From streets to sleep: The impact of urban walkability on sleep health

Abstract

This scoping review examines how urban walkability influences sleep health, aiming to uncover key trends, gaps, and actionable insights. Emerging evidence suggests that neighborhood environments, including walkability, may play a crucial role in shaping health behaviors. Although sleep is a critical precursor and outcome for both physical and mental health, its connection to urban walkability remains insufficiently understood. A total of 401 peer-reviewed articles published between 2016 and 2025 were identified from major electronic databases, with 13 studies included for review. The association between walkability and sleep health showed mixed findings, reflecting heterogeneity across study designs, populations, and measurement approaches. Notably, subjective perceptions of walkability were more consistently associated with sleep outcomes than objective spatial metrics. The discussion highlights methodological and conceptual pathways for advancing this field, emphasizing the need for integrated frameworks and rigorous causal designs. Promoting walkable urban environments may represent a promising and sustainable strategy to enhance sleep health.