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How Do Urban Walking Environments Impact Pedestrians’ Experience and Psychological Health? A Systematic Review
Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Södertörn University, Alfred Nobels Allé 7, 141 89 Huddinge, Sweden;Department of Occupational Health Sciences and Psychology, Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, University of Gävle, 801 76 Gävle, Sweden.
University of Gävle, Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, Department of Occupational Health Science and Psychology, Psychology.
2023 (English)In: Sustainability, E-ISSN 2071-1050, Vol. 15, no 14, article id 10817Article, review/survey (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Daily walks are recommended for health gains, and walkable urban environments are recommended as one strategy to combat climate change. Evidence of the relationship between physical environments and psychological health is increasing. The aim of this study was to systematically review and compile evidence regarding micro-scale characteristics in urban outdoor environments that impacted pedestrian short-term experience and/or long-term psychological health. The databases ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, PsychInfo, and Google Scholar were used. To explore the area, a large heterogeneity in publications was allowed; therefore, it was not possible to conduct a meta-analysis. From 63 publications, data items were extracted from full text and categorized according to the main study characteristics. Environmental characteristics impacting pedestrians psychologically were identified and categorized into themes: grey, green, blue, and white areas, and weather, temporalities, topography, person factors, and safety. Environmental factors were analyzed from the perspective of the circumplex model of human affect (negative/positive dimensions and activation/deactivation). The findings included the fact that urban pedestrians need both positively activating and deactivating (restorative) areas during walkabouts. Perceived safety is essential for experiencing the positive aspects of urban environments. Some characteristics interact differently or have different importance for health in different groups. To further develop research on pedestrian environments, psychological experiences should be included.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
MDPI , 2023. Vol. 15, no 14, article id 10817
Keywords [en]
urban physical environment; pedestrian; circumplex model; perceived safety; gray, green, blue, white areas; weather and temporalities; person factors; systematic review
National Category
Psychology
Research subject
Health-Promoting Work
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-42836DOI: 10.3390/su151410817ISI: 001036378800001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85166554635OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hig-42836DiVA, id: diva2:1787438
Available from: 2023-08-14 Created: 2023-08-14 Last updated: 2025-10-02Bibliographically approved

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Jakobsson, Marianne

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