Pouria Boujari ¹ Mojtaba Shahabi Shahmiri ^2* Seyed Mahdi Khatami ¹ Sana Ghiasi Alamdari ¹

• ¹ Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Tehran, Iran
• ² University of Tehran, Tehran, Tehran, Iran

While compact cities are often promoted as a sustainable urban development solution, there is ongoing debate about the health effects of living in high-density urban areas. This study aimed to investigate how two key aspects of compact cities-density indicators and land use mix-impact depression, anxiety, and overall mental health. Utilizing linear regression, the research analyzed secondary data from 358 neighborhoods in Tehran in 2011, a densely populated city in Iran where over one-third of its inhabitants suffer from mental disorders. The results revealed that individuals living in areas with higher housing density are more likely to experience elevated levels of mental disorders. However, no significant correlation was found between mental health outcomes and other density factors, such as population density and green density, although access to green spaces was noted as a contributing factor. Similarly, there was no relationship between land use mix, accessibility to daily services, and mental health outcomes. Additionally, the findings indicated that neighborhoods with higher unemployment rates are associated with negative mental health outcomes. Conversely, a higher proportion of elderly individuals in neighborhoods was linked to lower rates of depression and anxiety. Interestingly, no relationship was found between the percentage of individuals living below the poverty line and mental disorders. This study informs urban planners and policymakers about the need to address and mitigate the potential adverse effects of increasing residential densities in compact cities. Recommendations include providing access to green spaces, designing age-diverse neighborhoods that promote social interaction, and ensuring the availability of high-quality housing units.