Document Type : علمی - پژوهشی
Authors
1 Professor Assistant, Dpartment of urban planning, University of Guilan
2 University of Guilan
Abstract
Decreased levels of physical activity due to increased dependence on personal vehicles have led to decreased levels of physical and mental health. Because walking is significantly beneficial to people's physical and mental health, it can reduce the rate of obesity, diabetes and other chronic diseases, and limit the rising costs of health care. The built environment is one of the components that can affect the amount of physical activity and as a result, health. The present study tries to examine the relationships between the components of the built environment, physical activity, social cohesion, sense of community and mental health. Out of 400 questionnaires distributed in 20 neighborhoods of Rasht, 380 questionnaires were completed. The first part of the questionnaire, which is dedicated to demographic questions, includes 6 questions: gender, age, education, monthly income, employment and marital status. The second part, which deals with components’ questions: proximity to facilities, reduction of environmental stressors, quality of infrastructure, accessibility and connectivity, traffic hazards, physical activity, social cohesion, sense of community, and mental health. Data collected from Rasht neighbourhoods were analyzed using structural equation modelling. Findings show that the built environment is the second factor of the 5 components of proximity to facilities, reduction of environmental stressors, quality of infrastructure, accessibility and connectivity and traffic hazards. The built environment positively and significantly affects social cohesion, sense of community and physical activity. Sense of community and physical activity also have a positive and significant effect on mental health. Urban management can increase walkability in urban areas by considering the components mentioned in the present study. Improving the quality of the built environment will lead to increased physical activity, social cohesion and a sense of community. As a result of increasing the sense of community and physical activity, the mental health of citizens will be improved.
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