Search Results (75)

Amid the increasing complexity of urban risks, urban parks not only serve ecological and recreational functions but are increasingly becoming a critical spatial foundation supporting public psychological resilience and social recovery. This study aims to systematically evaluate the daily adaptability of urban parks in the context of micro-risks. The research integrates the theories of “restorative environments,” environmental safety perception, urban resilience, and social ecology to construct a five-dimensional framework for perceived resilience, encompassing resilience, safety, sociability, controllability, and adaptability. Additionally, a dynamic feedback mechanism of perception–behavior–reperception is introduced. Methodologically, the study utilizes the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) to identify 17 core indicators, constructs a causal structure and weighting system using DEMATEL-based ANP (DANP), and further employs the VIKOR model to simulate public preferences in a multi-criteria decision-making process. Taking three representative urban parks in Guangzhou as empirical case studies, the research identifies resilience and adaptability as key driving dimensions of the system. Factors such as environmental psychological resilience, functional diversity, and visual permeability show a significant path influence and priority intervention value. The empirical results further reveal significant spatial heterogeneity and group differences in the perceived resilience across ecological, neighborhood, and central park types, highlighting the importance of context-specific and user-adaptive strategies. The study finally proposes four optimization pathways, emphasizing the role of feedback mechanisms in enhancing urban park resilience and shaping “cognitive-friendly” spaces, providing a systematic modeling foundation and strategic reference for perception-driven urban public space optimization. Full article

Background: Suicidal ideation among adolescents remains a major public health challenge. Exposure to neighborhood violence is associated with increased risk of mental health distress and school-related vulnerabilities. This study investigates the predictors of suicidal ideation among U.S. adolescents who have witnessed neighborhood violence. Methods: Data were drawn from the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), a nationally representative survey of high school students in the United States. A subsample of 3495 adolescents who reported witnessing neighborhood violence was analyzed. Key variables included sociodemographic characteristics, mental health symptoms, perceived school safety, and experiences of victimization. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with suicidal ideation, defined as seriously considering suicide in the past year. Analyses were conducted using Jamovi (version 2.6), with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of suicidal ideation in the sample was 34.2%. Bisexual adolescents had significantly higher odds of suicidal ideation compared to heterosexual peers (OR = 2.34, p < 0.001). Depressive symptoms were the strongest predictor (OR = 7.51, p < 0.001). Both perceived lack of safety at school and differences in ethnic and population backgrounds were significant. Black and Hispanic/Latino adolescents had lower odds compared to White peers. Conclusions: Findings highlight sexual identity, depressive symptoms, school safety concerns, and ethnic and population background differences as key correlates of suicidal ideation. Culturally responsive, trauma-informed interventions are urgently needed for youth exposed to community violence. Full article

Several studies in the literature have emphasized that public open spaces, such as recreational parks in residential neighborhoods, play a crucial role in enhancing social interaction among residents. As such, access to these parks is a key factor that may influence their use and, in turn, affect the quality of social engagement within the community. Traditional approaches to park accessibility, which focus solely on physical distance, have notable limitations, as proximity alone does not reliably predict park usage. Therefore, physical accessibility should be complemented by assessments of perceived or psychological accessibility. This study is designed to propose a framework for enhancing social interaction through improved access to recreational parks in the residential neighborhoods of the Dammam Metropolitan Area (DMA). It employs a mixed-methods approach comprising two primary methodologies: (1) observational behavioral mapping to identify key influencing factors based on user activities within the selected case study areas, and (2) an end-user questionnaire survey analyzed through inferential statistics, specifically Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), to assess residents’ perceptions of park accessibility and social interaction. The results indicate that adequate park maintenance significantly improves physical accessibility, while elements such as safety are essential for fostering psychological comfort. The ANOVA results yielded an F-value of 4.72 and a p-value of 0.00, confirming a statistically significant effect of the park’s physical features on facilitating social contact among local residents. The study presents a framework that integrates key demographic and social factors influencing park usage, advocating for infrastructure improvements aligned with user perceptions to foster greater community engagement. It highlights that addressing psychological barriers is just as important as making physical enhancements to achieve effective park accessibility. By combining physical design, demographic insights, and user experiences, the framework serves as a practical guide for planning inclusive and socially responsive public spaces. This research contributes to the fields of urban planning, social sustainability, and environmental psychology by offering localized insights and practical tools for implementation. Future research is recommended to further refine urban strategies that promote equitable access to recreational parks, particularly by addressing demographic-specific needs and psychological barriers that influence social interaction in open spaces. Full article

The way individuals perceive and interact with the food environment can contribute to a higher prevalence of food insecurity (FI). Objective: To evaluate the perception of the food environment and its association with FI in households in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Methods: Cross-sectional study. The survey was conducted with a sample of 2000 households, a representative stratified sample, with a margin of error of 4.9 percentage points and a 95% confidence interval (CI95%) in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The studies were evaluated using the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale (EBIA). Perceptions of the food environment were measured by assessing the perceived availability, price, and quality of fruits and vegetables (FVs) and ultra-processed foods (UPFs) sold in the neighborhood. To analyze the association between stage variations and the perceived food environment, we conducted multinomial logistic regression, considering a 95%CI. Results: Household heads in Rio de Janeiro perceive that both FVs and UPFs are available in their neighborhoods. However, UPFs are perceived as cheaper and more diverse than FVs, regardless of the level of food safety. In the association analysis, a greater relative risk ratio was found for heads of households who perceive an unfavorable scenario in the food environment for FVs, in terms of availability (RRR = 5.6; 95%IC: 3.0–10.4), quality (RRR = 4.5; 95%IC: 2.6–7.9), and price (RRR = 2.5; 95%IC: 1.7–3.6), to experience a situation of moderate/severe FI. Conclusions: The way individuals interact with and perceive their territories can reflect on access to adequate and healthy food, especially in households in a situation of FI. Full article

Improving the equity of urban public green space is crucial for residents’ well-being and is a key objective in green space planning. While most existing studies focus primarily on the spatial distribution characteristics of green space resources, fewer explore the mechanisms influencing residents’ subjective perceptions and preferences. This study, based on a survey of 1419 residents in Hunan Province, constructs a structural equation model (SEM) to investigate the impact of the unequal distribution of urban public green space on residents’ happiness, mediated by social–psychological factors such as environmental perception, sense of security, and neighborhood cohesion. Additionally, a random forest (RF) algorithm is employed to identify the main factors influencing residents’ green space usage preferences. The results demonstrate that equity in green space distribution significantly influences residents’ happiness through environmental perception (path coefficient γ = 0.744, p = 0.001), security (γ = 0.664, p = 0.001), and neighborhood cohesion (γ = 0.830, p = 0.001). Key factors influencing residents’ preferences for green space use include age, housing prices, and walkability, with walkability contributing 17.5%, green space equity contributing 11.0%, and age contributing 10.2% to the frequency of green space use. These findings are critical for developing fairer and more effective urban green space policies, contributing to the creation of a more sustainable, equitable, and satisfying urban environment. Full article

Urban parks play a vital role in enhancing residents’ well-being, making it essential for decision-makers and designers to understand the factors influencing park satisfaction to improve park attributes. While existing studies primarily focus on internal park characteristics, this study investigates the diverse ways that external environmental factors influence park satisfaction. Using moderated regression models, we examined six factors, i.e., the quality of neighborhood compound greenspaces, perceived home–park distance, walking difficulty, the convenience of coordinating other trips, external environmental quality, and perceived travel safety, in Chongqing, China. Based on an intercept survey of 301 residents, five factors significantly impacted park satisfaction. Notably, the quality of compound greenspaces and trip coordination convenience were critical determinants, showing large correlations with satisfaction. Enhancing environmental quality and travel safety along access routes is also crucial, as they directly enhance satisfaction and moderate the impacts of internal park quality. Reducing walking difficulties can encourage frequent park visits and strengthen the relationship between internal park quality and satisfaction. Interestingly, the perceived home–park distance had minimal impact, likely because the parks studied were in close proximity to participants’ homes. These findings highlight the importance of holistically considering both internal and external factors in urban park planning and design. Future research should explore additional external factors in diverse urban contexts. Full article

This study evaluates the impact of urban migration on the mental health of young women, focusing specifically on how objective life stressors, perceived neighborhood safety, and subjective socioeconomic status influence depression. Depression is the main outcome measure in this research, serving as a critical indicator of mental health in the context of urban migration. Utilizing a stratified cluster sampling approach, we collect data from 2138 young female migrants in Bao’an District, Shenzhen, employing the Life Stress Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 items, Perceived Neighborhood Safety Scale, and Subjective Social Economic Status Scale to assess the corresponding constructs. Our findings highlight that life stressors directly contribute to increased depression levels among young female migrants, with perceived neighborhood safety significantly mediating this relationship. Furthermore, subjective socioeconomic status moderates the impact of life stressors on perceived neighborhood safety, underlining the intricate dynamics between objective life stressors and the social-environmental context in shaping mental health outcomes. This research underscores the importance of creating supportive and inclusive social environments to mitigate the adverse psychological effects of life stressors on young female migrants, thereby contributing to discussions on sustainability and social welfare. Full article

Background: Cooking is an identified dietary strategy that is positively associated with optimal diet quality. Prior to initiating cooking interventions, evaluating the prospective acceptability of the intervention among community members living within low food access areas and understanding geospatial food shopping locations may aid in designing community-tailored interventions. Methods: A sequential mixed methods study was conducted to determine the prospective acceptability of a planned community-located cooking intervention among African American adults living in a low food access area and with at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor. A semi-structured guide was used to conduct five virtual focus groups. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis and validated through participant check-in interviews. Survey responses were analyzed based on descriptive data. Geospatial analysis of participant locations that were reported for food shopping was conducted to show food environment utilization. Results: Focus groups with study participants (n = 20, all female, mean age 60.3, SD 9.3, mean cooking frequency per week 4.0, food insecure n = 7) were conducted between March and April, 2021. Thematic analysis of the focus group transcripts identified five main themes as follows: (A) Barriers to Cooking (family and caregiving, transportation, COVID-19 pandemic, time availability, household composition); (B) Motivators for Cooking (family, caregiving, health, enjoyment, COVID-19 pandemic); (C) Strategies (food shopping, social support, social media, meal planning); (D) Neighborhood (gentrification, perceived safety, stigmatization, disparities in grocery stores); (E) and Acceptability of the Intervention (reasons to participate, barriers, recruitment, intervention delivery). Participant validation interviews confirmed the themes and subthemes as well as the illustrative quotes. Geospatial analysis showed a majority of locations were outside of the participants’ residential areas. Conclusions: Prospective acceptability of a community-tailored cooking intervention found that the planned intervention could be modified to address individual level factors, such as caregiving and health, community contextual factors, such as perceived safety, and the general health needs of the community. Full article

Background: Based on findings from a recent systematic review of the methodological aspects related to data collection for the walk-along interview (WAI) method applied to healthy older adults, complementary questions emerged, among them, what are the main outcomes of studies that have used the WAI? Objective: The aim of this systematic review is to identify the outcomes of published studies that have used the WAI method to identify correlates of the perceived neighborhood environment on walking activity in healthy older adults. Methods: In accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, a date-unrestricted search spanning four databases was performed. Of the 164 articles identified in the initial search, 31 articles published between 2012 and 2022 met the inclusion criteria. Results: The extracted outcomes were classified into two categories: (1) the relationship between the physical characteristics of the environment and walking among healthy older adults (e.g., pedestrian infrastructure, safety, access to facilities, aesthetics and environmental conditions) and (2) the facilitators and barriers to walking, based on the dimensions of the socioecological model. Conclusions: This review provides a valuable resource for researchers, students and professionals who wish to work with the WAI method, working on aging and age-friendly cities policies. Full article

Background: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. It is critical to understand the associations among multilevel determinants of cancer prevention and control behaviors. This study examined associations of neighborhood factors with perceived risk of cancer and self-efficacy for reducing cancer risk. Methods: Cross-sectional analyses included 2324 U.S. adults from the Midlife in the U.S. Wave 3. Participants completed surveys of neighborhood environment (perceived neighborhood trust and safety, built environment conditions, social integration), perceived cancer risk and cancer prevention efficacy. Multivariate linear regressions examined associations of neighborhood context with risk perceptions and self-efficacy. Results: In the model that adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, better perceived neighborhood trust and safety were associated with lower perceived cancer risk. In fully adjusted models for sociodemographic characteristics and contextual factors, higher perceptions of neighborhood trust and safety were associated with higher cancer prevention self-efficacy. Perceptions of better built neighborhood conditions and higher social integration were significantly associated with lower perceived cancer risk and higher perceived cancer prevention efficacy. Conclusions: Perceptions of neighborhood context may play a role in shaping psychosocial factors such as perceived cancer risk and self-efficacy, even after controlling for robust predictors of these perceptions. Full article

Walking is the most sustainable, safe, and active mode of transportation among the elderly. There is growing evidence that the built environment influences walkability. However, little research has been conducted to assess the perceived built environment correlates for senior citizens walking in low- and middle-income countries. This paper explores the relationship between built environment characteristics and the walkability of senior citizens in Triplicane, Chennai, India. Seniors aged 60 years and above, both men and women, living in Triplicane, Chennai, were interviewed (n = 221). Personal characteristics and perceived built environment factors were assessed using the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale for India (NEWS India). Data were analyzed using SPSS 26 and AMOS 21 software. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to examine the association between the built environment characteristics and the walkability of senior citizens. The results show that built environment attributes, namely pedestrian safety infrastructure, physical barriers of the neighborhood, and aesthetics, have a high impact on walkability among senior citizens. Full article

Neighborhood space profoundly impacts the sustainable development of left-behind older people and the realization of a healthy goal. This study examines the effects of neighborhood space on perceived restoration in rural left-behind older people. Based on a survey in a severely aging village, we use a structural equation model to analyze the relationship between the environmental perception of neighborhood space as a potential restorative environment and the perceived restoration of older people’s specific forms of attention (i.e., fascination, novelty, escape, conformity, and compatibility), with the former having a positive impact on the latter. Neighborhood social cohesion and place attachment are the mediating mechanisms for older people to obtain perceived restoration through the environmental perception of neighborhood space. Moreover, female older people, older people in poor health, and older people living alone are more likely than others to obtain perceived restoration from neighborhood spaces. The study highlights that accessibility, safety, openness, and familiarity of neighborhood spaces play a critical role in older people’s perceived restoration. These findings provide a promising approach for policymakers and planners to implement the perceived health of left-behind older people and support sustainable health aging in rural communities through space-based interventions. Full article

This study investigated electric-scooter (e-scooter) rider behaviors and preferences to inform ways to increase safety for e-scooter riders. Data was collected from 329 e-scooter riders via two online and one in-person survey. Survey questions considered rider roadway infrastructure preferences, safety perceptions, and helmet-wearing behavior. Protected bike lanes were more commonly indicated as the safest infrastructure (62.4%) but were less likely to be the most preferred infrastructure (49.7%). Sidewalks were better matched between riders, indicating them as their preferred riding infrastructure (22.7%) and the perceived safest riding infrastructure (24.5%). Riders had low feelings of safety and preference for riding on major/neighborhood streets or on unprotected bike lanes. Riders reported significant concern about being hit by a moving vehicle, running into a pothole/rough roadway, and running into a moving vehicle. In line with the Theory of Planned Behavior, a significant relationship was found between the frequency of riding and helmet-wearing behavior, with more frequent riders being more likely to wear helmets. Findings suggest that existing roadway infrastructure may pose safety challenges and encourage rider-selected workarounds. Public policy may consider emphasizing protected bicycle lane development, rather than helmet mandates, to support e-scooter riding safety for all vulnerable road users. Full article

Screen media use starts in early childhood, despite recommendations to limit use. This study explored low-income Mexican American mothers’ and fathers’ beliefs, parenting practices, and perceived contextual contributors related to toddler screen use. We conducted interviews with 32 low-income Mexican American parents. Transcripts of audio recordings were analyzed to identify themes. Parents perceived numerous benefits to screen use, including learning and enjoyment, as well as seeing it as a helpful tool for parents. Reported risks included harmful mental and physical effects and a risk of use being all-consuming. Parents managed screen use with a variety of practices, including giving close attention to content, monitoring duration, and engaging in co-use. They also used screens for behavior management and in specific situations, such as to prepare for sleep. Some differences in beliefs and parenting practices exist by screen device type. Parents also reported that contextual factors, such as weather and neighborhood safety, influenced screen use. This study extends the current literature regarding child screen use, with its focus on low-income Mexican American toddlers. The findings offer interventionists and providers insight into the management of screens in the lives of this population. Full article

Despite the many research studies on active school travel (AST), the number of children walking/cycling to school is decreasing as there is a lack of implementable research evidence. This review through database searches from 2000 to 2020 aims to identify research gaps and explore new perspectives. The articles are selected and screened methodically for systematic presentation of the review. An existing active school travel framework is used to structure and discuss this review paper on mediating factors influencing children’s active travel to school, that is the perceived traffic safety, neighborhood safety, and distance to school. Perception of traffic safety could be ameliorated through lateral separation from the traffic, and this could be a new area of research. The neighborhood safety perception may require more research to validate the previous findings. Schools should be located within high-density residential development so that many children can walk to school. Full article