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The Impacts of Housing Characteristics and Built-Environment Features on Mental Health

Author

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  • Zihan Kan

    (Institute of Space and Earth Information Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China)

  • Mei-Po Kwan

    (Institute of Space and Earth Information Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
    Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China)

  • Mee Kam Ng

    (Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China)

  • Hendrik Tieben

    (School of Architecture, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China)

Abstract

In this study, we examined the relationships between housing characteristics, neighborhood built-environment features, and people’s mental health in Hong Kong, an Asian city well known for its high-density and high-rise housing. The potential mediating effects of people’s perceived living environment were also considered in the analysis. We collected data from 221 participants from two communities in Hong Kong, i.e., Sham Shui Po (SSP) and Tin Shui Wai (TSW), using a stratified random sampling approach. Big datasets were also used to derive relevant built-environment features at the street block level. We used structural equation modeling to explore the complex relationships among housing characteristics, built-environment features, and mental health. The results indicate that the associations between built-environment quality and people’s mental health are weak. For communities with relatively poor housing conditions (i.e., SSP in this study), the impact of housing characteristics on mental health may be more direct; for communities with relatively good housing conditions (i.e., TSW in this study), the effect of housing characteristics on mental health may be indirect. Our findings shed light on the importance of considering different contexts in developing policies related to housing and built environment and mental health.

Suggested Citation

  • Zihan Kan & Mei-Po Kwan & Mee Kam Ng & Hendrik Tieben, 2022. "The Impacts of Housing Characteristics and Built-Environment Features on Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-19, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:9:p:5143-:d:800537
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Yang Liu & Mei-Po Kwan & Zihan Kan, 2023. "Inconsistent Association between Perceived Air Quality and Self-Reported Respiratory Symptoms: A Pilot Study and Implications for Environmental Health Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-17, January.
    2. Jianwei Huang & Mei-Po Kwan & Lap Ah Tse & Sylvia Y. He, 2023. "How People’s COVID-19 Induced-Worries and Multiple Environmental Exposures Are Associated with Their Depression, Anxiety, and Stress during the Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(16), pages 1-19, August.
    3. Eman Leung & Albert Lee & Yilin Liu & Chi-Tim Hung & Ning Fan & Sam C. C. Ching & Hilary Yee & Yinan He & Richard Xu & Hector Wing Hong Tsang & Jingjing Guan, 2024. "Impact of Environment on Pain among the Working Poor: Making Use of Random Forest-Based Stratification Tool to Study the Socioecology of Pain Interference," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(2), pages 1-21, February.
    4. Riko Kawashita & Haruka Kato, 2024. "Mental Health and Parent–Child Residential Distance for Older People: Cross-Sectional Study Using a Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions in Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-12, February.

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