Understanding the factors of accessibility to the neighborhood green spaces that contribute to social cohesion: A systematic literature review

Abstract

Green spaces are vital for urban health and quality of life, promoting social cohesiveness and interpersonal dynamics. However, 56% of the world’s population lives in cities without green spaces, affecting their health and psychological well-being. The limited number of neighborhood parks highlights the need to consider accessibility and its relationship with social cohesiveness. Social cohesion is crucial for community well-being and is linked to public spaces, especially in urban areas. Neighborhood green spaces promote social connections, reduce inequalities, and enhance community health. This research acknowledges the connection between accessibility and urban green spaces, but does not directly evaluate its impact. This systematic literature review aims to understand the factors of accessibility to neighborhood green spaces that contribute to social cohesion and their impact on physical and mental well-being, highlighting the lack of research on the interdependencies between these variables and their combined impact. The study utilized a keyword search on databases like Scopus, Research Gate, Google Scholar, Elsevier, Lens.org, and PubMed to identify 123 empirical research studies published between 2013 and 2022, conducted by 213 authors in 5 countries and 66 journals. The findings explore the factors influencing social cohesion, including socio-demographics, physical characteristics, non-physical variables, environmental perceptions, and usage patterns. It uses Vos viewer keyword co-occurrences analysis to create clusters, proposes a model to understand how these factors are linked to accessibility and directly influence social cohesion and provides insights into the relationship between these factors. Understanding these factors is essential for urban planning and policy-making.