Examining the Relationship between Citizens’ Mental Health and Urban Physical Design (Case Study: District 2 of Kermanshah City)
Subject Areas : Research on Iranian social issues
mohammad ghasemisiani
1
,
nasim fartashmehr
2
1 - Assistant Professor, Urban and Regional Planning Research Group, Institute of Humanities and Social Studies in ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
2 - M.A in Urban Planning, Institute of Applied Science in ACECR Kermanshah, Iran.
Keywords: Urban design, mental health, citizen well-being, social satisfaction, Kermanshah Municipality.,
Abstract :
Examining the Relationship between Citizens’
Mental Health and Urban Physical Design
(Case Study: District 2 of Kermanshah City)
Mohammad Ghasemi-Siani*
Nasim Fartashmehr**
Cities, as hubs for residence, work, leisure, and social interaction, significantly influence the mental health and well-being of their citizens. Recent studies indicate that urban growth and expansion have generated a broad spectrum of factors threatening mental health, with mental disorders, particularly depression, being among the most prevalent urban health issues. This study investigates the relationship between urban physical design and citizens’ mental health and well-being. Employing a descriptive-analytical approach, the research utilized a questionnaire administered to 384 residents of District 2 of Kermanshah city, with data analyzed using SPSS software. The quality of the built environment and urban physical form, as a meso-level factor, exhibits a synergistic effect with micro- and macro-level factors on citizens’ mental health. Key qualities of urban physical design, including permeability, safety, security, sensory richness, climatic comfort, aesthetics, and sociability, were found to impact mental health. These qualities were categorized into four dimensions—urban landscape, public spaces, accessibility, and urban architecture/physical form—and their influence on mental health was examined. The findings revealed a weak correlation between the urban landscape dimension and mental health, and no significant relationship between the design of public spaces and mental health. However, a strong and positive correlation was observed between accessibility and mental health, indicating that improved accessibility significantly enhances citizens’ mental well-being. Thus, accessibility emerges as a critical factor for citizens’ comfort and mental health.
Keywords: Urban design, mental health, citizen well-being, social satisfaction, Kermanshah Municipality.
Introduction
Humans are profoundly influenced by their surrounding environment, with physical spaces exerting varied psychological effects on citizens. The advancement of technology and the increasing complexity of urban lifestyles have led to a disregard for the logical interplay between visual and functional elements in architecture and urban planning. This has resulted in visual disorder, loss of spatial identity, emotional disconnection from space, impaired spatial perception, and, consequently, diminished mental health and civic well-being, alongside increased psychological stress, anxiety, and depression. While modernization has enhanced quality of life in many respects, it has also introduced challenges that negatively impact citizens’ physical and mental health. According to the Welfare Organization of Iran, Kermanshah Province ranks at an average national level for mental health. However, Kermanshah city faces significant social and psychological challenges, including family issues, poor anger management, and impaired decision-making, which have caused considerable problems for families and society (Welfare Organization of Iran, 2024). Official statistics report that 391,290 individuals in the province are enrolled in social prevention programs, with 2,161 receiving services for substance-related disorders (Statistical Yearbook of the Welfare Organization, 2024). Against this backdrop, this study seeks to address the central question: What is the relationship between urban physical design and citizens’ mental health?
Methodology
This research adopts a deductive strategy and employs a descriptive-analytical, correlational approach. Data was collected through documentary sources and field surveys. Key urban design dimensions influencing mental health, derived from environmental design and crime prevention theories, were operationalized in a questionnaire. The statistical population comprised residents of District 2 of Kermanshah Municipality, totaling 111,800 individuals. Using Cochran’s sampling formula, a sample size of 384 was determined through stratified sampling. The questionnaire’s face validity was confirmed by experts in urban management and planning, and reliability was established using Cronbach’s alpha in SPSS software.
Discussion and Conclusion
The relationship between urban design components and citizens’ mental health was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation test. The results indicated a weak correlation (r = 0.203) between the urban landscape dimension and mental health, suggesting limited influence on psychological well-being. For public spaces, the Pearson correlation yielded a significant level of 0.61, exceeding the assumed correlation threshold, indicating no significant relationship between public space design and mental health. In contrast, the accessibility dimension demonstrated a strong, positive correlation with mental health, implying that enhanced accessibility directly improves psychological well-being. The architecture and physical form dimension showed a weak correlation, suggesting minimal impact on the mental health of District 2 residents. These findings align with Han et al. (2019), who highlighted the role of access to parks and urban spaces in promoting mental health, and Zhang et al. (2016), who identified relationships between built environment qualities and psychological well-being. Among Iranian studies, Taheri et al. (2019) found a strong correlation between well-designed physical environments and citizens’ happiness, while Haghi and Heidarzadeh (2022) confirmed that “functional structure” and “visual character” of urban neighborhoods were strongly associated with mental health.
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* Corresponding Author: Assistant Professor, Urban and Regional Planning Research Group, Institute of Humanities and Social Studies in ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
M.ghasemi@acecr.ac.ir
** M.A in Urban Planning, Institute of Applied Science in ACECR Kermanshah, Iran.
nfartashmehr@gmail.com