City Know-hows

Perceptions of our urban environments, and their association with mental well-being

Shaded sidewalks, South Delhi, Siri Fort, Delhi. Image Courtesy: Asesh Sarkar

Examining the urban environment is critical for enhancing mental well-being, necessitating the identification of relevant indicators to inform strategic interventions aimed at improving mental health outcomes.

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Target audience

Urban designers and planners, architects, public health professionals, plus academics, sociologists, and policy-makers working in the same field.

The problem

Examining how individuals perceive the urban environment can assist in identifying indicators of their satisfaction and uncovering urban issues that impact their well-being. By understanding people’s views, we can pinpoint aspects they find fulfilling and uncover challenges that affect their quality of life in urban areas. This knowledge is crucial for implementing targeted interventions aimed at addressing urban issues and promoting overall well-being within the community.

What we did and why

Analysing individual perceptions of urban environments aids in identifying satisfaction indicators and uncovering urban challenges impacting well-being. Understanding people’s perspectives allows us to identify fulfilling aspects and challenges affecting their urban quality of life. This insight is vital for targeted interventions. We collected perceived environment quality data and assessed mental well-being via questionnaires. Statistical analysis helped pinpoint significant urban environment indicators associated with mental well-being, informing effective intervention strategies.

Our study’s contribution

Statistical analysis pinpointed key urban environment indicators correlated with mental well-being in Delhi, guiding effective interventions. Further empirical studies on each indicator’s relationship with mental well-being are advisable for deeper exploration. Moreover, these indicators serve to evaluate urban environments and public perceptions in diverse urban settings, extending their utility beyond Delhi and enhancing understanding of urban well-being on a broader scale.

Impacts for city policy and practice

Our findings hold significance in evaluating urban environments and public perceptions across diverse locations, transcending their relevance beyond Delhi and enhancing understanding of urban well-being universally. These insights are essential for guiding city policies and practices, facilitating evidence-based decision-making, and implementing focused interventions to tackle challenges and foster favorable outcomes effectively.

Further information

Full research article:

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