Pergamon Press Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 0105072 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1879-2448 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00431354 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Water Res Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: Oxford, Pergamon Press.
MeSH Terms: Oceans and Seas* , Fresh Water* , Psychological Well-Being* , Health*, Humans ; Meta-Analysis as Topic ; Water Quality
Abstract: 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.
The objective of this umbrella review is to systematically synthesize evidence from meta-analyses published between 2020 and 2024 regarding the influence of blue spaces on health/well-being. This umbrella review aims to provide the highest level of synthesized evidence and to assess the certainty of that evidence. Studies were included if they met the following criteria: the Population could be any demographic group; the Intervention involved exposure to any outdoor blue space; the Comparator was either with non-blue spaces or based on differences in proximity or accessibility; the Outcome measured any aspect of health/well-being; and the Study design was a meta-analysis. Meta-analyses focusing on drinking water, water quality, water pollution, aquatic ecology, climate, or sports in outdoor aquatic environments were excluded. The literature search covered 10 English-language electronic databases and four Chinese-language electronic databases, along with Google Scholar in Indian, Spanish, and French. Risk of bias in the included meta-analyses was assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Systematic Reviews and Research Syntheses. Data extraction and synthesis were conducted using the JBI Extraction Form, the JBI Tabular Presentation of Quantitative Findings for Umbrella Reviews, and the Summary of Evidence from Quantitative Research Syntheses in a JBI Umbrella Review. Ultimately, six meta-analyses were included, encompassing over three million participants. The highest level of synthesized evidence from this umbrella review indicates that blue space is significantly associated with a reduction in term low birth weight (OR=0.71, 95 % CI 0.51, 0.99, k = 2, n = 134,942), supported by moderate certainty of evidence and no overlap. When considering the application of blue spaces to promote health/well-being, it is essential to weigh potential risks and benefits. Importantly, the mere presence of blue space does not equate to actual exposure.
(Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Blue space exposure; Blue space metrics; Environmental epidemiology; Grade; Term low birth weight; Umbrella review
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20250926 Date Completed: 20251118 Latest Revision: 20251119
Update Code: 20251121
DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2025.124530
PMID: 41005277
Database: MEDLINE
Description
Abstract: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.<br />The objective of this umbrella review is to systematically synthesize evidence from meta-analyses published between 2020 and 2024 regarding the influence of blue spaces on health/well-being. This umbrella review aims to provide the highest level of synthesized evidence and to assess the certainty of that evidence. Studies were included if they met the following criteria: the Population could be any demographic group; the Intervention involved exposure to any outdoor blue space; the Comparator was either with non-blue spaces or based on differences in proximity or accessibility; the Outcome measured any aspect of health/well-being; and the Study design was a meta-analysis. Meta-analyses focusing on drinking water, water quality, water pollution, aquatic ecology, climate, or sports in outdoor aquatic environments were excluded. The literature search covered 10 English-language electronic databases and four Chinese-language electronic databases, along with Google Scholar in Indian, Spanish, and French. Risk of bias in the included meta-analyses was assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Systematic Reviews and Research Syntheses. Data extraction and synthesis were conducted using the JBI Extraction Form, the JBI Tabular Presentation of Quantitative Findings for Umbrella Reviews, and the Summary of Evidence from Quantitative Research Syntheses in a JBI Umbrella Review. Ultimately, six meta-analyses were included, encompassing over three million participants. The highest level of synthesized evidence from this umbrella review indicates that blue space is significantly associated with a reduction in term low birth weight (OR=0.71, 95 % CI 0.51, 0.99, k = 2, n = 134,942), supported by moderate certainty of evidence and no overlap. When considering the application of blue spaces to promote health/well-being, it is essential to weigh potential risks and benefits. Importantly, the mere presence of blue space does not equate to actual exposure.<br /> (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
ISSN:1879-2448
DOI:10.1016/j.watres.2025.124530