Residential Neighborhoods Research Articles

Loneliness – what’s urban design got to do with it? Older people in transit-oriented suburban public spaces in Sydney, Australia

ABSTRACT Recognising the challenges of loneliness among the ageing population, research attention is turning to explore the social dimension of urban design and questions of how the built environment can support social interaction. In the rapidly evolving context of transit-based urbanism, urban spaces not only enhance the city’s overall liveability but also offer older adults increased accessibility and interaction opportunities beyond their immediate residential neighbourhood, potentially alleviating feelings of social isolation and loneliness. Thus, this paper aims to investigate the value of transit-oriented public spaces, including station squares, parks near rail-based stations, and transit stops (such as bus shelters) in facilitating both direct and indirect social interactions among older adults. The study draws on data from the first stage of a larger project that examines seven of Sydney’s transit-oriented urban environments and involves ethnographic observations and on-site semi-structured interviews conducted with 56 older adults (≥60 years) who were directly recruited as casual users of each site. Results suggest that the spatial designs of public spaces associated with rail- and bus-based transit can reinforce the affordance of transit-oriented urban environments, enabling social interactions with acquaintances and strangers among older adults in these spaces and frequent out-of-home activities, contributing to reduced emotional and social loneliness.

Factors influencing residential neighbourhood choices of renters in the Wa municipality, Ghana

Factors influencing residential neighbourhood choices of renters in the Wa municipality, Ghana

Space-time dynamics in hazard exposure analysis: smartphone locations show pedestrian routes are inflexible to extreme heat events

Vulnerability to environmental hazards is spatially heterogeneous and dynamic. Static measures that are used to determine spatial heterogeneity in vulnerability are unable to capture temporal dynamics. To complement research on vulnerability to extreme heat, we investigated temporal and spatial trends in availability and use of shade by pedestrians during extreme heat events in a vulnerable neighborhood. Shade from trees and buildings calculated from LiDAR were paired with smartphone locations filtered to include outdoor pedestrians on an hourly basis for control and extreme heat days to study behavioral patterns for neighborhood residents, non-residents, and the unhoused population. High-use pedestrian locations showed little difference in activity between control and extreme heat days, especially during weekdays, but with greater variation on weekends. The results indicate inflexibility in space use, even during extreme heat. Outdoor heat mitigation strategies should consider bringing shade to the people in heavily used locations, as pedestrian behavior is inelastic.

Longitudinal mental health associations of relocation to supportive versus adverse neighborhood environments in the Netherlands

BackgroundMental health status may be associated with residential neighborhoods’ physical and social characteristics; however, longitudinal evidence is limited, and the findings are inconsistent. ObjectivesTo examine the longitudinal associations between neighborhood physical and social environments and mental health among adults after residential relocation. MethodsWe used national-representative panel data of 3,000 adults between 2008 and 2013 in the Netherlands. We included movers relocating to neighborhood environments identified as health-supportive or adverse; non-movers served as the control group. Mental health was measured pre- and post-move using the Mental Health Inventory. Time-varying exposure to physical environmental factors (i.e., green space, blue space, air pollution, and population density) and social environmental factors (i.e., socioeconomic deprivation and social fragmentation) were assigned based on adults’ residential neighborhood histories. We used propensity score matching to select non-movers from the control group and difference-in-difference regressions to estimate the associations between environmental changes and mental health. ResultsOur results showed that decreases in fine particulate matter (β = -3.869, 95% CI: [-7.583, -0.155]), population density (β = -5.893, 95% CI: [-9.468, -2.319]), and socioeconomic deprivation (β = -4.756, 95% CI: [-7.800, -1.712]) were significantly associated with improvements in mental health. An increase in neighborhood social fragmentation was significantly associated with improvements in mental health (β = -3.520, 95% CI: [-6.742, -0.298]). We observed null associations between changes in mental health due to changes in green and blue space. ConclusionsFollowing relocation, changed neighborhood environmental conditions appear to have longitudinal mental health associations. Moving to a neighborhood with less air pollution, lower population density, and reduced socioeconomic deprivation was mental health-supportively associated. However, the finding that greater social fragmentation contributes to mental health improvements requires further investigation.

Modelling district heating demand: A synthetic dataset for two residential neighbourhoods

Modelling district heating demand: A synthetic dataset for two residential neighbourhoods

A systematic review of historic neighborhood redlining and contemporary health outcomes

Historic redlining grades that were assigned to US neighborhoods based largely on minority race or ethnicity by the Home Owners Loan Corporation (HOLC) during the 1930s have been linked with adverse health outcomes among neighborhood residents. This review aimed to summarize the quantitative evidence, so we could determine if any findings are replicated and otherwise identify research gaps. Systematic review. We conducted a systematic review by searching the PubMed® MEDLINE database for observational studies that reported on health outcomes among people who resided in neighborhoods that were assigned HOLC grades. We assessed quality by allocating points based on whether studies reported the sample size or count of people affected by outcomes (yes=1 point, no=2 points), and whether unadjusted magnitudes of association were reported alongside adjusted estimates (yes=1 point, no=2 points). The sum score was used to classify each study as high (2 points), average (3 points) or low quality (4 points). Among the 89 articles identified, 32 met inclusion criteria; 15 were deemed high-quality. The most frequently studied health conditions in order of descending frequency were: i) injury or violence (n=8), ii) cancer (n=7), iii) cardiometabolic (n=6), iv) perinatal (n=5), v) asthma (n=2). People who lived in areas with less desirable HOLC grades tended to suffer higher than expected rates of injury or violence, asthma, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and some cardiometabolic disorders; associations with cancer were mostly null. Methodological differences limited opportunities for direct comparison across studies, and there was significant heterogeneity among the few estimates that were generally comparable. While robust data are lacking, the limited existing evidence supports a possible association between historically redlined areas and heightened risk of adverse health outcomes. Why this association may exist remains unknown.

Neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and child health: The role of neighborhood mobility networks.

Despite a large body of work on neighborhood effects on health, past studies are limited in their treatment of neighborhoods as largely static spaces with (dis)advantages based primarily on the average characteristics of their residents. In this study, we draw on the triple neighborhood disadvantage perspective to explore how socioeconomic disadvantage in a neighborhood's mobility network uniquely relates to children's overall health levels, independent of residential disadvantage. We investigate this by combining 2019 SafeGraph data on mobility patterns from roughly 40 million U.S. mobile devices with information on children, families, and neighborhoods from the 2015-19 American Community Survey and 2019 Panel Study of Income Dynamics Child Development supplement. We find that mobility-based neighborhood disadvantage (MND) generally predicts child health better than residential neighborhood disadvantage (RND), but associations vary by race and by family income and are contingent on the broader metropolitan context. Our study advances existing research on the effects of mobility networks by shifting from analyzing aggregate-level outcomes to exploring how mobility-based disadvantage affects individual outcomes. Overall, our results indicate that the relationship between neighborhood disadvantage and child health is nuanced and complex. Findings from our study suggest that researchers aiming to understand the influence of neighborhood contexts should examine individuals' residential environments as well as the environments of neighborhoods connected through individuals' everyday mobility.

A SPACE OF OUR OWN: RECLAIMING PUBLIC OPEN SPACES FOR SELF-EXPRESSION AND COMMUNITY

Abstract Public open spaces give older persons opportunities to build social capital and community, and are important sites in promoting self-expression, meaning- and place-making– attributes crucial to successful ageing-in-place. In Singapore, residents have little influence over the design and production of public open spaces, while regulations on the use of these spaces may dissuade utilization by older persons. Despite ‘age-friendly’ principles undergirding Singapore’s built environment, contestations arise in terms of top-down planned activity-usage, and older persons’ actualization of what aspirations they have in using such spaces. Recently, the government has increased the provision of ‘active ageing centres’ nationwide, intended to be inclusive, low barrier-to-entry spaces within residential neighbourhoods, to encourage social engagement and community support among older persons. However, older persons’ perceptions of designated senior-spaces as catering to the sick and vulnerable, leads to hesitance in utilizing those spaces. Drawing from ethnographic interviews across multiple qualitative research studies with over 200 older persons in Singapore, we found that participants expressed a lack of control over their community spaces, programme offerings, and are not empowered to organize activities with fellow residents. Yet, their narratives also highlight creative strategies to resist regulatory practices and inhabit public open spaces with activities that align with their desires to age well. Public open spaces are crucial to older persons’ freedom and autonomy. Accessibility, in terms of physical and social infrastructure, needs to be reframed in ways that value older persons’ diverse interests, capacity to self-organize, and potential for building community.

NEIGHBORHOOD ENVIRONMENTS AND COGNITIVE HEALTH: ADVANCEMENTS IN CONCEPTS AND METHODS

Abstract Evidence for the importance of residential neighborhood environments for cognitive health in older adults has grown substantially in the past decade. It is important to understand details of these relations, including timing and mechanisms, as interventions at the neighborhood level could have broad public health importance. Here, we present a series of five talks from four studies that aim to advance the field of environmental influences on cognitive health through several conceptual and methodological advancements: inclusion of lifecourse exposures (Cheng, Finlay), consideration of the role of race as a social construct and a modifier of neighborhood exposures (Cheng), incorporation of blood-based biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease as an outcome (Fan), consideration of spatial and historical context in interpreting results (Moored, Desjardins), use of qualitative interviews to gain insight from people’s lived experiences (Finlay), and use of novel exposures such as cognability (Finlay) and blue space (Moored, Desjardins) as well as upstream factors indicative of structural disadvantage (Cheng, Fan, Desjardin). Together, these talks will challenge the audience to consider the complex ways in which neighborhoods could influence cognitive outcomes and how to best approach analysis and interpretation of such data. Advancing our conceptual understanding of the influence of neighborhoods on cognitive aging over the lifecourse will allow for informed public health interventions. A discussion of next steps will be led by Jana Hirsch. Environmental Gerontology Interest Group Sponsored Symposium

Gentrification and mental health in Hong Kong

This study investigates the association between gentrification and mental health in Hong Kong, where gentrification is mainly driven by government intervention and is widely supported by the public. We utilize a harmonized dataset that integrates the 2006 and 2016 Hong Kong population census data with data from Wave 4 (2017/2018) of the Hong Kong Panel Study of Social Dynamics (HKPSSD). Findings of the multilevel logistic models show that residents in gentrifying neighborhoods report a lower risk of mental distress compared to residents in non-gentrifying neighborhoods with similar socioeconomic characteristics. Furthermore, residents with higher household incomes tend to benefit more from gentrification. Results from causal mediation analysis suggest that neighborhood cohesion mediates the effect of gentrification on mental health. This study advances the literature on gentrification effects by offering empirical evidence from the relatively understudied East Asian context and examining the socioeconomic variations in these effects. We discuss potential policy implications for future interventions in neighborhood change processes.

Associations between mental health conditions in pregnancy and maternal socioeconomic status: a population-based retrospective cohort study in Ontario, Canada

BackgroundThe World Health Organization has recognized maternal mental illness as an emerging issue. Previous studies have indicated that maternal mental illness is associated with socioeconomic status (SES). However, there is a lack of research concerning the mental health of pregnant people with low SES in Ontario, Canada. In this study, we examined associations between mental health conditions during pregnancy and two SES indicators: the pregnant person’s residential neighbourhood income and education level.MethodsA population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted, consisting of all singleton pregnancies resulting in stillbirths or live births in Ontario hospitals from April 1, 2012, to March 31, 2021. Data were linked from the BORN Information System database, Canadian Institute for Health Information Discharge Database, and Canadian Census. Poisson regression with robust error variance models was performed to estimate the relative risks of anxiety, depression, anxiety and/or depression, or any mental health condition during pregnancy, by SES indicator. We adjusted for maternal age, obesity status in pre-pregnancy, certain pre-existing maternal health conditions, substance use during pregnancy, race, and rural or urban residence.ResultsWithin the cohort (n = 1,202,292), 10.5% (126,076) and 8.1% (97,135) of pregnant individuals experienced anxiety and depression, respectively, and 15.8% (189,616) had at least one mental health condition during pregnancy. The trend test (p < 0.0001) showed a significant downward trend in the total rates of mental health conditions by increasing SES quintiles. Pregnant individuals in the lowest neighbourhood income quintile tended to have a higher risk of anxiety (aRR: 1.24, 95%CI: 1.22–1.27), depression (aRR: 1.56, 95%CI: 1.52–1.59), anxiety and/or depression (aRR: 1.13, 95%CI: 1.11–1.15), or any mental health condition (aRR: 1.18, 95%CI: 1.16–1.19). Similarly, pregnant people living in the lowest education level neighbourhoods had higher likelihoods of anxiety (aRR: 1.66, 95%CI: 1.62–1.69), depression (aRR: 2.09, 95%CI: 2.04–2.14), anxiety and/or depression (aRR: 1.42, 95%CI: 1.39–1.44), and any mental health condition (aRR: 1.41, 95%CI: 1.38–1.43).ConclusionsDespite a universal healthcare system, the variations in mental health prevalence and risk during pregnancy based on SES suggest health inequity in Ontario, Canada. Future studies are needed to examine the mechanisms of this health inequity to guide policy makers in reducing disparities in Ontario.

Sprawling Metropolis: A Case Study of Indore with Sustainable Solutions

Urbanization can take many different shapes around the world: it can take the form of low-density residential neighborhoods, business districts, or industrial estates that surrounds undeveloped areas. In developing nations, urbanization rates are rising, and India's urbanization trend demonstrates growth that exceeds national borders. The limited supply and high cost of land inside city limits encourage urban growth outside of established metropolitan boundaries. Urban sprawl, or the outward growth of cities into surrounding rural areas, is a major aspect of contemporary urbanization around the world. The phenomena provides both possibilities and challenges for sustainable urban development as it is closely related to rapid population increase, economic growth, and changing patterns of land use. Major geographical changes are happening in Indian cities because of the country's rapidly urbanization, which has been accelerated by growing populations, migration from the countryside to the cities, and economic growth. By 2031, it is projected that there will be more than 600 million people residing in cities in India, which emphasizes the urgent requirement to solve the issues caused by urban sprawl. The city of Indore, India, which makes a good example of the complexities of urban growth in India. Indore, one of the most rapidly expanding cities in the nation, has grown quickly in the past few years, particularly within the northeast region. This study explores the causes behind this in Indore, the challenges it raises, and how cities can be more sustainably designed to avoid these problems. Keywords-Urban sprawl, Urbanization, Sustainability, Sustainable Solutions

Informing electrification strategies of residential neighborhoods with urban building energy modeling

Informing electrification strategies of residential neighborhoods with urban building energy modeling

Do neighbourhood challenges affect the mental health of residents? Insights from the 2018 and 2021 Canadian Housing Surveys

AbstractNeighbourhood physical and social disorders are shown to have adverse impacts on residents’ mental health. Identifying and addressing neighbourhood challenges is crucial for promoting social cohesion and mental well‐being. Nonetheless, there is a dearth of research on this important topic within Canada, prompting a comprehensive evaluation of the association between neighbourhoods’ challenges and self‐rated mental health. Using the 2018 (N = 61,021) and 2021(N = 40,988) Canadian Housing Surveys and employing logistic regression models for comparative analysis, we found that residents of neighbourhoods with challenges including harassment, drug use, drunkenness, unsafeness at night, noise, smog/air pollution, garbage litter, and vandalism, reported lower odds of positive mental health (PMH) both pre‐pandemic and during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Also, females reported lower odds of PMH both pre‐pandemic and during the pandemic. However, residents with post‐secondary educational attainment, those from wealthy households, and those in two‐member households, significantly reported PMH before and during the pandemic. Civic engagement with the local community also correlated more with PMH, but pre‐pandemic only. Provincial variations were further observed. Thus, we concluded that neighbourhood challenges contribute to poor mental health. Socio‐economic and provincial differences underscore the importance of tailored interventions and support systems for mental health across regions. However, it is important to highlight that the self‐reported nature of our data may result in biased perceptions. That is, participants’ existing poorer mental health status may influence their opinions about the neighbourhoods. Also, the tendency of social desirability to influence responses may suggest a bidirectional neighbourhood‐mental health relationship.

Human-Scale Greenery in the Window View

In recent decades, the quality of life in cities has declined due to rapid growth. The global ecological crisis and climate change are leading to pollution and overheating of the environment, resulting in deteriorating health conditions and social segregation. The fact is that greenery in urban environments significantly improves people’s well-being, health, and satisfaction. The research presented in this paper was focused on the issue of greenery in residential neighborhoods, which has many positive effects in addition to the health benefits. The purpose of the article is to check whether greenery also has an artistic effect in addition to environmental benefits. In the research, the importance of greenery was highlighted by examining two residential neighborhoods in the urban environment of the city of Ljubljana, Slovenia. Elements of greenery were analyzed from the perspective of “human scale”, which refers to the size, texture, and arrangement of physical elements that correspond to human size and proportions. There were seven indicators highlighted that were used to verify the human scale: area connectivity, readability, and completeness of the ambience; transparency of tree canopies, and perception of artistic composition principles. The results show that the presence of greenery in residential neighborhoods is an important element of the human scale.

Residential types, neighborhood security and public trust in Ghana police service: a comprehensive analysis

Residential types, neighborhood security and public trust in Ghana police service: a comprehensive analysis

Layout Optimization of Residential Buildings to Improve the Outdoor Microclimate of Neighborhoods Along an Urban Bay: A Case Study of Shantou’s Inner Bay, China

In summer, the urban heat island effect causes unbearable warmth in Shantou City, especially in the urban areas along the Inner Bay with densely populated neighborhoods. An investigation of the layout patterns of 100 residential neighborhoods along Shantou’s Inner Bay was conducted, leading to the establishment of four types and nine sub-types of idealized residential neighborhood models. Their wind speed, relative humidity, and air temperature were simulated in the ENVI-met software (version No.5.0.1). The simulation results show that high-rise buildings in the front areas play a decisive role in the overall microclimate environment. Accordingly, three principal drawbacks regarding neighborhood layout for thermal climate adaptation were extracted. Furthermore, by comparing the simulation results before and after modifying the layout of high-rise buildings, three spatial strategies to strengthen the humidification and cooling effect of sea–land breezes to optimize the outdoor microclimatic environment of neighborhoods were proposed, and these strategies were subsequently verified in the Golden-Harbor neighborhood.

Can Improved Environments Alone Ensure Well-Being for Older Adults? Exploring Aging in Disadvantaged Neighborhoods

The concept of aging in place has gained prominence in urban planning, yet few studies have specifically examined the impact of neighborhood environments on the subjective well-being (SWB) of older adults in disadvantaged areas. This study addresses this gap by comparing the SWB of residents in four low socioeconomic neighborhoods in Xi’an, China—two urban renewal areas with improved environments and two traditional neighborhoods with poor conditions. Using surveys, interviews, and statistical analysis, our study uncovers significant insights into the relationship between the built environment and SWB. Surprisingly, residents in urban renewal neighborhoods with better physical environments report lower residential satisfaction and a diminished sense of community. Our findings further suggest that perceptions of the built environment might have a greater influence on older adults’ well-being than objective conditions. In particular, perceived living convenience and affordability are two factors significantly associated with the SWB of older adults in these disadvantaged neighborhoods. These results emphasize the need for planning strategies that integrate both “hard” physical improvements and “soft” measures that enhance social connections, psychological experiences, and neighborhood identity. Additionally, our research reveals that the built environment factors influencing SWB are consistent across age groups, underscoring the potential benefits of developing age-friendly communities that serve all generations. The implications of this study provide valuable guidance for urban planners and policymakers in creating neighborhoods that effectively promote the well-being of older adults.

From the perspective of children and parents: What makes communal open spaces in multi-story residential neighborhoods child-friendly?

An increasing number of children live in apartments due to global trends in urbanization. However, little attention has been paid to the communal open spaces that are appropriate and attractive to children. This study aims to identify characteristics that significantly impact the quality of child-friendly communal open spaces within multi-story residential neighborhoods. The paper first reviewed the relevant literature to develop a conceptual framework. The measurements for the framework factors were then calculated through two online questionnaires seeking the perspectives of children and parents. Participants consist of 441 children aged 6–12 years and 576 parents. Both groups were living in 3 to 9-story residential buildings in Sanandaj, Iran. The findings show the four most significant factors for a child-friendly communal open space: “connection with nature”, “spatial flexibility”, “social networking”, and “safety/security”, in this order. Water play is the most significant indicator of child-friendliness followed by the provision of a variety of play equipment and natural environments. The most significant safety indicators for children are the availability of an outdoor shelter and soft surface materials. While children prefer free space for self-directed activities, parents ranked formal sports fields higher. We suggest biophilic design and participatory design that involves children and parents.

Characterizing suburban soil and microbial properties along a soil age chronosequence

AbstractRapid urbanization is drastically altering ecosystem processes in landscapes around the world. In particular, suburban residential neighborhoods comprise novel ecosystems with water and nutrient inputs that differ greatly from the surrounding land area. These impacts generate concern over the sustainability of urban ecosystems, especially whether they will be characterized by net carbon gain or loss over time. To address this knowledge gap, we established a chronosequence of residential yards in Southern California to test how urban soils change after development. We predicted that urbanized soils would experience shifts in physical characteristics and microbial function over time consistent with ecological succession theory, but residential soils would maintain novel moisture and nutrient regimes compared to undeveloped soils, never “recovering” to a pre‐developed state. We compared different vegetation types to quantify impacts of homeowner landscaping choices and characterized yard soils and their microbial communities. We found that yard soils were nutrient‐ and moisture‐enriched compared to an adjacent undeveloped ecosystem, and turfgrass was associated with higher levels of water and nitrogen. Despite high respiration rates, yard soils accumulated carbon and nitrogen over time. We conclude that suburban residential soils comprise dynamic and heterogeneous ecosystems that are highly influenced by landscaping choices and management practices, and warrant closer study at small management‐relevant scales.