The Role of Access to Urban Parks in Women’s Mental Health, (Case Study ;Ardabil City)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD student in Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Planning and Environmental Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

3 Professor, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

Abstract

Women's mental health constitutes a fundamental dimension of public health that is significantly influenced by environmental determinants, particularly the quality and accessibility of urban green spaces. Amid rapid urbanization and escalating psychological stressors, investigating the therapeutic potential of urban parks for women's psychological wellbeing - especially in secondary cities - has emerged as a critical research imperative.This empirical study examines the relationship between urban park accessibility and women's mental health outcomes in Ardabil, Iran, employing a robust mixed-methods approach. Our methodology integrates descriptive-analytical techniques with applied research objectives, utilizing systematic random sampling to collect 400 survey responses. The research instrument operationalizes five key dimensions through 58 carefully designed items: physical-spatial characteristics, socio-cultural factors, safety perceptions, accessibility metrics, and mental health indicators.Statistical analyses, including one-sample t-tests, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression modeling, yield several noteworthy findings. The physical-spatial (M=3.17, SD=0.42) and socio-cultural (M=3.05, SD=0.39) dimensions demonstrate relatively favorable conditions. We identify strong positive correlations between mental health outcomes and both park accessibility (r=0.63, p<0.01) and socio-cultural factors (r=0.63, p<0.01). Regression results reveal that physical-spatial attributes (β=0.239, p<0.05) and socio-cultural elements (β=0.131, p<0.05) serve as the most significant predictors of mental health, while safety indicators show no statistically significant relationship.Notably, our analysis demonstrates that park accessibility (β=0.145, p<0.05) and socio-cultural factors (β=-0.177, p<0.05) significantly mitigate depressive symptoms among female participants. These findings underscore the critical importance of holistic urban planning that prioritizes both the physical infrastructure and social dynamics of green spaces to optimize mental health benefits for women in urban environments.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Abdolahzade fard, A. and Shamsoddini, A. (2020). Neighborhood Environmental Quality and Its Role Regarding the Residents' Spiritual and Mental Health (Case Study of Sang Siyah District, Shiraz Metropolis). Urban Planning Knowledge, 4(2), 95-114. doi: 10.22124/upk.2020.14650.1307. (in Persian).
Azadbakht, M. and Jahanifar, M. (2023). Presentation of a Conceptual Model for Women's Right to City and its Causal Structure Analysis in Ahvaz. Geographical Urban Planning Research (GUPR), 11(2), 153-173. doi: 10.22059/jurbangeo.2023.352562.1768. (in Persian).
Azar, A. (2023). Role of Parks in Promoting Social and Health Indicators of Citizens, Focusing on the PushFactors of Residential Environments and the Pull Factors of Green Spaces, A case study of Zonal Parks in Tabriz. Geographical Urban Planning Research (GUPR), 11(1), 1-26. doi: 10.22059/jurbangeo.2023.355510.1797. (in Persian).
  Azimi, E., Satarzadeh, D., Belilan, L., Abdollahzadeh, T. A., & Faramarzi Asl, M. (2020). Evaluation of the impact of physical-environmental factors of public spaces on citizens’ mental health (Case study: Ardabil city). Applied Research in Geographical Sciences, 20(59), 219–370. https://doi.org/10.29252/jgs.20.59.307 (in Persian).
Blayney, J. A., Hequembourg, A., & Livingston, J. A. (2021). Rape Acknowledgment and Sexual Minority Women’s Mental Health and Drinking Behaviors. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(7–8), NP3786–NP3802. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260518781800.
Bratman, G. N., Anderson, C. B., Berman, M. G., Cochran, B., de Vries, S., & Flanders, J. (2019). Nature and mental health: an ecosystem service perspective. Science Advances, 5, eaax0903. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aax0903.
Chen, X., & Marzbali, M. H. (2023). Review of the Impact of Urban Parks on Public Health During the Covid-19 Pandemic. Malaysian Journal of Sustainable Environment, June(2023), 165–192. https://doi.org/10.24191/myse.v0ijune.22679
Dehghan, F. , Golkar, K. and Hakimian, P. (2022). The Role of Urban Design on Mental Health: A Proposed Conceptual Framework for the Relationship between Urban Environmental Qualities and Mental Health of City-Dwellers, with an Emphasis on Depression. Armanshahr Architecture & Urban Development, 15(38), 199-215. doi: 10.22034/aaud.2022.261740.2372. [in Persian].
Dzhambov, A. M., Dimitrova, D. D., & Dimitrakova, E. D. (2023). Neighbourhood green spaces and mental health of disadvantaged groups: A systematic review and conceptual framework. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 10(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-01570-3Nature.
Efe Güney, Mercan, Beste Tuncay, Sıdal Tanrıverdi, Nurseli Şanlı, Hacer Akbudak, and Filiz Ay. (2022). “The Assessment of the Criteria of Social Infrastructure within the Scope of Women-Friendly City Planning Approach: The Example of Çiğli.” Iconarp International J. of Architecture and Planning 10 (2): 800–843. https://doi.org/10.15320/iconarp.2022.225.
ghasemisiani, M. and fartashmehr, N. (2023). Examining the role of public spaces in the mental health of citizens, Case study: District 2 of Kermanshah Municipality. Geography and Human Relationships, 6(2), 628-642. doi: 10.22034/gahr.2023.421120.1968. [in Persian].
HAMID, N., & BABAMIRI, M.. (2012). THE RELATIONSHIP OF GREEN SPACE AND MENTAL HEALTH. ARMAGHAN DANESH, 17(4 (70)), 309-316. SID. https://sid.ir/paper/78153/en. (in Persian).
Hend, H. Y. (2019). Livable city: An approach to pedestrianization through tactical urbanism. Alexandria Engineering Journal, 58, 251–259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2019.02.005.
Hoshyari, Z. , Maleknia, R. , Naghavi, H. and Barazmand, S. (2020). Studying spatial distribution of urban parks of Khoramabad city using Network Analysis and Buffering Analysis. Journal of Wood and Forest Science and Technology, 27(3), 37-51. doi: 10.22069/jwfst.2020.17755.1855. (in Persian).
Hussein, H., Ishak, S. A., & Wan Mohd Yunus, W. M. A. (2021). Neighborhood Park Visit Impacted Psychological Health in Reducing Stress. Journal of ASIAN Behavioural Studies, 6(18), 47–60. https://doi.org/10.21834/jabs.v6i18.383.
Iamtrakul, P., Chayphong, S., & Hayashi, Y. (2024). An integrative investigation of travel satisfaction, streetscape perception, and mental health in urban environments. Sustainability, 16, 3526. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093526
Iran Ministry of Health. (2021).
National Survey on Mental Health Status of Adults in Iran.
Tehran: Deputy of Health, Mental Health Office, Ministry of Health and Medical Education. https://irhealth.behdasht.gov.ir (in Persian).
 Javadi Zadeh, M., Loulaki, M., & Abedpour, E. (2022). The significance of Iranian gardens in promoting vitality and improving physical and mental health. Architecture Studies, 5(2), 139–154. Retrieved from https://ensani.ir/fa/article/534238 (in Persian).
Jiang, S. (2017). "Gender Differences in Safety Perception in Urban Green Spaces." Journal of Urban Planning and Development, 143(2), 102-111.
Jones, D. E., Park, J. S., Gamby, K., Bigelow, T. M., Mersha, T. B., & Folger, A. T. (2021). Mental Health Epigenetics: A Primer With Implications for Counselors. The Professional Counselor, 11(1), 102–121. https://doi.org/10.15241/dej.11.1.102.
Kharazmi, O. A. , Johari, L. and Kharazmi, A. A. (2020). Assessing the child friendly city indicators in Mashhad metropolis. Journal of Urban Social Geography, 7(1), 191-210. doi: 10.22103/JUSG.2020.2011 . (in Persian).
Kleinschroth, F., & Kowarik, I. (2020). COVID-19 crisis demonstrates the urgent need for urban greenspaces. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 18(6), 318-319. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/fee.2230.
Li, J., Zhang, J., Zhang, H., & Tian, X. (2019). The impact of social and cultural spaces on urban women’s quality of life: A comparative study in Chinese cities. Journal of Urban Planning and Development, 145(3), 04019020. . https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)UP.1943‑5444.0000561.
Mahmoudzadeh, ا. and Karami, M. (2022). Spatial Analysis of Space Justice in The Land Use Planning of Public Services Land Uses (Park and Green Space, Sports and Recreational-Tourist) in Tabriz Using Multi-Criteria Approach. Geography and Territorial Spatial Arrangement, 12(43), 31-64. doi: 10.22111/gaij.2022.37565.2888. (in Persian).
McDaid, D., & Park, A.-L. (2023). Making an economic argument for investment in global mental health: The case of conflict-affected refugees and displaced people. Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health, 10. https://doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2023.1.
Milner, A., King, T. L., & Kavanagh, A. (2019). The mental health impacts of health and human service work: Longitudinal evidence about differential exposure and susceptibility using 16 waves of cohort data. Preventive Medicine Reports, 14(February) , 100826. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2019.100826.
Nguyen, Q. C., Khanna, S., Dwivedi, P., Huang, D., Huang, Y., Tasdizen, T., Brunisholz, K. D., Li, F., Gorman, W., Nguyen, T. T., & Jiang, C. (2019). Using Google Street View to examine associations between built environment characteristics and U.S. health outcomes. Preventive Medicine Reports, 14(April), 100859. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2019.100859.
Poormohammadi, M. R. , Khezrnezhad, P. , Ahmadi, P. and Jahanbin, R. (2015). A survey of the adaptation of Urmia Urban Public Spaces to the needs of women. Woman in Development & Politics, 13(1), 23-40. doi: 10.22059/jwdp.2015.55204. (in Persian).
Rahmati, M. and Mohammadi, C. (2022). Modeling Structural Equations of The Characteristics of The Elderly Friendly City of Kermanshah. Geography and Territorial Spatial Arrangement, 12(43), 123-148. doi: 10.22111/gaij.2022.41249.2985.  (in Persian).
Rahnama, M. R. and Shaddel, L. (2022). Assessment of Spatial Relationship between Social Health in Women of Mashhad and Urban Green Spaces: What Factors Affect Their Presence in Urban Green spaces?. Human Geography Research, 54(1), 45-65. doi: 10.22059/jhgr.2020.277866.1007882. . (in Persian).
Ramezani Mehrian, M. (2022). Assessing the structural quality of green space network in urban environments - case study: District 16 of Tehran Municipality. Geographical Urban Planning Research (GUPR), 10(1), 81-99. doi: 10.22059/jurbangeo.2022.325283.1535. [in Persian].
Rigolon, A., & Christensen, J. (2023). Advancing green space equity via policy change: A scoping review and research agenda. Landscape and Urban Planning, 230, 104591. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2023.104591ResearchGate+1ScienceDirect+1
 Shahvaran, F., & Asadpour, H. (2024). What role do urban environments play in citizens’ mental health? Lessons from studies conducted in Iran. Iranian Journal of Urban Design Studies, 1(1), 257–284. https://doi.org/10.22099/udsi.2024.51674.1013 (in Persian).
 Shahvaran, F., & Asadpour, H. (2024). What role do urban environments play in citizens’ mental health? Lessons from studies conducted in Iran. Iranian Journal of Urban Design Studies, 1(1), 257–284. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (in Persian).
Shariati Mazinani, S. and Foroghzadeh, S. (2017). urban public spaces and women security: The case study of Mashhad. Strategic Research on Social Problems, 6(4), 71-90. doi: 10.22108/ssoss.2018.100985.1007. (in Persian).
 Sherbetian, M. H., & Imeni, N. (2018). A sociological analysis of youth social health and its influencing factors (Case study: 18–30-year-olds in Qaen County). Applied Sociology, 29(1), 167–188. https://doi.org/10.22108/jas.2017.75233.0 (in Persian).
Taiefe Aliakbarkhani, A. , Lahimian, R. and Ahmadi, H. (2019). Investigation on Urban Economic and Social Homogeneous Neighborhoods with the Approach of Using Green Space in Terms of Social Justice (Case Study: Sari). Human Geography Research, 51(4), 969-988. doi: 10.22059/jhgr.2018.244010.1007570. (in Persian).
Velayati, Sh., & Rezaei Tabrizi, S. (2024). The effect of physical components on improving citizens’ mental health in urban spaces (Case study: Ainali and El-Goli parks, Tabriz). Geography and Planning, 28(87), 337–357. https://doi.org/10.22034/gp.2023.53005.3039 (in Persian).
World Health Organization (WHO). (2017).
Depression: Let’s Talk – World Health Day Campaign.
Geneva: World Health Organization. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int.
Yadav, Asmita, and Rashmi Kumari. 2021. “Women and Social Sustainability: A Critical Parametric Evaluation of Urban Settings in Developing Countries.” IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 795 (1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/795/1/012003 84.
Zheng, Y., Cheng, B., Dong, L., Zheng, T., & Wu, R. (2024). The moderating effect of social participation on the relationship between urban green space and the mental health of older adults: A case study in China. Land, 13, 317. https://doi.org/10.3390/land13030317.
 Evans-Lacko, S., Araya, R., Bauer, A., Garman, E., Álvarez-Iglesias, A., McDaid, D., Hessel, P., Matijasevich, A., Paula, C. S., Park, A.-L., & Lund, C. (2023). Potential mechanisms by which cash transfer programmes could improve the mental health and life chances of young people: A conceptual framework and lines of enquiry for research and policy. Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health, 10. https://doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2023.4.
Ghasemi, I., & Bozorgmehr, K. (2024). Geographical planning of space quarterly journal Analysis of Urban Resilience Components in Four Regions of Sari City. 13(4), 61–83. https://doi.org/10.22067/jgusd.2022.74678.
Irsheid, S. B., Keeney Parks, S., & Lindsey, M. A. (2024). (Re)assessing Clinical Spaces: How do we Critically Provide Mental Health and Disability Support and Effective Care for Black and Brown Young People who are Impacted by Structural Violence and Structural Racism? Academic Pediatrics, 24(7), S161–S166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acap.2023.11.004.
J.D., R., J.L., M., L., S., L., M., & M.M., S. (2022). Racial and ethnic disparities in pregnancy complications and the protective role of greenspace: A retrospective birth cohort study. Science of the Total Environment, 808, 152145. https://www.elsevier.com/locate/scitotenv.
, N. S., Jang, Y., Chung, S., Chiriboga, D. A., & Haley, W. E. (2024). Relationship of Living and Eating Arrangements to Mental Distress Among Older Korean Immigrants: Gender Difference in the Mediating Role of Loneliness. Research on Aging, 46(2), 153–166. https://doi.org/10.1177/01640275231206482.
Park, S., & Ko, Y. (2023). “I Need Husband-Distancing”: Experience of Marital Conflict during the COVID-19 Emergency in South Korea. International Journal of Conflict and Violence, 17, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.11576/ijcv-6343.'
Geography and Territorial Spatial Arrangement
Volume 15, Issue 56
October 2025
Pages 197-226

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 16 February 2025
  • Revise Date: 03 June 2025
  • Accept Date: 15 June 2025

Share

How to cite

Statistics