Mental Health and the City in the Post-COVID-19 Era

Identifying factors affecting a healthy lifestyle in the post-COVID-19 era

BACKGROUND

A healthy lifestyle is one of the important global concepts in the post-COVID-19 era, which can lead to maintaining and improving the health of societies. This study aimed to identify the factors affecting a healthy lifestyle in the post-COVID-19 era.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The current research is a qualitative study that was conducted in the field by theoretical sampling method. The qualitative method used in the current research was Strauss-Corbin's method. The data collection tool in the current research was a semi-structured interview. The researcher reached theoretical saturation by the end of the 13th interview, and for more certainty, the interviews continued until the 15th interview. The statistical population of the research was all professors and experts with specialized doctorate degrees in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, and finally, 15 people were selected according to the entry and exit criteria for the study. Data analysis was done by summarizing and coding and analyzing the hidden content from expert interviews using MAXQDA software.

RESULTS

The factors affecting a healthy lifestyle in the post-COVID-19 era (cultural norms, social norms, biological norms, technological factors, and economic factors) emerged from the intuitive opinions of experts.

CONCLUSION

Providing and maintaining health is not a simple task, as it involves biological, individual, familial, cultural, societal, economic, political, and health factors. Promotion of healthy lifestyles is not merely the responsibility of health-related organizations and bodies; rather, they necessitate extensive coordination and empathy among educational, health, cultural, service, and even political institutions and bodies.

Association between household income and mental health among adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea: Insights from a community health survey

People of low socioeconomic status are vulnerable to health problems during disasters such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Using data from the 2019 and 2021 Korea Community Health Survey, this study analyzed the associations between Korean adults' mental health and their national and regional-level household incomes during the pandemic. The prevalence of perceived stress and depression experience for each risk factor category was calculated through univariate analyses. A multivariate logistic regression analysis helped identify the association between two types of income levels (national or regional) and perceived stress and experience of depression. Additionally, we investigated the effect of income levels by subgroup (gender and residential area) on perceived stress and the experience of depression. During the pandemic, the crude prevalence of an experience of depression was higher (6.24% to 7.2%) but that of perceived stress remained unchanged. Regarding regional-income based mental health disparities, even after adjusting for each independent variable, perceived stress (2019 odds ratio (OR): 1.26, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.26-1.27, 2021 OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.32-1.32) and experience of depression (2019 OR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.55-1.56, 2021 OR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.63-1.64) increased as the income level decreased. The perceived stress based on the two income levels was higher in women than in men. For both income levels, the experience of depression of women was higher than that of men before COVID-19 and vice versa during the COVID-19 period. National income had a more pronounced effect on mental health in urban areas than in rural areas. Contrarily, the effect of regional income level on mental health was not consistent across residential areas (urban and rural areas). Our findings demonstrated that mental health disparities based on income level were more likely to occur during the COVID-19 pandemic and are better reflected through disparities in regional income levels.

Perceived urban green spaces and youth mental health in the post-COVID-19 era

Introduction

The urban green space (UGS) is one of the most significant urban spaces with unique visual and social features, including pleasant air, low noise, and vitality, making it a recreational place for citizens, especially the youth. According to previous studies, perceived green space and the interaction with it is associated with mental health and lower symptoms of anxiety and depression. Although the presence of urban and blue-green spaces in Isfahan has a long history, the UGSs have been out of reach, causing a significant impact on youth mental health due to the spread of COVID-19 and the forcing of the Iranian government to severe and long-term lockdown. This study investigates the relationship between the long-term isolation of youth and being away from UGSs on their mental health in Isfahan city.

Methods

In September 2022, the youth (n = 273) in 12 neighborhoods with similar socio-economic status were asked to answer the online questionnaire. To investigate the correlation between perceived UGS and the mental health of the youth, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is done.

Results

The results show that the perceived UGSs negatively relate to the youth's fear of the reoccurrence of COVID-19 infection, anxiety, and depression. Moreover, the model shows that perceived UGS has an inverse correlation with anxiety (β = -0.24, p = 0.00), and no meaningful correlation exists with depression.

Discussion

These results point to a practical solution for designing UDGs in residential areas for youth according to their benefits for mental health during the epidemic era.

What are the lessons from COVID-19 for creating healthy, sustainable, resilient future cities?

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted lives and the economy, reminding the global community of the devastating health and economic impacts of uncontrolled infectious disease. It has affected how and where people live, work, shop, and play, and exposed our cities' vulnerabilities, leading to calls for a health lens to be applied in designing, approving, and evaluating city plans. Socioeconomic, spatial and health inequities have been amplified, particularly for those living in inadequate or poorly designed housing, neighbourhoods, and cities. Hence, city mayors have committed to 'build back better' with all daily living amenities within a 15-min walking or cycling trip. Designed well, these cities have the potential to be healthier, more sustainable, equitable, and resilient. Yet their delivery requires a rethink of city planning. Drawing on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, we argue that to reduce the risk of future pandemics, we must mitigate climate change, limit urban expansion, and use nature-based solutions to protect natural habitats and biodiversity. We then explore how healthy, sustainable, and resilient 15-minute cities could be planned to reduce emissions and ensure our cities are more resilient in the event of future crises. Given that higher density housing underpins the success of 15-minute cities, we also examine how to create more resilient housing stock, through well-implemented health-supportive apartment design standards. Finally, we argue that to achieve all this, cross-sector leadership and investment will be vital.

Mental health of COVID-19 recovered individuals: A national study from Jordan

<b>Aim:</b> To investigate the relationship between COVID-19 infection and subsequent long-term mental consequences among patients recovering from the disease.<br /> <b>Methods:</b> A cross-sectional and survey-based study was conducted in Jordan using Google Forms during the period from March to July of 2022. The requirement to participate was that individuals be at least 18 years old and have at least one symptomatic COVID-19 infection. A total of 2,055 subjects recruited in the study. Mental health was assessed using mental health inventory-38 (MHI-38).<br /> <b>Results: </b>Females represent 64.8% (n=1,182) of the sample. The mean age of the participants was 39.9±14.4 years. Subjects who recovered from COVID-19 scored slightly higher than moderate on different scales of MHI-38. These include anxiety, depression, loss of behavioral and emotional control, general positive affect, emotional ties, and life-satisfactions. The prevalence of depression among participants was 46.3% (n=952). The prevalence of anxiety among participants was 45.8% (n=942). The prevalence of loss of physical and emotional control was 47.2% (n=970). Multiple regression showed that employment status, tobacco use, and severe COVID-19 infection were associated with mental illness. Not working, using tobacco, and having severe COVID-19 infection were more likely to develop mental illness (p&lt;0.01).<br /> <b>Conclusion:</b> Individuals who recover from COVID-19 are susceptible to developing mental illnesses. Factors associated with such susceptibility include employment status, tobacco use and severity of infection. The current findings can be used in mental health interventions targeting individuals who recovered from COVID-19.

Designing for COVID-2x: Reflecting on Future-Proofing Human Habitation for the Inevitable Next Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020–2022 has revealed the vulnerability of modern society to a highly contagious airborne virus. Many spaces in the urban and built environment designed during the late twentieth and early twenty-first century are ill-suited to maintain the level of social distancing required to reduce the probability of virus transmission. Enclosed spaces—in particular, communal circulation spaces such as corridors, elevators and lobbies—have proven loci of transmission, together with circulating reticulated air and lack of proper ventilation. While urban planning needs to incorporate the lessons learnt during COVID-19 in order to future-proof our communities through the provision of well-designed greenspaces, the main burden will fall on architects, who will play an instrumental role in designing buildings that are fit-for purpose. This conceptual paper reviews the status quo and discusses a number of strategies to future-proof human habitation for the inevitable next pandemic.

The Nexus between Cultural Heritage Management and the Mental Health of Urban Communities

In authorized cultural heritage management discourse, heritage sites can be included in local government heritage registers if their aesthetic, scientific, historic or social values are deemed significant. While notionally providing protection from major alterations and destruction for the benefit of future generations, such listings primarily serve the present generation whose values they reflect. This paper considers the role that cultural heritage places play in terms of community identity and their contribution to a sense of place, to place attachment and, by implication, to personal and community mental health.

The Impact of Place of Residence on the Sense of Coherence of Population Aged 60–89: Evidence from Poland

Place of living is one of the most important socio-demographic factors which characterizes the lives of older people. The importance of with whom and under what conditions older adults live to a large extent determines their health and standard of living. The goal of the study was to find the relationship between the place of residence and housing condition of older adults in Poland and their sense of coherence and health problems. The 29-item Antonovsky SOC questionnaire was used. In the research 303 people (76% women and 24% men) aged 60–89 were evaluated: 158 lived in their own houses/flats, while 145 resided in Daily Homes of Social Assistance (DPS). The overall result for the sense of coherence was 129.65 for older adults living in their own homes and 126.48 for these living in DPS. Statistical dependence between the place of residence and sense of manageability and meaningfulness was found. There is no dependence between gender and the overall score, nor the three components of the sense of coherence. Statistical dependence was determined in the criterion of age. A higher level of meaningfulness was observed in people aged 60–74. Taking into account the place of residents, 52% of the respondents living in their own houses/flats experience loneliness and among the people living in Daily Homes of Social Assistance, 46% experience loneliness. The type of place of residence is one of the most important personal factors affecting the sense of coherence, chronic health problems, and sense of loneliness. The last factor, especially, can adversely affect community sustainability and undermine social cohesion.

Exercising under COVID-2x: Conceptualizing Future Green Spaces in Australia’s Neighborhoods

The COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be a social and economic disruptor on a global scale, severely curtailing people’s ability to travel and engage in many recreation activities. Periodic lockdown and stay-at-home orders have exacerbated the situation. In this social climate, urban green spaces have attained a high significance for the maintenance of the physical and mental health of the population. Given the presence of similar coronaviruses in animal populations, it can be predicted that future epidemics and even pandemics will occur. Urban planning needs to incorporate the lessons learnt during COVID-19 in order to future-proof our communities. This paper reviews the role that urban green spaces played during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on these observations, the paper discusses a range of options for the provision of pandemic-sensitive spaces for physical exercise and mental recreation. Design concepts for long-term planning adjustments as well as for future ad-hoc solutions are provided. These include the provision of social distancing ‘pods’ embedded in design and landscaping of permanent parks, the design of ad-hoc, socially distanced ‘parklets’ on a quietened street and a rethink of the design of curb-to-boundary setbacks (nature strip) in residential streets.