December 7, 2006 – The quality of the physical environment appears to have a marked impact on the mental health of citizens, according to British researchers.
They applied the following criteria to measure people’s satisfaction with their environment: the quality of their home, the availability of recreational spaces, the crime rate and the ability to interact socially with other residents. They developed a questionnaire which was distributed to residents of a poor neighborhood in the city of Greenwich, UK. No less than 1,012 questionnaires were returned to them.
The authors of the study1 found an association between each of these factors and the mental health of their respondents. Thus, individuals who complained about the humidity in their home, the noise generated by their neighbors or the crime rate were more likely than others to report feelings of depression or nervousness than others. A similar link was also found with respect to respondents’ “vitality”, that is, the energy or fatigue that they said they felt. However, these associations are not clearly quantified by the research team.
Researchers believe these findings have important implications for the development of new housing projects. Regardless of age, gender or socio-economic status, people want community spaces, a quiet neighborhood, enough space in their homes and a sense of security more than anything.
The findings of this study are consistent with a recent survey2 performed in Montreal. According to researchers from McGill University, certain Montreal neighborhoods whose residents are in poorer health than the national average are also those where there is the least infrastructure conducive to physical activity.
Jean-Benoit Legault– PasseportSanté.net
1. Guite HF, Clark C, Ackrill G. The impact of the physical and urban environment on mental well-being, Public Health, 2006 Dec; 120 (12): 1117-26. Epub 2006 Nov 9.
2. On this subject, see our new Physical activity: not all equal, depending on the neighborhood.
