Mediating Role of Gut Microbiota in the Relationship Between Residential Greenness Exposure and Young Children's Temperament: A Pilot Study

This study investigated the potential mediating role of young children's gut microbiota between residential greenness exposure and temperament. We examined 40 children aged 24 months. Exposure to residential greenness after birth was estimated using the residential addresses of the mothers. Stool samples of the infants were collected at age 24 months. The gut microbiota was profiled using V3–V4 gene sequence of 16S rRNA. We found significant correlations between residential greenness exposure and temperament. Streptococcus played a mediating role between short-term exposure of residential greenness and soothability. Young children's gut microbiota is a significant mediator in the relationship between short-term exposure of residential greenness and temperament. Further research with larger samples is required to better understand the mediating mechanisms of gut microbiota between residential greenness exposure and temperament.