The Effects of Changes to the Urban Physical Environment on Mental Disorder: Development of a theoretical framework

Abstract

This paper examines the way in which the changes of the urban physical environment creates a high level of mental disorder among the urban population. The rapid urbanisation process in a recent year adds urgency to this issue. Drawing on a scoping review of studies of the wider relationship between the urban physical environment and mental disorder, the relevant information from 109 articles published between 1985 to 2019 was synthesised. Through this process, a theoretical framework using urban health indicators that identifies the effects of changes to the urban physical environment on mental disorder was developed. The framework can be beneficial to improve the environmental planning quality towards a healthier urban environment in addressing emerging challenges of urbanisation.