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Morley KI, Hocking L, Saunders CL, Bousfield JW, Bostock J, Brimicombe J, Burgoine T, Dawney J, Hofman J, Lee D, Mackett R, Phillips W, Sussex J, Morris S. Wellbeing Impact Study of High-Speed 2 (WISH2): Protocol for a mixed-methods examination of the impact of major transport infrastructure development on mental health and wellbeing. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298701. [PMID: 38422089 PMCID: PMC10903902 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Although research has demonstrated that transport infrastructure development can have positive and negative health-related impacts, most of this research has not considered mental health and wellbeing separately from physical health. There is also limited understanding of whether and how any effects might be experienced differently across population groups, whether this differs according to the stage of development (e.g. planning, construction), and how changes to planned infrastructure may affect mental health and wellbeing. This paper presents a protocol for the Wellbeing Impact Study of HS2 (WISH2), which seeks to address these questions using a high-speed rail development in the UK as an applied example. WISH2 is a 10-year, integrated, longitudinal, mixed-methods project using general practices (primary medical care providers in the UK) as an avenue for participant recruitment and for providing a geographically defined population for which aggregated data on mental health indicators are available. The research comprises: (i) a combined longitudinal and repeated cross-sectional cohort study involving multiple waves of survey data collection and data from medical records; (ii) longitudinal, semi-structured interviews and focus groups with residents and community stakeholders from exposed areas; (iii) analysis of administrative data aggregated at the general practice population level; and (iv) health economic analysis of mental health and wellbeing impacts. The study findings will support the development of strategies to reduce negative impacts and/or enhance positive mental health and wellbeing impacts of high-speed rail developments and other large-scale infrastructure projects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lucy Hocking
- Health and Wellbeing Research Group, RAND Europe, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine L. Saunders
- Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - James Brimicombe
- Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Burgoine
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica Dawney
- Health and Wellbeing Research Group, RAND Europe, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna Hofman
- Home Affairs and Social Policy Research Group, RAND Europe, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Lee
- Health and Wellbeing Research Group, RAND Europe, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Roger Mackett
- Centre for Transport Studies, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - William Phillips
- Health and Wellbeing Research Group, RAND Europe, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jon Sussex
- Health and Wellbeing Research Group, RAND Europe, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Morris
- Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Jurgilevich A, Käyhkö J, Räsänen A, Pörsti S, Lagström H, Käyhkö J, Juhola S. Factors influencing vulnerability to climate change-related health impacts in cities - A conceptual framework. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 173:107837. [PMID: 36921561 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Climate change will have adverse impacts on human health, which are amplified in cities. For these impacts, there are direct, indirect, and deferred pathways. The first category is well-studied, while indirect and deferred impacts are not well-understood. Moreover, the factors moderating the impacts have received little attention, although understanding these factors is critical for adaptation. We developed a conceptual framework that shows the pathways of climate impacts on human health, focusing specifically on the factors of urban environment moderating the emergence and severity of these health impacts. Based on the framework and literature review, we illustrate the mechanisms of direct, indirect, and deferred health impact occurrence and the factors that exacerbate or alleviate the severity of these impacts, thus presenting valuable insights for anticipatory adaptation. We conclude that an integrated systemic approach to preventing health risks from climate change can provide co-benefits for adaptation and address multiple health risks. Such an approach should be mainstreamed horizontally to all sectors of urban planning and should account for the spatiotemporal aspects of policy and planning decisions and city complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Janina Käyhkö
- University of Helsinki, Environment and Ecosystems Research Programme, Finland
| | | | | | - Hanna Lagström
- University of Turku, Centre for Population Health Research and Turku University Hospital, Finland
| | - Jukka Käyhkö
- University of Turku, Department of Geography and Geology, Finland
| | - Sirkku Juhola
- University of Helsinki, Environment and Ecosystems Research Programme, Finland
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3
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Stappers NEH, Schipperijn J, Kremers SPJ, Bekker MPM, Jansen MWJ, de Vries NK, Van Kann DHH. Visualizing changes in physical activity behavioral patterns after redesigning urban infrastructure. Health Place 2022; 76:102853. [PMID: 35779325 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to explore effects of a major urban reconstruction on physical activity (PA) behavior by comparing PA intensity hotspots before and after the tunneling of a highway with a new infrastructure prioritized for walking and cycling. In total, 126 individuals participated before and after the tunneling. GPS loggers and accelerometers were used to assess location and PA levels. A geographic information system (GIS) was used to perform optimized hotspot analyses on PA data, both on transport and stationary data points. The results showed several changes in PA hotspots on trip data, even if total PA levels did not change. At follow-up, PA intensity hotspots were more connected, with the new infrastructure as a central connection. This was true for higher and lower educated individuals. Therefore, if changes in the built environment do not result in changes on population-level outcomes, this does not imply that they have no impact on behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- N E H Stappers
- Maastricht University, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Department of Health Promotion, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
| | - J Schipperijn
- University of Southern Denmark, Research Unit for Active Living, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, Odense, Denmark
| | - S P J Kremers
- Maastricht University, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Department of Health Promotion, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - M P M Bekker
- Maastricht University, CAPHRI Care and Public Health Research Institute, Department of Health Services Research, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Wageningen University, Center for Space, Place and Society, Social Sciences Group, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - M W J Jansen
- Maastricht University, CAPHRI Care and Public Health Research Institute, Department of Health Services Research, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Academic Collaborative Center for Public Health, Public Health Service South-Limburg, Heerlen, the Netherlands
| | - N K de Vries
- Maastricht University, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Department of Health Promotion, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Maastricht University, CAPHRI Care and Public Health Research Institute, Department of Health Promotion, the Netherlands
| | - D H H Van Kann
- Maastricht University, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Department of Health Promotion, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Fontys University of Applied Sciences, School of Sport Studies, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
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Urban Gardening and Wellbeing in Pandemic Era: Preliminary Results from a Socio-Environmental Factors Approach. LAND 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/land11040492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The nature and impacts of living in urban settings are gaining their saliences in developed and developing countries alike, particularly during the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the crisis, the wellbeing of urban society became intertwined with a so-called “new lifestyle”, which involved quarantine and working in a home environment. Facing such challenges, urban gardening is deemed as an alternative intervention to enhance residents’ wellbeing and the environmental sustainability of urban areas, including Indonesian cities. A preliminary study was conducted to monitor the wellbeing of urban gardening practitioners, as well as investigate the motivation and any association between gardening and wellbeing with the COVID-19 pandemic situation by analysing data from Indonesian metropolitan areas. The study utilized instruments of “satisfaction with life scale (SWLS)” and “scale of positive and negative experience (SPANE)” to investigate the subjective wellbeing of 67 respondents. Amongst others, we identified that urban gardening practitioners tend to be in positive moods and have better overall wellbeing; 52.24% of the respondents were highly satisfied with their life. Furthermore, we observed a variety of motivations to start gardening, with hobby and utilization of free space as prominent reasons, followed by other motivations such as environmental benefit and aesthetic. Integrating the environmental benefits of urban gardening and the implications for an individual’s wellbeing can be reflected for sustainable urban development and policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Envisioning Happy Places for All: A Systematic Review of the Impact of Transformations in the Urban Environment on the Wellbeing of Vulnerable Groups. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13148086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Urban planning and design can impact mental health, but it is unclear how ever-growing and changing cities can sustain the psychological wellbeing of vulnerable groups, who are among the most mentally sensitive to spatial inequalities. This systematic review synthesised quantitative and qualitative studies on urban design interventions and their impact on wellbeing in vulnerable groups. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we searched five online databases from inception to May 2020. A total of 10 papers were included. We found mixed evidence of benefits for wellbeing linked to urban regeneration projects or focused interventions (green spaces, transport, security). Interventions that were centred around participation, sustainable living, and quality of design (e.g., perceived sense of safety) were associated with increased residential satisfaction and wellbeing, particularly among low-income communities and women. Risk of bias was low to medium, but there was high methodological heterogeneity; studies were mainly from Western countries, and none of the included studies investigated the experiences of people with disabilities, migrants, or racial minorities. This review highlights the importance of inclusive and sustainable design interventions to create happy places for all strata of society, although further investigation is warranted.
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Kestens Y, Winters M, Fuller D, Bell S, Berscheid J, Brondeel R, Cantinotti M, Datta G, Gauvin L, Gough M, Laberee K, Lewis P, Lord S, Luan H(H, McKay H, Morency C, Muhajarine N, Nelson T, Ottoni C, Stephens ZP, Pugh C, Rancourt G, Shareck M, Sims-Gould J, Sones M, Stanley K, Thierry B, Thigpen C, Wasfi R. INTERACT: A comprehensive approach to assess urban form interventions through natural experiments. BMC Public Health 2019; 19:51. [PMID: 30630441 PMCID: PMC6327503 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-018-6339-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Urban form interventions can result in positive and negative impacts on physical activity, social participation, and well-being, and inequities in these outcomes. Natural experiment studies can advance our understanding of causal effects and processes related to urban form interventions. The INTErventions, Research, and Action in Cities Team (INTERACT) is a pan-Canadian collaboration of interdisciplinary scientists, urban planners, and public health decision makers advancing research on the design of healthy and sustainable cities for all. Our objectives are to use natural experiment studies to deliver timely evidence about how urban form interventions influence health, and to develop methods and tools to facilitate such studies going forward. METHODS INTERACT will evaluate natural experiments in four Canadian cities: the Arbutus Greenway in Vancouver, British Columbia; the All Ages and Abilities Cycling Network in Victoria, BC; a new Bus Rapid Transit system in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and components of the Sustainable Development Plan 2016-2020 in Montreal, Quebec, a plan that includes urban form changes initiated by the city and approximately 230 partnering organizations. We will recruit a cohort of between 300 and 3000 adult participants, age 18 or older, in each city and collect data at three time points. Participants will complete health and activity space surveys and provide sensor-based location and physical activity data. We will conduct qualitative interviews with a subsample of participants in each city. Our analysis methods will combine machine learning methods for detecting transportation mode use and physical activity, use temporal Geographic Information Systems to quantify changes to urban intervention exposure, and apply analytic methods for natural experiment studies including interrupted time series analysis. DISCUSSION INTERACT aims to advance the evidence base on population health intervention research and address challenges related to big data, knowledge mobilization and engagement, ethics, and causality. We will collect ~ 100 TB of sensor data from participants over 5 years. We will address these challenges using interdisciplinary partnerships, training of highly qualified personnel, and modern methodologies for using sensor-based data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Kestens
- École de Santé Publique de l’Université de Montréal / Centre de recherche du CHUM, Pavillon S, Tour St–Antoine – 850 St–Denis – S03–280 –, Montreal, QC H2X 0A9 Canada
| | - Meghan Winters
- Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
| | - Daniel Fuller
- Memorial University of Newfoundland, 230 Elizabeth Avenue, St. John’s, NF A1C 5S7 Canada
| | - Scott Bell
- University of Saskatchewan, 105 Administration Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A2 Canada
| | - Janelle Berscheid
- University of Saskatchewan, 105 Administration Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A2 Canada
| | - Ruben Brondeel
- École de Santé Publique de l’Université de Montréal / Centre de recherche du CHUM, Pavillon S, Tour St–Antoine – 850 St–Denis – S03–280 –, Montreal, QC H2X 0A9 Canada
| | - Michael Cantinotti
- Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351 Boulevard des Forges, Trois-Rivières, QC G9A 5H7 Canada
| | - Geetanjali Datta
- École de Santé Publique de l’Université de Montréal / Centre de recherche du CHUM, Pavillon S, Tour St–Antoine – 850 St–Denis – S03–280 –, Montreal, QC H2X 0A9 Canada
| | - Lise Gauvin
- École de Santé Publique de l’Université de Montréal / Centre de recherche du CHUM, Pavillon S, Tour St–Antoine – 850 St–Denis – S03–280 –, Montreal, QC H2X 0A9 Canada
| | - Margot Gough
- University of Saskatchewan, 105 Administration Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A2 Canada
| | - Karen Laberee
- Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
| | - Paul Lewis
- École de Santé Publique de l’Université de Montréal / Centre de recherche du CHUM, Pavillon S, Tour St–Antoine – 850 St–Denis – S03–280 –, Montreal, QC H2X 0A9 Canada
| | - Sébastien Lord
- École de Santé Publique de l’Université de Montréal / Centre de recherche du CHUM, Pavillon S, Tour St–Antoine – 850 St–Denis – S03–280 –, Montreal, QC H2X 0A9 Canada
| | - Hui ( Henry) Luan
- Memorial University of Newfoundland, 230 Elizabeth Avenue, St. John’s, NF A1C 5S7 Canada
| | - Heather McKay
- University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
| | - Catherine Morency
- Polytechnique Montréal, 2900 Edouard Montpetit Blvd, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4 Canada
| | - Nazeem Muhajarine
- University of Saskatchewan, 105 Administration Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A2 Canada
| | - Trisalyn Nelson
- Arizona State University, PO Box 875302, Tempe, AZ 85287-5302 USA
| | - Callista Ottoni
- Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351 Boulevard des Forges, Trois-Rivières, QC G9A 5H7 Canada
| | - Zoe Poirier Stephens
- École de Santé Publique de l’Université de Montréal / Centre de recherche du CHUM, Pavillon S, Tour St–Antoine – 850 St–Denis – S03–280 –, Montreal, QC H2X 0A9 Canada
| | - Caitlin Pugh
- Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
| | - Gabrielle Rancourt
- École de Santé Publique de l’Université de Montréal / Centre de recherche du CHUM, Pavillon S, Tour St–Antoine – 850 St–Denis – S03–280 –, Montreal, QC H2X 0A9 Canada
| | - Martin Shareck
- University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1P8 Canada
| | - Joanie Sims-Gould
- Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351 Boulevard des Forges, Trois-Rivières, QC G9A 5H7 Canada
| | - Meridith Sones
- Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
| | - Kevin Stanley
- University of Saskatchewan, 105 Administration Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A2 Canada
| | - Benoit Thierry
- École de Santé Publique de l’Université de Montréal / Centre de recherche du CHUM, Pavillon S, Tour St–Antoine – 850 St–Denis – S03–280 –, Montreal, QC H2X 0A9 Canada
| | - Calvin Thigpen
- Polytechnique Montréal, 2900 Edouard Montpetit Blvd, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4 Canada
| | - Rania Wasfi
- École de Santé Publique de l’Université de Montréal / Centre de recherche du CHUM, Pavillon S, Tour St–Antoine – 850 St–Denis – S03–280 –, Montreal, QC H2X 0A9 Canada
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Foley L, Coombes E, Hayman D, Humphreys D, Jones A, Mitchell R, Ogilvie D. Longitudinal association between change in the neighbourhood built environment and the wellbeing of local residents in deprived areas: an observational study. BMC Public Health 2018; 18:545. [PMID: 29699544 PMCID: PMC5921539 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-018-5459-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Features of the urban neighbourhood influence the physical, social and mental wellbeing of residents and communities. We explored the longitudinal association between change to the neighbourhood built environment and the wellbeing of local residents in deprived areas of Glasgow, Scotland. METHODS A cohort of residents (n = 365; mean age 50 years; 44% male; 4.1% of the 9000 mailed surveys at baseline) responded to a postal survey in 2005 and 2013. Wellbeing was assessed with the mental (MCS-8) and physical (PCS-8) components of the SF-8 scale. We developed software to aid identification of visible changes in satellite imagery occurring over time. We then used a Geographical Information System to calculate the percentage change in the built environment occurring within an 800 m buffer of each participant's home. RESULTS The median change in the neighbourhood built environment was 3% (interquartile range 6%). In the whole sample, physical wellbeing declined by 1.5 units on average, and mental wellbeing increased by 0.9 units, over time. In multivariable linear regression analyses, participants living in neighbourhoods with a greater amount of change in the built environment (unit change = 1%) experienced significantly reduced physical (PCS-8: -0.13, 95% CI -0.26 to 0.00) and mental (MCS-8: -0.16, 95% CI -0.31 to - 0.02) wellbeing over time compared to those living in neighbourhoods with less change. For mental wellbeing, a significant interaction by baseline perception of financial strain indicated a larger reduction in those experiencing greater financial strain (MCS-8: -0.22, 95% CI -0.39 to - 0.06). However, this relationship was reversed in those experiencing lower financial strain, whereby living in neighbourhoods with a greater amount of change was associated with significantly improved mental wellbeing over time (MCS-8: 0.38, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.72). CONCLUSIONS Overall, we found some evidence that living in neighbourhoods experiencing higher levels of physical change worsened wellbeing in local residents. However, we found a stronger negative relationship in those with lower financial security and a positive relationship in those with higher financial security. This is one of few studies exploring the longitudinal relationship between the environment and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Foley
- MRC Epidemiology Unit & UKCRC Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Box 285 Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ UK
| | - Emma Coombes
- Norwich Medical School and CEDAR, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ UK
| | | | - David Humphreys
- Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Barnett House, 32 Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2ER UK
| | - Andrew Jones
- Norwich Medical School and CEDAR, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ UK
| | - Richard Mitchell
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit and Centre for Research on Environment, Society and Health, University of Glasgow, 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow, G2 3QB UK
| | - David Ogilvie
- MRC Epidemiology Unit & UKCRC Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Box 285 Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ UK
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How Does the Urban Environment Affect Health and Well-Being? A Systematic Review. URBAN SCIENCE 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/urbansci2010021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Ogilvie D, Foley L, Nimegeer A, Olsen JR, Mitchell R, Thomson H, Crawford F, Prins R, Hilton S, Jones A, Humphreys D, Sahlqvist S, Mutrie N. Health impacts of the M74 urban motorway extension: a mixed-method natural experimental study. PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH 2017. [DOI: 10.3310/phr05030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Making travel easier can improve people’s access to opportunities, but motor transport also incurs substantial undesirable health and social impacts.
Aims
To assess how a new urban motorway affected travel and activity patterns, road accidents and well-being in local communities, and how these impacts were experienced and brought about.
Design
The Traffic and Health in Glasgow study, a mixed-method controlled before-and-after study.
Setting
Glasgow, UK.
Participants
Repeat cross-sectional survey samples of 1345 and 1343 adults, recruited in 2005 and 2013, respectively. Of these, 365 formed a longitudinal cohort, 196 took part in a quantitative substudy using accelerometers and global positioning system receivers and 30, living within 400 m of the new motorway, took part in a qualitative substudy along with 12 other informants. Complementary analyses used police STATS19 road traffic accident data (1997–2014) and Scottish Household Survey travel diaries (2009–13).
Intervention
A new 5-mile, six-lane section of the M74 motorway, opened in 2011 and running through predominantly deprived neighbourhoods in south-east Glasgow, with associated changes to the urban landscape.
Main outcome measures
Differences in self-reported travel behaviour (1-day travel record), physical activity (short International Physical Activity Questionnaire) and well-being [Short Form 8 Health Survey (SF-8) and a short version of the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale], and in the incidence of road traffic accidents.
Methods
A combination of multivariable cohort, cross-sectional, repeat cross-sectional and interrupted time series regression analyses comparing residents of the ‘M74 corridor’ intervention area and two matched control areas, complemented by novel qualitative spatial methods. Graded measures of the proximity of the motorway to each participant’s home served as a further basis for controlled comparisons.
Results
Both benefits and harms were identified. Cohort participants living closer to the new motorway experienced significantly reduced mental well-being (mental component summary of the SF-8 scale) over time compared with those living further away [linear regression coefficient –3.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) –6.6 to –0.7]. In the area surrounding an existing motorway, this association was concentrated among those with chronic conditions. In repeat cross-sectional analyses, participants living closer to a new motorway junction were more likely to report using a car at follow-up than those living further away (odds ratio 3.4, 95% CI 1.1 to 10.7). We found weaker quantitative evidence of a decline in physical activity participation and no quantitative evidence of an overall change in either active travel or accidents associated with motorway exposure. Qualitative evidence suggested that, although the new motorway improved connectivity for those with dispersed social networks and access to motor vehicles, the impacts were more complex for others, some of whom found the motorway to be a cause of severance. Changes in community composition and cohesion, and perceptions of personal safety, were widely perceived as more important to local people.
Limitations
A key limitation of natural experimental studies is that the risk of residual confounding cannot be eliminated.
Conclusions
Overall, these findings highlight the potential for urban infrastructural projects of this kind to add further burdens to already disadvantaged communities, exacerbating inequalities and contributing to poorer health outcomes. The health and social impacts of such initiatives should be more fully taken into account in planning and research.
Funding
The National Institute for Health Research Public Health Research programme.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Ogilvie
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit and Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Louise Foley
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit and Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Amy Nimegeer
- Medical Research Council/Chief Scientist Office (MRC/CSO) Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Jonathan R Olsen
- Centre for Research on Environment, Society and Health, Institute of Health and Well-being, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Richard Mitchell
- Centre for Research on Environment, Society and Health, Institute of Health and Well-being, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Hilary Thomson
- Medical Research Council/Chief Scientist Office (MRC/CSO) Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Fiona Crawford
- NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Glasgow, UK
- Glasgow Centre for Population Health, Glasgow, UK
| | - Richard Prins
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit and Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Shona Hilton
- Medical Research Council/Chief Scientist Office (MRC/CSO) Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Andy Jones
- Norwich Medical School and Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - David Humphreys
- Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Shannon Sahlqvist
- School of Exercise and Nutrition, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Nanette Mutrie
- Physical Activity for Health Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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