to follow
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Stirling
Department Name: Applied Social Science
Abstract
to follow
Organisations
Publications
Masterton W
(2022)
Exploring how greenspace programmes might be effective in supporting people with problem substance use: a realist interview study
in BMC Public Health
Masterton W
(2021)
Greenspace programmes for mental health: A survey study to test what works, for whom, and in what circumstances.
in Health & place
Masterton W
(2020)
Greenspace interventions for mental health in clinical and non-clinical populations: What works, for whom, and in what circumstances?
in Health & place
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES/P000681/1 | 01/10/2017 | 30/09/2027 | |||
| 2133376 | Studentship | ES/P000681/1 | 01/10/2018 | 31/01/2022 | Wendy Masterton |
| Description | The health benefits of greenspace are widely acknowledged, however, there is still limited understanding of the mechanisms by which greenspace programmes are effective. This makes future development and implementation of greenspace programmes very difficult. During my PhD, I developed and published a novel framework for greenspace programmes for mental health (Masterton et al., 2020). In this paper, I identified key programme theories comprising of contexts, mechanisms, and outcomes that allowed identification of what works, for whom, and in what circumstances. In my project's second phase, I tested the framework using primary data from 64 greenspace organisations in Scotland. I was able to identify what programmes exist, where, for whom, and with what focus. Furthermore, the results supported the proposed realist framework. Given the proposed link between mental health and substance use, I was also interested in exploring the framework's applicability to programmes for people with problem substance use. I was interested in exploring whether the programme theories for greenspace programmes for positive mental health, were transferable to programmes that support people with problem substance use. The survey results showed that responses from organisations that supported problem substance use were not statistically different to responses from organisations that did not support this client base. This showed that the framework had potential to be applicable to greenspace programmes for both mental health support and for support with problem substance use. In the third and final stage of the PhD, I used qualitative interviews with staff on greenspace programmes, as well as with wider stakeholders, to further uncover why greenspace programmes work for people with problem substance use. These in depth interviewed allowed final refinement and consolidation of the intervention framework. This is a novel finding as, to my knowledge, there is currently no framework looking to explain the contexts, mechanisms, and outcomes necessary for greenspace programmes to be successful for mental health and for people with problem substance use. Therefore, this could be important for future programme development and implementation. |
| Exploitation Route | There is currently no framework looking to explain the contexts, mechanisms, and outcomes necessary for greenspace programmes to be successful for supporting people with problem substance use. This means that programme development is very difficult without an understanding of the key mechanisms and processes that affect outcomes. With a detailed framework indicating causality, future programme development and implementation could be much more effective. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Healthcare |
| Description | I have published in The Conversation discussing the health benefits of greenspace and the inequalities in access. There have been 20,556 readers at the time of writing (7th March 2022) since August 2020 when it was published. Readers have been from around the world and have shared the article widely. The article can be found here: https://theconversation.com/parks-and-green-spaces-are-important-for-our-mental-health-but-we-need-to-make-sure-that-everyone-can-benefit-142322 I have also developed a briefing of the realist review paper found in publications. This briefing has been a collaborative piece of work with Dundee Green Health Partnership and The Conservation Volunteers and has been widely distributed across our networks to those working on greenspace programmes and interested wider stakeholders such as policy makers. It is also hosted on the Dundee Green Health Partnership website: https://www.greenhealth.scot/partner Further, I have disseminated my findings across a range of non-academic public events run by organisations such as Highland Green Health Partnership, Drugs Research Network Scotland (DRNS), and Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP). This has enabled my work to be shared across a variety of networks, both in relation to greenspace research and within the field of substance use. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Healthcare |
| Impact Types | Societal |
| Description | Response Mode Funding Scheme |
| Amount | £300,213 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | HIPS/22/21 |
| Organisation | Chief Scientist Office |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2023 |
| End | 05/2025 |
| Description | Blog post for The Conversation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I published in The Conversation where over 7,000 readers have engaged with the post. The purpose of the article was to highlight the benefits of greenspace, to discuss inequalities in access, and to direct readers to the recently published realist review of greenspace programmes for mental health. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://theconversation.com/parks-and-green-spaces-are-important-for-our-mental-health-but-we-need-t... |
| Description | Presentation at Alcohol Occasionals event by Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I disseminated my work to an international audience at a 1.5 hour event run by Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems. There were over 100 attendees from around the world, and many people also watched the recording. The presentation also sparked questions and discussion afterwards, and there was very positive feedback and request for further information. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://shaap.org.uk/downloads/alcohol-occasionals/344-greenspace-programmes.html |
| Description | Short guide for greenspace programmes for mental health |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I developed my findings from the realist synthesis into a short guide/briefing paper through collaborative work with TCV and the Dundee GHP, and which can be found on the 'Become a Partner' page on the Greenhealth.scot website (https://www.greenhealth.scot/partner). This briefing provides a guide for greenspace programmes for mental health and has been designed to aid programme developers with implementation. It has been well received and shared widely across many networks, including the social prescribing network at the European Centre for Environment and Human Health (ECEHH) and the Edinburgh and Lothians Green Health Prescribing team. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.greenhealth.scot/partner |