Built environment, including urban structures and individual housing, has effects on both physical and mental health. Environmental characteristics with direct effects on mental health include housing, crowding, noise, indoor air quality and light and design features. In spite of these many links, the impact of built environment on mental heath has not been fully investigated. Following the recent increase in awareness of this impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is timely to bring together the latest research on this topic. Designers and architects may play an essential role in the prevention, control and response to this COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics.
The mental health impact might also differ between different populations depending on factors including age, gender, ethnicity and sociodemographic status. Furthermore, the specific characteristics of the built environment might be critical to determine the impact it will have. Finally, some additional factors such as access to green and blue spaces could play a role and help us to better understand the long-term impact of built environment on mental health. For these reasons, further research is required to deepen our understanding of the characteristics of built environments that are important for mental health and the impact these individual factors can have.
The goal of this Research Topic is to report on recent papers that investigate and understand the short and long-term impact of the built environment on mental health. The aim is to highlight the advances that have been made in this research area in recent years, and progress towards how best to assess the short and long term impact on different population groups. A special focus of the Research Topic is on methodological improvements in this area as the assessment of different types of built environment still needs to be further developed.
We welcome articles focused on, but not restricted to:
• Impact of urban structures on mental health of adults;
• Impact of urban structures on mental health of children and adolescents;
• Impact of housing characteristics on mental health;
• Gender differences related to the impact of urban structures on mental health;
• Health issues that can potentially be tackled through design interventions.
Built environment, including urban structures and individual housing, has effects on both physical and mental health. Environmental characteristics with direct effects on mental health include housing, crowding, noise, indoor air quality and light and design features. In spite of these many links, the impact of built environment on mental heath has not been fully investigated. Following the recent increase in awareness of this impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is timely to bring together the latest research on this topic. Designers and architects may play an essential role in the prevention, control and response to this COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics.
The mental health impact might also differ between different populations depending on factors including age, gender, ethnicity and sociodemographic status. Furthermore, the specific characteristics of the built environment might be critical to determine the impact it will have. Finally, some additional factors such as access to green and blue spaces could play a role and help us to better understand the long-term impact of built environment on mental health. For these reasons, further research is required to deepen our understanding of the characteristics of built environments that are important for mental health and the impact these individual factors can have.
The goal of this Research Topic is to report on recent papers that investigate and understand the short and long-term impact of the built environment on mental health. The aim is to highlight the advances that have been made in this research area in recent years, and progress towards how best to assess the short and long term impact on different population groups. A special focus of the Research Topic is on methodological improvements in this area as the assessment of different types of built environment still needs to be further developed.
We welcome articles focused on, but not restricted to:
• Impact of urban structures on mental health of adults;
• Impact of urban structures on mental health of children and adolescents;
• Impact of housing characteristics on mental health;
• Gender differences related to the impact of urban structures on mental health;
• Health issues that can potentially be tackled through design interventions.