Park visits were linked to better mood. But not to lower stress.

Randomised controlled trial (RCT). 726 people. one-time baseline snapshot (cohort 1 in 2019, cohort 2 in 2023); accelerometer worn for 7 days.

A trial. Chance decided who did what.

Who: Churchgoing Latino adults (99.6% Latino; 89% Mexican background) from 12 Catholic churches in high-poverty, predominantly Latino neighborhoods in and near East Los Angeles; mean age 52.3 (SD 13.8), 76% women, 72% high school or less, mean BMI 31.1

• Depression symptomslowerper weekly visit
• Type 2 diabeteslowerlower odds
• Lower stressunclearno clear link

More to know, from our read of the paper:

• Cross-sectional (baseline of an RCT, before any intervention): association only, direction unknown (e.g. people with depression or diabetes may visit parks less); authors say it 'precludes causal inference'
• Park visits (past 7 days), depression (PHQ-8), stress (PSS-4), hypertension and diabetes diagnoses were self-reported; only physical activity (hip accelerometer, 7 days, Freedson cut-points), height and weight were measured. Authors note many Latino adults may be unaware of diabetes/hypertension
• Small effects: -0.22 PHQ-8 points (scale 0-24) per extra weekly park visit (p = 0.04); -0.003 points per minute of weekly MVPA. Sample was mostly not depressed (mean PHQ-8 3.4; ~10% met major depression criteria). Say 'slightly fewer symptoms'
• Diabetes OR 0.81 (0.69-0.95) is per additional weekly park visit; OR, so never 'X% of people'. The paper itself writes '19% lower odds of Type 2 DM'
• Scope: churchgoing Latino adults (76% women) in low-income East Los Angeles; two cohorts (2019 pre-COVID, 2023) differed; income not adjusted (education used instead)

726 Latino adults (76% women, average age 52) from 12 Catholic churches in low-income parts of East Los Angeles wore an activity tracker for a week and reported their park visits. Each extra weekly park visit was linked to slightly fewer depression symptoms and to 19% lower odds of having type 2 diabetes (a self-reported diagnosis). Exercise measured by the tracker was also linked to fewer depression symptoms. Neither park visits nor exercise were clearly linked to stress. It was a one-time snapshot: linked, not proven.

We read the abstract and the full text of this paper and checked every number on this page against it (16 facts, checked on 2026-10-29). The study design is named above. Cohort and other observational studies are described as linked, not proven. Found an error? Email theis@onestudyaday.com.