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oai:figshare.com:article/34044106 2026-10-01T11:09:03Z category_15 category_21 category_272 category_734 category_106 category_122 category_132 portal_63 item_type_6 month_year_10_2026

Associations of Early-Childhood Residential Green Space Exposure with Nail Cortisol Levels and Behavior in Young Children: Insights from the ENVIRONAGE Birth Cohort Lore Verheyen (22518167) Rossella Alfano (5088311) Hanne Sleurs (8890124) Nick Giesberts (25156153) Esmée Bijnens (25156156) Brigitte Reimann (6584090) Dries S. Martens (6653942) Sam Ottoy (25156159) Robert Malina (1790869) Tim S. Nawrot (6644921) Michelle Plusquin (409804) Neuroscience Biotechnology Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified Science Policy Mental Health Infectious Diseases sensitive developmental period improved child well high spatial resolution age birth cohort close residential environment several behavioral domains residential green space reduced nail cortisol nail cortisol levels also inversely associated green space nail cortisol green environments behavioral outcomes behavioral functioning − 21 − 19 − 10 young children term stress old children findings suggest evaluated using difficulties questionnaire chronic stress Early childhood is a sensitive developmental period during which environmental conditions may shape stress regulation and behavioral functioning. Green environments have been associated with improved child well-being, yet evidence linking early childhood green space exposure to long-term stress physiology remains limited. We examined associations between residential and school-based green space exposure, chronic stress, and behavioral outcomes in 4- to 6-year-old children from the ENVIR<i>ON</i>AGE birth cohort. Green space was quantified at high spatial resolution. Nail cortisol was used as a biomarker of long-term hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activity, and behavioral functioning was evaluated using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Associations were analyzed using adjusted multiple regression models, and mediation by nail cortisol was tested. Residential green space was associated with reduced nail cortisol, with a decrease of 11.8% (95% CI: −21.5%, −0.97%) per IQR increase of low green vegetation within 100 m and of −10.3% (95% CI: −19.2%, −0.47%) within 300 m buffers. Residential green space was also inversely associated with several behavioral domains. No mediation by nail cortisol was observed. These findings suggest that residential green space, particularly in the close residential environment, may support better behavioral development and lower long-term stress in early childhood. 2026-10-01T00:00:00Z Text Journal contribution 10.1021/acs.est.6c04150.s001 https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Associations_of_Early-Childhood_Residential_Green_Space_Exposure_with_Nail_Cortisol_Levels_and_Behavior_in_Young_Children_Insights_from_the_ENVIRONAGE_Birth_Cohort/34044106 CC BY-NC 4.0