The effects of the community design choices we make and the
opportunities those choices afford or deny us are only just now
beginning to be understood. Such effects not only can influence community
members’ physical health but their mental health as well.
Effects on mental health can include both increased stress and
cognitive impairment, which in turn can have physical health
implications. Some of this increased stress can be caused by long and
taxing daily commutes necessitated by development patterns that separate
our work or school locations from our homes. This increased commuting-related stress may be related to the perceived
increases in the rates of “road rage.”
In addition, researchers have discovered that when some people who are injured or ill are exposed to
open, undeveloped land, also known as green space, they recover faster than others who were not exposed. In
another study, researchers examined the cognitive functions of children
with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to determine the
effect that the children’s surroundings had on learning and their ability to
concentrate. The researchers found that exposure to parks and other green
spaces
improved the children’s ability to focus and concentrate.
Although the link between land use and mental health is not yet completely understood, it is clearly a topic that can affect the overall health of a
community.
For more information about mental health and community design, refer to the
following resources:
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Landscape and Human Health Laboratory
(http://www.lhhl.uiuc.edu/)
The Landscape and Human Health Laboratory (LHHL) is a multidisciplinary research
laboratory dedicated to studying the connection between greenery and human health.
Additional information on mental health and related topics can be
found in the Additional Resources section.
References
Dora C, Phillips M, editors. World Health Organization (WHO). Transport, environment, and
health. WHO Regional Publications, European
Series 2000; No. 89
http://www.euro.who.int/InformationSources/Publications/Catalogue/20010910_22
Taylor AF, Kuo FE, Sullivan WC. Coping with ADD: The
surprising connection to green play settings. Environ Behav 2001,
33: 54-77.
Ulrich RS. View through a window may influence recovery from
surgery. Science 1984;224:420-1.
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