Understanding the Pieces of the Neighborhood Puzzle

摘要

Over the past decade, studies examining the interplay between neighborhood design and residents' perceptions and behaviors have proliferated. For instance, there has been a strong focus on the built environment and physical activity, such that for some neighborhood attributes (e.g., higher residential densities, street connectivity, and access to destinations), the accumulated evidence is sufficient to warrant public health and planning bodies to advocate for changes to the built environment as a means of increasing walking (Gebel, Bauman, Owen, Foster, & Giles-Corti, 2009; National Heart Foundation, Planning Institute of Australia, & Australian Local Government Association, 2009; National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, 2008). But other vital elements of neighborhood life, such as social connectedness and feelings of safety, also have implications for the daily interchanges between residents, as well as physical activity and mental well-being. These "psychosocial constructs" are less tangible and can be challenging to capture, measure, and explore. Where does the evidence stand on these attributes, and is it sufficient to warrant policy and practice recommendations?