Do physical neighborhood characteristics matter in predicting traffic stress and health outcomes?

Abstract

This study examines whether social, and physical environment characteristics related to urban design interact with individual perceptions of traffic stress to influence individual well-being. The Chinese American Psychiatric Epidemiologic Study data, the US census data, and the Geographic Information System (GIS) data are employed. Analyses used hierarchical linear modeling. The results indicate that perceived traffic stress was associated with lower health status and higher depression. More importantly, higher density of major streets and greater vehicular burden in the neighborhood pose potential harm to health by reinforcing the negative impacts of perceived traffic stress. On the other hand, more park land in the neighborhood could alleviate the damage of traffic stress on individual's well-being. The implications of the results for future research are discussed.

Urban green space, public health, and environmental justice: The challenge of making cities ‘just green enough’

“…A park experience has been shown to reduce stress (Ulrich, 1981;Ulrich et al, 1991;Woo et al, 2009), and green space can afford urban residents opportunities to encounter plants and animals as well as opportunities to recuperate or experience solitude (Fuller, Irvine, Devine-Wright, Warren, & Gaston, 2007). Park visits can also rejuvenate residents, enhance contemplation, and provide a sense of peace and tranquility (Kaplan and Kaplan, 2003;Song, Gee, Fan, & Takeuchi, 2007).…”

Changes in the value of ecosystem services along a rural–urban gradient: A case study of Greater Manchester, UK

“…Noise from traffic was often a problem in suburban and especially urban sites -areas in which physical barriers to buffer or attenuate noise often failed to exist. Noise is known to have potentially profound effects on the quality of life of urban inhabitants (Arenas, 2008;Berglund & Lindvall, 1995;Passchier-Vermeer & Passchier, 2000), affecting quality of sleep and concentration levels (Moudon, 2009) and increasing general stress levels of individuals (Song, Gee, Fan, & Takeuchi, 2007). It would, therefore, be beneficial, in terms of human health and wellbeing, to encourage noise attenuation devices/measures into suburban and urban areas.…”

The value of views and open space: Estimates from a hedonic pricing model for Ramsey County, Minnesota, USA

“…Open space also benefits human health by providing a location for outdoor exercise or to escape the stresses of urban environments (Giles-Corti et al, 2005;Krenichyn, 2006;Maller et al, 2006;Roemmich et al, 2006;Song et al, 2007) and may provide ecological benefits, for example, by acting as habitat for wildlife or improving water or air quality. Open space is frequently reduced as communities urbanize and along with it go the public goods it provides.…”