A Correlational Study of Physical Environment and Happiness

This study aimed to determine the effects of exposure to shopping malls, urban parks and pedestrian zones on happiness. For this purpose, the opinions of three homogeneous participant groups in these three different spaces in Ankara, Türkiye, were taken and analyzed with a binary scale. This scale consists of the Happiness Scale (HS) and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). The findings showed that there is a statistically significant relationship between some HS items and some PANAS modes and exposure to different types of physical environments. In the HS, the highest happiness levels were ranked from high to low as urban parks, pedestrian zones, and shopping malls. According to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), urban parks were found to have positive effects on self-sufficiency and decision-making skills, and according to both dimensions of Multidimensional Scaling (MDS), on the sense of satisfaction with society and the world. In the PANAS, both ANOVA and correlation test results showed that urban parks promoted interested and inspired modes. These results, which show the effect of the physical environment on happiness, can be used as a reference for planners and decision-makers in studies such as planning residential and commercial areas in cities, minimizing the negative effects of urbanization and improving the mental health of city residents.