Topics applied into action

COVID-19 altered our access to our communities, physical activity levels and social interactions. For people living with dementia, this was even more acute and problematic. This is the first study to center their perspectives in understanding how the neighborhood impacted their pandemic experiences and offers insights for future planning.

Neighbourhoods have different potential to promote, or frustratrate, healthy ageing in place. Urban accessibility to services and equipment is fundamental to assessing the potential for a possitive outcome. We need to defining the areas that require priority interventions to accommodate the needs of older inhabitants locally.

Prior studies have highlighted the vital role of urban green spaces in human health, showcasing benefits like stress reduction and improved well-being. Yet, the Covid-19 pandemic sparked increased interest in these spaces without any examination of how research priorities shifted. Understanding these changes is crucial as it may bias perspectives and policies, potentially affecting public health. Thus, uncovering shifts in research focus during and after the pandemic is imperative for informed planning and management.

This study underscores an urgent need to elevate psychological well-being as a core priority for urban policymaking and development. Embedding human-centred design principles that foster social cohesion, provide restorative respites, and instill a localized sense of place can equip our rapidly urbanizing world with greater mental fortitude. Specific recommendations include promoting walkable, mixed-use neighbourhoods with quality green infrastructure, protecting heritage architecture, and incentivizing vibrant public realms.

In informal settlements, the impact of COVID-19 can be alarmingly severe due to the lack/limited access to infrastructure, densely populated living conditions, and pre-existing socio-economic inequalities. There are limited studies that synthesise evidence from the literature on the COVID-19 lived experiences of informal settlement dwellers, often overlooked in scientific studies and policy-making initiatives. There any knowledge gaps that require further research to enhance the development of context-specific policies towards effective pandemic planning and response. How can we build resilience and sustainable livelihoods in informal settlements during public health emergencies?

For a long time, architecture and housing policy have been viewed through the lens of providing a product. But the pandemic showed that for certain people lacking space, with small children, or with complex families, housing can add to their ailments and cause ill mental health.

Cities often invest in infrastructure while overlooking what residents say truly shapes health. Drawing on community voices from Regina, this study shows that belonging, meeting basic needs, and valuing lived and Indigenous knowledge are essential for building healthier and more equitable cities.

Greenspace use can positively influence subjective wellbeing; but research often focuses on how nature as “part of self” affects this relationship. Instead, we should focus on both urban and natural place-related identities to enhance wellbeing for all greenspace users.

The sounds of our streets are closely linked to how people walk, cycle, and play. We reviewed global research showing that while traffic noise is associated with less activity, natural and human sounds often relate to safer and more enjoyable urban movement. Our aim is to support healthier city planning where soundscapes are not ignored but seen as essential to active lifestyles.

Food behaviours are associated with diet quality, a major risk factor for chronic disease. We compared the food behaviours of house residents and apartment residents, and apartment residents by characteristic. We found significant differences in meal purchasing behaviours and consumption of fruit and vegetables, which have short- and long-term implications for dietary health.

Our study wanted to know more about the relationship between neighborhood walkability and crime in New Orleans, generally finding that the relationship between the two depends on the level of walkability, type of crime, and socioeconomic conditions of the neighborhood. Walkability was related to less crime in economically impoverished neighborhoods. Improving walkability in economically disadvantaged areas may help reduce crime.