The Anatomy of Health-Supportive Neighborhoods: A Multilevel Analysis of Built Environment, Perceived Disorder, Social Interaction and Mental Health in Beijing

Abstract

Mental health is an exceedingly prevalent concern for the urban population. Mounting evidence has confirmed the plausibility of high incidences of mental disorders in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods. However, the association between the neighborhood built environment and individual mental health is understudied and far from conclusive, especially in developing countries such as China. The underlying mechanism requires in-depth analysis combining potential intermediates such as perceived environmental disorder and supportive social relationships. Using a health survey conducted in Beijing in 2017, this study investigates for the first time a socio-environmental pathway through which perceived disorder and social interaction account for the relationship between the built environment and mental health under the very notion of the neighborhood effect. The results from multilevel structural equation models indicate that individual mental health is influenced by the neighborhood-scale built environment through three pathways, independent of neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantages: (1) proximity to parks is the sole indicator directly linked to mental health; (2) population density, road connectivity and proximity to parks are indirectly associated with mental health through interactions with neighbors; and (3) population density, road connectivity and facility diversity are partially associated with perceived neighborhood disorder, which is indirectly correlated with mental health through interactions with neighbors. This study is a preliminary attempt to disentangle the complex relationships among the neighborhood environment, social interaction and mental health in the context of developing megacities. The relevant findings provide an important reference for urban planners and administrators regarding how to build health-supportive neighborhoods and healthy cities.

Deciphering the Link Between Mental Health and Green Space in Shenzhen, China: The Mediating Impact of Residents' Satisfaction

“…Second, our results imply that, different from physical health, individuals' mental health is more implicitly affected by their surrounding environment. The internal mechanism of this influence is complicated, and more research is needed to test and clarify possible mediators ( 63 ). Third, the present study bridges a knowledge gap in research on the association between the relative extent of green space, residents' mental health, and potential mediating mechanisms between them in a Chinese city other than Beijing ( 36 ) or Guangzhou ( 4 ).…”

Urban Low-Cost Housing Effect Mental Health

“…The location and surrounding environments, such as the surrounding land use, light, air, and provided facilities also have a relationship with mental health (Boadi et al, 2005;Kim & Yoo, 2019;James et al, 2017). The built environment, especially housing, is associated with mental health more than physical health (Barros et al, 2019;Tao et al, 2020). The low-cost housing location is usually in a lower estate value and generally in a deprived area.…”

“…However, the relationship between the built environment and mental health findings is still limited and conclusive. According to Tao, Yang, and Chai (2020) and Barros et al (2019), the built environment of a neighbourhood gives a resident an initial feeling of safety and disorder, which can be an emotional response that can improve or harm residents' social wellbeing and mental health depending on their feelings. There are abundant studies that have found that a built environment can also become a determinant affecting the risk of mental disorders.…”

Children’s Experiences of Their Journey to School: Integrating Behaviour Change Frameworks to Inform the Role of the Built Environment in Active School Travel Promotion

“…Extensive research indicates that the built environment can have an impact on population health, affecting diabetes and obesity [ 3 ], respiratory diseases [ 4 ] and cardiovascular diseases [ 5 ]. At the same time, built environments can have a preventative role in human health by promoting healthy behaviours, such as physical activity [ 6 ], healthy diet [ 7 ] and opportunities for social cohesion and restoration [ 8 ]. Despite the importance of the built environment for children’s health and development [ 2 ], including potential effects on obesity and metabolic syndrome in adult life [ 9 ], less evidence exists on the influences of the built environment on children’s health behaviours.…”