profile

Dr Lewis Elliott
Lecturer in Environment and Human Health
Knowledge Spa F098
University of Exeter Medical School, Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, TR1 3HD
Overview
Lewis is a Lecturer in Environment and Human Health at the European Centre for Environment and Human Health (ECEHH).
My research primarily concerns the benefits that the natural environment has on human physical health and psychological well-being. I primarily use quantitative methods and the analysis of large surveys in my work, though I have experience of experimental and intervention research as well. Some of the projects I work on, or have worked on, include:
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BlueHealth - looking at the human health benefits of Europe’s coasts and waterways
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GroundsWell - looking at community-led systems transformation of green and blue spaces for the benefit of population health
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RENEW - looking at human dimensions of biodiversity renewal in the UK.
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Smartline - looking at how everyday technology can benefit the health and happiness of people in social housing in Cornwall, UK
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What does blue do for you? - looking at the potential that aquatic natural environments have in shaping the well-being of people with bipolar and psychosis
As for teaching, I lead a module on Nature, Health, and Well-being for the MSc Environment and Human Health where I also lecture on quantitative methods and statistics. I co-convene a CPD course on the same topic. I also lecture or lead research groups for the BMBS programme, BSc Medical Sciences, and for a module on Oceans and Human Health. I have recently provided guest lectures for the Universities of Bath (nature and physical activity) and Edinburgh (questionnaire design for people-environment studies).
Qualifications
2016 PhD Health & Well-being, University of Exeter
2012 MSc Psychological Research Methods, Plymouth University
2011 BSc (Hons) Applied Psychology, Plymouth University
Career
2020-present: Lecturer in Environment and Human Health, European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter
2016-2020: Associate Research Fellow in Environment and Human Health, Eureopan Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter
Research group links
Research
Research interests
My research primarily concerns the benefits that the natural environment has on human physical health and psychological well-being. I primarily use quantitative methods and the analysis of large surveys in my work, though I have experience of experimental and intervention research as well.
Peer-reviewed journal articles
2022
Wuijts, S., de Vries, M., Zijlema, W., Hin, J., Elliott, L. R., Dirven-van-Breemen, L., Scoccimarro, E., de Roda Husman, A. M., Külvik, M., Frydas, I., Grellier, J., Sarigiannis, D., Taylor, T., Gotti, A., Nieuwenhuijsen, M. J., Hilderink, H. (in press). The health potential of urban water: a future outlook on risks and local opportunities. Cities. (IF=3.9).
2021
van den Bogerd, N., Elliott, L. R., White, M. P., Mishra, H. S., Bell, S., Porter, M., Sydenham, Z., Garrett, J. K., & Fleming, L. E. (2021). Urban blue space renovation and local resident and visitor well-being: A case study from Plymouth, UK. Landscape and Urban Planning, 215, 104232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2021.104232
Menneer, T., Qi, Z., Taylor, T., Paterson, C., Tu, G., Elliott, L. R., Morrissey, K., & Mueller, M. (2021). Changes in Domestic Energy and Water Usage during the UK COVID-19 Lockdown Using High-Resolution Temporal Data. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(13), 6818. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18136818
White, M. P., Elliott, L. R., Grellier, J., Economou, T., Bell, S., Bratman, G. N., Cirach, M., Gascon, M., Lima, M. L., Lõhmus, M., Nieuwenhuijsen, M., Ojala, A., Roiko, A., Schultz, P. W., van den Bosch, M., & Fleming, L. E. (2021). Associations between green/blue spaces and mental health across 18 countries. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 8903. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-87675-0
Börger, T., Campbell, D., White, M. P., Elliott, L. R., Fleming, L. E., Garrett, J. K., Hattam, C., Hynes, S., Lankia, T., & Taylor, T. (2021). The value of blue-space recreation and perceived water quality across Europe: A contingent behaviour study. Science of the Total Environment, 145597. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145597 (IF=6.6)
Adade, E.A, Elliott, L.R., Fleming, L.E., & Wuijts, S. (2021). Governance strategies to promote health and well-being: urban blue space infrastructure initiatives in Plymouth (UK). International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development. https://doi.org/10.1080/19463138.2021.1885038 (IF=1.1)
Lambert, J. D., Elliott, L. R., Taylor, A. H., Farrand, P., Haase, A. M., & Greaves, C. J. (2021). A novel method for assessing design fidelity in web-based behavioral interventions. Health Psychology, 40(3), 217-225. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0001046 (IF = 3.5)
2020
Elliott, L. R., White, M. P., Fleming, L. E., Abraham, C., & Taylor, A. H. (2020). Redesigning walking brochures using behaviour change theory: Implications for walking intentions in natural environments, daaa150, Health Promotion International. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daaa150 (IF = 1.9)
Tester-Jones, M., White, M. P., Elliott, L. R., Weinstein, N., Grellier, J., Economou, T., Bratman, G. N., Gascon, M., Korpela, K. M., Lima, M. L., Nieuwenhuijsen, M., O’Connor, A., Ojala, A., Roiko, A., van den Bosch, M. A., & Fleming, L. E. (2020). Experiences of nature for people with common mental health disorders: Results from an 18 country cross-sectional study. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-75825-9 (IF=4.0).
White, M. P., Bratman, G. N., Pahl, S., Young, G., Cracknell, D., & Elliott, L. R. (2020). Affective reactions to losses and gains in biodiversity: Testing a prospect theory approach. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 72, 101502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2020.101502 (IF=3.6).
White, M. P., Elliott, L. R., Gascon, M., Roberts, B., & Fleming, L. E. (2020). Blue space, health and well-being: A narrative overview and synthesis of potential benefits. Environmental Research, 191, 110169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.110169 (IF = 5.7)
Garrett, J. K., White, M. P., Elliott, L. R., Wheeler, B. W., & Fleming, L. E. (2020). Urban nature and physical activity: Investigating associations using self-reported and accelerometer data and the role of household income. Environmental Research, 190, 109899. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.109899 (IF = 5.7)
Vert, C., Gascón, M., Ranzani, O., Márquez, S., Triguero-Mas, M., Carrasco-Turigas, G., Arjona, L., Koch, S., Llopis, M., Donaire-Gonzalez, D., Elliott, L. R., & Nieuwenhuijsen, M. (2020). Physical and mental health effects of repeated short walks in a blue space environment: a randomised crossover study. Environmental Research, 188, 109812. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.109812 (IF = 5.7)
Bell, S., Mishra, H. S., Elliott, L. R., Shellock, R., Vassiljev, P., Porter, M., Sydenham, Z., & White, M. P. (2020). Urban Blue Acupuncture: A Protocol for Evaluating a Complex Landscape Design Intervention to Improve Health and Wellbeing in a Coastal Community. Sustainability, 12(10), 4084. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12104084 (IF=2.6)
Elliott, L. R., White, M. P., Grellier, J., Garrett, J. K., Cirach, M., Wheeler, B. W., Bratman, G. N., van den Bosch, M. A., Ojala, A., Roiko, A., Lima, M. L., O’Connor, A., Gascon, M., Nieuwenhuijsen, M., & Fleming, L. E. (2020). Research Note: Residential distance and recreational visits to coastal and inland blue spaces in eighteen countries. Landscape and Urban Planning, 198, 103800. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2020.103800 (IF = 5.1)
Hooyberg, A., Roose, H., Grellier, J., Elliott, L. R., Lonneville, B., White, M. P., Michels, N., De Henauw, S., Vandegehuchte, M., & Everaert, G. (2020). General health and residential proximity to the coast in Belgium: Results from a cross-sectional health survey. Environmental Research, 184, 109225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.109225 (IF = 5.7)
2019
Yeo, N. L., Elliott, L. R., Bethel, A., White, M. P., Dean, S. G., & Garside, R. (2019). Indoor nature interventions for health and wellbeing of older adults in residential settings: a systematic review. The Gerontologist. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnz019 (IF = 3.6)
Pasanen, T. P., White, M. P., Wheeler, B. W., Garrett, J. K., & Elliott, L. R. (2019). Neighbourhood blue space, health and wellbeing: The mediating role of different types of physical activity. Environment International, 131, 105016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.105016 (IF = 7.9)
Vert, C., Carrasco-Turigas, G., Zijlema, W., Espinosa, A., Cano-Riu, L., Elliott, L. R., … Gascon, M. (2019). Impact of a riverside accessibility intervention on use, physical activity, and wellbeing: A mixed methods pre-post evaluation. Landscape and Urban Planning, 190, 103611. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2019.103611 (IF = 5.1)
Elliott L. R., White M. P., Sarran, C., Grellier, J., Garrett, J. K., Scoccimarro, E., & Fleming, L. E. (2019). The effects of meteorological conditions and daylight on nature-based recreational physical activity in England. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 42, 39-50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2019.05.005 (IF = 3.0)
2018
Garrett, J. K., White, M. P., Huang, J., Ng, S., Hui, Z., Leung, C., Tse, L.A., Fung, F., Elliott, L.R., Depledge, M.H. & Wong, M.C. (2018). Urban blue space and health and wellbeing in Hong Kong: Results from a survey of older adults. Health & Place, 55, 100-110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2018.11.003 (IF = 3.2)
Elliott, L. R., White, M. P., Grellier, J., Rees, S. E., Waters, R. D., & Fleming, L. E. (2018). Recreational visits to marine and coastal environments in England: Where, what, who, why, and when? Marine Policy, 97, 305-314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2018.03.013 (IF = 2.9)
White, M. P., Elliott, L. R., Wheeler, B. W., & Fleming, L. E. (2018). Neighbourhood greenspace is related to physical activity in England, but only for dog owners. Landscape and Urban Planning, 174, 18–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2018.01.004 (IF = 5.1)
2017
Grellier, J., White, M. P., Albin, M., Bell, S., Elliott, L. R., Gascón, M., Gualdi, S., Mancini, L., Nieuwenhuijsen, M.J., Sarigiannis, D.A. and Van Den Bosch, M. (2017). BlueHealth: a study programme protocol for mapping and quantifying the potential benefits to public health and well-being from Europe’s blue spaces. BMJ Open, 7(6), e016188. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016188 (IF = 2.4)
Calogiuri, G., & Elliott, L. R. (2017). Why Do People Exercise in Natural Environments? Norwegian Adults’ Motives for Nature-, Gym-, and Sports-Based Exercise. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(4), 377. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14040377 (IF = 2.5)
2016
Elliott, L. R., White, M. P., Taylor, A. H., & Abraham, C. (2016). How do brochures encourage walking in natural environments in the UK? A content analysis. Health Promotion International, 33(2), 299–310. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daw083 (IF = 1.9)
White, M. P., Elliott, L. R., Taylor, T., Wheeler, B. W., Spencer, A., Bone, A., Depledge, M. H. and Fleming, L. E. (2016). Recreational physical activity in natural environments and implications for health: A population based cross-sectional study in England. Preventive Medicine, 91, 383–388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2016.08.023 (IF = 3.4)
Frühauf, A., Niedermeier, M., Elliott, L. R., Ledochowski, L., Marksteiner, J., & Kopp, M. (2016). Acute effects of outdoor physical activity on affect and psychological well-being in depressed patients – A preliminary study. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 10, 4–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2016.02.002 (IF= 1.8)
2015
Elliott, L. R., White, M. P., Taylor, A. H., & Herbert, S. (2015). Energy expenditure on recreational visits to different natural environments. Social Science & Medicine, 139, 53–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.06.038 (IF = 3.1)
Book chapters
Elliott, L. R., White, M. P., Zijlema, W., Vert, C., & Vassiljev, P. (2021). Assessing city-wide and local health and wellbeing benefits. In Bell, S., Fleming, L.E., Grellier, J., Kuhlmann, F., Nieuwenhuijsen, M., & White, M.P. (Eds.) Urban blue spaces: planning and design for water, health, and well-being; London, Routledge.
White, M.P., Elliott, L.R., Gascon, M., Roberts, B., & Fleming, L.E. (2021). Potential benefits of blue space for human health and well-being. In Bell, S., Fleming, L.E., Grellier, J., Kuhlmann, F., Nieuwenhuijsen, M., & White, M.P. (Eds.) Urban blue spaces: planning and design for water, health, and well-being; London, Routledge.
Külvik, M., Gascon, M., de Medina, M.C.A., Elliott, L.R., Balicka, J., Rodrigues, F.M., & Suškevičs, M. (2021). Co-design with local stakeholders. In Bell, S., Fleming, L.E., Grellier, J., Kuhlmann, F., Nieuwenhuijsen, M., & White, M.P. (Eds.) Urban blue spaces: planning and design for water, health, and well-being; London, Routledge.
Grellier, J., Mishra, H.S., Elliott, L.R., Wuijts, S., & Braubach, M.F.W. (2021). Generating evidence in support of site planning and design: The BlueHealth Toolbox. In Bell, S., Fleming, L.E., Grellier, J., Kuhlmann, F., Nieuwenhuijsen, M., & White, M.P. (Eds.) Urban blue spaces: planning and design for water, health, and well-being; London, Routledge.
White, M.P., Bell, S., Elliott, L.R., Jenkin, R., Wheeler, B.W. & Depledge, M.H. (2016). The health benefits of blue exercise in the UK. In J. Barton, R. Bragg, C. Wood & J. Pretty (Eds.), Green Exercise: Linking Nature, Health and Well-Being (Chp 7, pp. 69-78); Oxford, Routledge.
Software
Jones, M., Kynoch, S., Elliott, L. R., Bush, A., & Grainger, M. (2020). Parkcast: Parks in the pandemic. [alpha version; Github; website].
Non-academic reports
Lovell, R., Elliott, L. R., Depledge, M. H., Fleming, L. E., Garrett, J. K., Grellier, J., White, M. P., & Wheeler, B. W. (2021). The benefits of coastal living. Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report 2021: Health in Coastal Communities. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/chief-medical-officers-annual-report-2021-health-in-coastal-communities
Lovell, R., White, M.P., Wheeler, B., Taylor, T., Elliott, L. R. (2020) A rapid scoping review of health and wellbeing evidence for the Green Infrastructure Standards. European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School. For: Natural England, Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Public Health England, and Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, England. Report available here.
Matthies-Weisler, F., Fleming, L. E., Braubach, M., Elliott, L. R., Friederichs, L., Garrett, J. K., Grellier, J., Hattam, C., Pahl, S., White, M. P., & Wuijts, S. (2019). Health, the global ocean and marine resources: Policy brief (p. 20) [Policy brief]. World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/404496/SDG-14-5.pdf?ua=1
Lovell, R., Hails, R., Weatherby, A., Wheeler, B. W., White, M. P., Woods, V. et al. (2018). Demystifying Health. Valuing Nature Paper VNP13. Valuing Nature Programme. Report available here.
Elliott, L. R. (2015). Health, well-being and the natural environment. In Natural England (Ed.), Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment: The national survey on people and the natural environment. Annual report from the 2013-14 survey (pp. 69-84). UK, Natural England.
Elliott, L. R. (2014). The effect of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games on health and natural environment engagement in the Lee Valley. Natural England Research Reports Number NE574.
Research projects
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BlueHealth - looking at the human health benefits of Europe’s coasts and waterways
-
GroundsWell - looking at community-led systems transformation of green and blue spaces for the benefit of population health
-
RENEW - looking at human dimensions of biodiversity renewal in the UK.
-
Smartline - looking at how everyday technology can benefit the health and happiness of people in social housing in Cornwall, UK
-
What does blue do for you? - looking at the potential that aquatic natural environments have in shaping the well-being of people with bipolar and psychosis
Publications
Key publications | Publications by category | Publications by year
Publications by category
Journal articles
Chapters
Publications by year
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
Lewis_Elliott Details from cache as at 2023-09-26 21:47:58
External Engagement and Impact
I am on the editorial board for a new journal, Global Environmental Psychology (details coming soon).
I regularly peer-review other research in the field, a record can be seen on my Publons profile.
I have been integral in the redevelopment of Natural England’s Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment survey (designated national statistics and the world’s largest data source on the connection between contact with natural environments and health). In 2019/2020 I was responsible for a methodological and statistical review of this redevelopment in the formation of Natural England’s new People & Nature Survey.
Various resources related to my research can be found on my personal webpage (under development): https://lewis-r-elliott.github.io/
Teaching
I lead a module on Nature, Health, and Well-being for the MSc Environment and Human Health where I also lecture on quantitative methods and statistics. I co-convene a CPD course on the same topic. I also lecture or lead research groups for the BMBS programme, BSc Medical Sciences, and for a module on Oceans and Human Health. I have recently provided guest lectures for the Universities of Bath (nature and physical activity) and Edinburgh (questionnaire design for people-environment studies).