چكيده به لاتين
Although man has now removed most of his barriers with the help of technology, some of his problems still seem to become more intricate and complicated. Environmental pollution, noises and visual pollution, the existence of fear and insecurity, lack of natural scenes, tall buildings, isolation, hostile social relations, overcrowding have led to different psychological damage on civilians. Mental pressures, aggression and irritability, anger and social isolation, depression, impatience, physical complaints, anxiety, and so on are the disappointing results of such conditions. World Health Organization (WHO), regards environment as a critical factor on human’s health. Applying Environmental Psychology Principle to Environmental Design affects the improvement of human mental health. This study, based on the assumption that the environment has influence on the mental health of city dwellers, tries to identify built and natural environmental factors affecting the mental health of citizens. Accordingly, the main purpose of this paper is to achieve high quality environment that promotes the mental health of its inhabitants.
Considering the above and in order to answer the research questions and to achieve the goal, the thesis is presented in five chapters. For this purpose, the first step is to study texts and literatures, discuss the concept of health and determine mental health status among other health dimensions. Then, the non-environmental variables affecting mental health will be addressed and the impact of built and natural environments on four social, emotional, cognitive, physical functions of the individuals and the relationship between mental health and these functions will be studied. Finally, at the end of the first section a conceptual framework will be presented. Also in the third quarter, foreign samples, which are a key to the project, will be considered. Fourth quarter will identify and scrutinize aspects of each of the six dimensions of functional, social, economic, physical, landscape and environment in the introducing form of environmental qualities associated with each dimensions and then identify and analyze each dimension within Imamzade Yahya neighborhood as a case study. By conducting a survey based on the conceptual frame work of the study, the research hypothesis will be explored. In order to assess the effect of the independent variable (residential environment quality) on the dependent variable (mental health), 300 residents of Imam Yahya neighborhood in Tehran will be selected by random sampling method. The results obtained from the questionnaires will be analyzed by SPSS software. The study revealed that the environment have impacts on residents’ mental health. Mental health of people living in neighborhood with higher environmental qualities are significantly higher than those who lives in neighborhood devoid of such qualities. This study also offers the Urban Design principles for promotion of mental health of citizens and part of the neighborhood will be designed according to these principles.
This thesis shows that there are many factors with different mechanisms that affect the mental health of citizens, however, with effective and targeted interventions destructive factors can be monitored or reduced although, this requires changing the attitudes of urban designers toward development efforts and planning based on evidence.
Keywords: Mental health, Built and natural environment, People's daily performance
