Background: Exposures to natural environments such as green space provide multiple ecosystem services and are associated with a range of health benefits. However, population-based studies assessing the role of residential greenspace dimensions on health outcomes and buffering of urban stressors, using high-resolution individual-level environmental exposures assessments have been limited.

Purpose & methods: To assess the associated health impacts and socioeconomic correlates of objectively measured high-resolution individual-level residential environmental exposures, incl. greenspace land cover and ambient noise, and behavior-related exposure to different types of natural environments, across a set of population-based longitudinal studies on cohorts in Sweden (≈120 000). Measures included spatial residential greenspace qualities, health outcomes incl. objective prescription medication purchase for common mental health problems, dementia and self-reported symptoms; nature visits, health behaviors, individual and neighborhood socioeconomic factors.

Results & discussion: Across studies, residential greenspace was associated with lower psychopharmacological prescription medication purchases and less symptoms, especially relating to the immediate residential surrounding, and buffering against ambient noise. Socioeconomic factors were associated with residential greenspace. Behavior-related greenspace exposure, incl. spending time in forests, were important for several aspects of mental health and health behaviors, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results provide practical guidance regarding greenspace dimensions and highlight the role of the immediate residential surroundings, as well as access to high quality greenspaces (i.e. larger coherent green areas) for mental and behavioral health.

The multiple pathways through which greenspace qualities can affect human and planetary health and sustainability need to be adequately considered in policy and implementation.