Sina Kuzuoglu, Troy D Glover, Luke Moyer, Joe Todd
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
As an accessible and low-risk mode of transportation and recreational activity, walking both produces and is produced by socio-spatial urban features. The health benefits of walking transcend physical fitness, remaining integral to mental health and to fostering social connectedness in urban communities. Understanding what drives walking behaviour, therefore, warrants attention from a public health perspective. This qualitative case study focuses on the social interactions of inhabitants during neighbourhood walks and how built environment features influence walking patterns and experience. Using diaries, maps, and semi-structured interviews with 45 inhabitants of a mid-sized Canadian city, this research investigates the influence of permanent and temporary physical features on the perceived quality of inhabitants' walks. The findings show the public visibility of urban modifications influences walking behaviour and improves social interactions, leading to a heightened sense of belonging and community. Inhabitant-led modifications in the urban space were mostly neighbourhood-bound and voyeuristic, whereas administrative interventions were more successful for collectivization. Both types of interventions are argued to foster social connectedness through different mechanisms, with positive impacts on inhabitants' health and wellbeing. The findings underscore the relevance of community-led and administratively planned interventions in built environments in positioning public health policies associated with social cohesion and connectedness.
期刊介绍:
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) (ISSN 1660-4601) is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes original articles, critical reviews, research notes, and short communications in the interdisciplinary area of environmental health sciences and public health. It links several scientific disciplines including biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, cellular and molecular biology, chemistry, computer science, ecology, engineering, epidemiology, genetics, immunology, microbiology, oncology, pathology, pharmacology, and toxicology, in an integrated fashion, to address critical issues related to environmental quality and public health. Therefore, IJERPH focuses on the publication of scientific and technical information on the impacts of natural phenomena and anthropogenic factors on the quality of our environment, the interrelationships between environmental health and the quality of life, as well as the socio-cultural, political, economic, and legal considerations related to environmental stewardship and public health.
The 2018 IJERPH Outstanding Reviewer Award has been launched! This award acknowledge those who have generously dedicated their time to review manuscripts submitted to IJERPH. See full details at http://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph/awards.