The Impact of the Local Social and Physical Local Environment on Wellbeing

Abstract

People living in deprived neighborhoods are more likely to experience poorer mental health and wellbeing than those living in more affluent areas, even after taking personal circumstances such as income into account. In this chapter the effects on residents' wellbeing of different features of the local social and physical environment are explored in relation to residents' perceptions (e.g., on levels of antisocial behavior, dilapidation, and environmental incivilities) and, using a range of routinely available data, objectively measured aspects of the local neighborhood such as street connectivity, proximity to green space and vacant and derelict land.