How breaks in nature can affect the users’ wellbeing: an experience based survey during the lockdown

Abstract Background In the occasion of COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, the life of citizens was greatly disrupted - from healthcare professionals to the smart workers - and consequently also the state of mood. On the basis of the scientific evidences in relation to the relationship between the built environment and health, a research group has promoted an investigation on the benefits that greenery can have on the psychophysical state of the users, especially healthcare staff and users at home. Objectives The methodology adopted is the Profile of Mood States, which provides experiential activity in nature - without any technological distraction- to evaluate the benefits on mood. The methodology adopted refer to the shorter version (34 items) designed by prof. Grove at the University of Western Australia. In relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, the experience based questionnaire is differentiated for healthcare staff and general users. The questionnaire is composed of a few questions, to be completed before and after an experience in nature of 20/30 minutes. The investigation requires to be carried out in private gardens, balcony and/or terrace with greenery, public green areas, etc. Results 300 participants (subdivided into 225 general users and 75 healthcare professionals) took part in the investigations. Data analysis highlighted the higher performances in anxiety, depression, anger, force, fatigue and confusion, in particular for users who had the experience in garden (-50/70%), and among the healthcare staff the best outcomes are related to who did the investigation during or after the workshift (-60/-90%). Conclusions Although it is well-known the benefits that nature affects positively on well-being and stress level of users, the investigation underlines that brief breaks in the nature - especially in period of great stress such as pandemic - can influence the well-being and mental health of users.

Nature deprivation under COVID-19 lead to reduced wellbeing. Urban design interventions were also identified as an important contributor to the restoration of community confidence, choice, and safety. Factors related to sociodemographic, housing and lockdown were linked to changes in exposure to nature during the pandemic lockdown. Changes in exposure to nature and mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 lockdown were strongly linked. Especially young people had an increased number of mental health problems. Children and youth were more bored and worried in comparison with the pre-pandemic period. The educational institutions worldwide were closed or changed to online education during the pandemic, leading to great disturbance in students' education and outdoor events. All ''green infrastructure'' (GI) resources (including parks, gardens etc.) received great attention as ''essential infrastructure'' supporting well-being. But, the quality, functionality and position of GI in urban areas showed inequality in distribution. Frequently, societies with greater ethnic diversity, lower income and larger health inequality suffered from unsatisfactory or lack of access. GI is important in decision-making to address inequality. This work will also present an open-air activity for all generations: A reflective walk through the oldest part of Novi Sad (EU Capital of Culture 2022), as a part of Project Reflective citizens in Novi Sad. This walking tour was led by pupils from primary school -where all generations spend useful time in open space and a safe atmosphere walking tour, learning and listening about the cultural history of the oldest part of the city. It is vital to enhance urban planning and design practices in making healthier and more resilient communities. It is necessary to underline the importance of planning green spaces that need time to form in urban areas, and which have proven to be very important for mental health in the midst of the pandemic crisis.
Abstract citation ID: ckac129.707 Green space availability and mental health -results from a cross-sectional study in Northwestern Germany

Background:
A relationship between green space and health has been shown in several epidemiological studies. The impact of different types of green space is still relatively unknown. To start filling this gap, we looked at associations between different green space types and health outcomes (depression and mental health).

Methods:
Data are obtained from a cross-sectional study (n = 479). Depression (assessed with PHQ-9) and mental health (assessed with GHQ-28) are dependent variables. Availability of green space in the surrounding neighborhood was assessed as independent variable by the percentage of green space ( > = 1ha) within a 250m radius participants residence. Survey data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 26 and Geo data using QGIS 3.18.0. Results: N = 479 participants of a cross-sectional study in 2018 provided data (49.4%, n = 240 women; 49.6%, n = 239 men). Participants had a mean age of 57.55 years (SD: 18.80, min-max:18-95), majority (75.2%, n = 360) were married or partnered, had a lower educational qualification than A-levels equivalent (56.8%, n = 272), were not employed (53%, n = 254), had a net household income of at least 3. 000E per month (40.1%, n = 192) and at least sometimes financial worries (51.4%, n = 246). Green areas without agricultural areas show an association with frequency of depression (B(SE) = 0.056(0.024), p = 0.018). This contrasts with green spaces including agricultural areas, where there is no statistically significant association (B(SE) = 0.007(0.012), p = 0.564).

Discussion:
We found an association between type of green space and depression. Further studies are needed to establish a grid for assessing characteristics and quality criteria of green spaces. However, it can already be assumed that there is an association between quality of green spaces and psychosocial outcomes.

Background:
In the occasion of COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, the life of citizens was greatly disrupted -from healthcare professionals to the smart workers -and consequently also the state of mood. On the basis of the scientific evidences in relation to the relationship between the built environment and health, a research group has promoted an investigation on the benefits that greenery can have on the psychophysical state of the users, especially healthcare staff and users at home.

Objectives:
The methodology adopted is the Profile of Mood States, which provides experiential activity in nature -without any technological distraction-to evaluate the benefits on mood. The methodology adopted refer to the shorter version (34 items) designed by prof. Grove at the University of Western Australia. In relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, the experience based questionnaire is differentiated for healthcare staff and general users. The questionnaire is composed of a few questions, to be completed before and after an experience in nature of 20/30 minutes. The investigation requires to be carried out in private gardens, balcony and/or terrace with greenery, public green areas, etc. Results: 300 participants (subdivided into 225 general users and 75 healthcare professionals) took part in the investigations. Data analysis highlighted the higher performances in anxiety, depression, anger, force, fatigue and confusion, in particular for users who had the experience in garden (-50/70%), and among the healthcare staff the best outcomes are related to who did the investigation during or after the workshift (-60/-90%).

Conclusions:
Although it is well-known the benefits that nature affects positively on well-being and stress level of users, the investigation underlines that brief breaks in the natureespecially in period of great stress such as pandemic -can influence the well-being and mental health of users.
11.F. Workshop: Can digital health literacy act as a protective factor for students in times of crisis?

Abstract citation ID: ckac129.709
Organised by: University of Graz (Austria), EUPHA Working Group on Health Literacy Chair persons: Barbara Gasteiger-Klicpera (Austria), Michaela Wright (Austria) Contact: michaela.wright@uni-graz.at As mental health related issues become more and more prevalent across all ages and social groups around the globe, the identification of protective factors related to well-being is of high importance. In times of the COVID-19-pandemic, this proves to be even more crucial. Young adults and especially students were particularly burdened by social isolation and missing opportunities for personal exchange and supporting relationships during the pandemic. Within this workshop we will discuss the significance of a possible protective factor for the promotion and strengthening of well-being: digital health literacy (DHL). It involves the ability to search for healthrelated information, to add self-generated content, to evaluate the reliability of health information, to determine the relevance of health information and to protect one's privacy. Findings suggest that it plays a vital part as a protective resource when it comes to maintaining or promoting well-being. This might be particularly the case when the possibility of accessing healthrelated information is restricted due to reduced social contact. Since important sources for health information are available within the digital space, digital competencies are becoming important to access such information and to conduct a successful and healthy life. The competence of adequately dealing with digital health information, in particular, became more relevant during the COVID-19-pandemic. DHL can be seen as a two-dimensional construct. On the one hand, it refers to the ability to use digital resources to gather health information and, on the other hand, it refers to critical information literacy. Critical information literacy is the ability to collect, understand, evaluate and apply information. Within the proposed workshop, findings of a university survey, conducted within the global COVID-HL network, will be presented. Presentation 1 seeks to address the role of individual factors for the interaction between well-being and DHL. It will further examine the importance of being able to properly assess the relevance of health information. Presentation 2 sheds light on actions, such as adding selfgenerated health content, when it comes to mental health promotion. It will also take up the relevant individual factors that mediate the relationship between DHL and well-being. Presentation 3 highlights the ability of students to search for health-related information and to use it as a factor to improve their well-being. Presentation 4 provides insight into the importance of DHL for future health professionals in a health sector that is under digital transformation. Lastly, presentation 5 argues for the necessary enhancement of DHL and sense of coherence of students and stresses the need for health promoting and target group specific interventions. In a second step, the audience will be encouraged to ask questions and to engage in a discussion about the suggested conclusions and implications.

Key messages:
It has been shown internationally that there is a strong relationship between digital health literacy and students' well-being. Individual factors are relevant mediators in the relationship between well-being and digital health literacy. Background: Previous findings suggest that depressive and anxiety-related symptoms have doubled among students since the beginning of the pandemic. Digital health literacy can act as a protective resource to strengthen well-being.

Objectives:
This paper analyzes the relationship between digital health literacy, socioeconomic status and well-being and futureanxiety among students in Austria. Methods: 480 students from Austrian higher education institutions were surveyed via online questionnaire during the second wave of the Corona pandemic. Sociodemographic data, students' selfassessments of well-being, fears regarding future development and perspectives, and digital health literacy were collected. Variance and regression analyses were used for the evaluation.

Results:
About 50% of the students reported low scores in well-being and distinct fears about the future. A higher socioeconomic status correlated with higher well-being as well as lower fears about the future.Regarding digital health literacy, the ability to assess the relevance of information showed the highest correlation with well-being.

Conclusions:
Individual factors such as gender or the study-program are relevant for the interaction between well-being and digital 15th European Public Health Conference 2022