Citation

Lauwers L, Leone M, Guyot M, Pelgrims I, Remmen R, Van den Broeck K, Keune H, Bastiaens H. Health Place 2020; 67: e102497.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.healthplace.2020.102497

PMID

33352488

Abstract

Mental well-being in cities is being challenged worldwide and a more detailed understanding of how urban environments influence mental well-being is needed. This qualitative study explores neighborhood factors and their interactions in relation to mental well-being. Individual semi-structured walking interviews were conducted with 28 adults living in the Brussels-Capital Region. This paper provides a detailed description of physical neighborhood factors (green-blue spaces, services, design and maintenance, traffic, cellphone towers) and social neighborhood factors (neighbor ties, neighbor diversity, social security) that link to mental well-being. A socio-ecological framework is presented to explain interactions among those neighborhood factors, and personal and institutional factors, in relation to mental well-being. The findings are linked to existing concepts and theories to better understand the mechanisms underlying the associations between the urban neighborhood environment and mental well-being. Finally, implications of the walking interview method are discussed.

Language: en

Keywords

Mental well-being; Qualitative method; Socioecological approach; Urban neighborhood environment; Walking interview