Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024 Nov 15;21(11):1519. doi: 10.3390/ijerph21111519.
As an accessible and low-risk mode of transportation and recreational activity, walking both produces and is produced by socio-spatial urban features. The health benefits of walking transcend physical fitness, remaining integral to mental health and to fostering social connectedness in urban communities. Understanding what drives walking behaviour, therefore, warrants attention from a public health perspective. This qualitative case study focuses on the social interactions of inhabitants during neighbourhood walks and how built environment features influence walking patterns and experience. Using diaries, maps, and semi-structured interviews with 45 inhabitants of a mid-sized Canadian city, this research investigates the influence of permanent and temporary physical features on the perceived quality of inhabitants' walks. The findings show the public visibility of urban modifications influences walking behaviour and improves social interactions, leading to a heightened sense of belonging and community. Inhabitant-led modifications in the urban space were mostly neighbourhood-bound and voyeuristic, whereas administrative interventions were more successful for collectivization. Both types of interventions are argued to foster social connectedness through different mechanisms, with positive impacts on inhabitants' health and wellbeing. The findings underscore the relevance of community-led and administratively planned interventions in built environments in positioning public health policies associated with social cohesion and connectedness.
作为一种可及且低风险的交通和娱乐方式，步行既能塑造也能反映出城市的社会空间特征。步行对健康的益处不仅限于身体健康，它对心理健康和促进城市社区的社交联系也至关重要。因此，从公共卫生的角度来看，理解是什么驱动了步行行为是值得关注的。本定性案例研究聚焦于居民在社区散步时的社会互动，以及建筑环境特征如何影响步行模式和体验。本研究使用日记、地图和对加拿大一个中等城市的 45 名居民的半结构化访谈，调查了永久性和临时性物理特征对居民步行感知质量的影响。研究结果表明，城市改造的公众可见性会影响步行行为并改善社会互动，从而增强归属感和社区感。居民主导的城市空间改造大多局限于邻里之间，而且具有窥探性，而行政干预对于集体化则更为成功。这两种干预类型都被认为通过不同的机制促进了社交联系，对居民的健康和幸福感产生了积极影响。研究结果强调了社区主导和行政规划干预在建筑环境中的相关性，这些干预有助于制定与社会凝聚力和联系相关的公共卫生政策。
