The Impact of Urban Built Environment Components on Mental Health: A Systematic Review

Introduction: With the rapid growth of urbanization and significant changes in the physical and social structures of cities, concerns about the impact of urban environments on mental health have intensified. Recent studies highlight those factors such as access to green spaces, housing quality, building density, and perceived safety are closely associated with mental health indicators, including depression, anxiety, and psychological well-being. This study aims to systematically review empirical research conducted between 2014 and 2024 to identify patterns in how components of the built urban environment influence the mental health of urban residents.
Methodology: This study employed a systematic review approach based on the PRISMA framework to examine empirical research from the past decade concerning the impact of urban and built-environment components on mental health. A structured search was conducted across three major databases—PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar—using keywords related to urban environments and mental health. The search was limited to English-language original research articles published between 2014 and 2024. Following a multi-stage screening process and full-text review, 26 eligible studies were included in the final analysis. Data were extracted regarding study design, mental health assessment tools, and environmental variables and were analyzed using a combination of descriptive statistics and thematic synthesis to identify temporal trends and conceptual patterns in the relationship between urban environments and mental health.
Results: Of the 575 records initially identified across PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar (2014–2024), 26 empirical studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final review. These studies employed diverse methodologies, predominantly cross-sectional designs, with only four studies utilizing longitudinal approaches. The studies were conducted across various countries, with China contributing the largest number of publications. Sample sizes varied substantially, ranging from fewer than 150 participants to more than 500,000, thereby enabling both detailed case-level insights and broader population-level generalizations. Several studies reported consistent associations between urban environmental factors—such as access to green space, housing quality, neighborhood safety, and spatial density—and mental health indicators, including depression, anxiety, and psychological distress. For example, higher levels of residential greenness were frequently associated with lower levels of stress and depressive symptoms, whereas poor neighborhood infrastructure and perceived insecurity were associated with poorer mental health outcomes. These findings underscore the importance of built-environment design in shaping mental well-being in urban settings.
Discussion: The systematic review reveals a temporal shift in the way scholars conceptualize the relationship between urban environments and mental health. Earlier studies (2000–2010) predominantly focused on the psychological harms associated with poor housing quality, overcrowding, and environmental disorder. More recent research (2015–2021), however, has emphasized the salutogenic (health-promoting) role of urban features such as green space, neighborhood walkability, housing quality, and social cohesion. These features are increasingly recognized as environmental assets capable of mitigating depression, anxiety, and perceived stress. Furthermore, the thematic synthesis of the reviewed studies identified key mediating pathways—including social interaction, perceived safety, sense of belonging, and physical activity—through which urban environments influence mental health. These pathways are visually integrated into the conceptual framework presented in Figure 1, which summarizes the dynamic interplay between physical and social components of the urban environment and psychological outcomes. This evolving perspective underscores the importance of incorporating mental health considerations into urban design and planning processes in order to foster resilient and healthy communities. 
Conclusion: This systematic review confirms that the urban built environment plays a crucial role in shaping mental health outcomes. While earlier studies from the 2000s highlighted the adverse psychological effects of poor housing conditions, more recent research (2015–2021) has shifted toward identifying protective environmental factors such as green-space accessibility, urban design quality, walkability, safety, and social cohesion. These components contribute to improved mental well-being through mechanisms such as enhanced social interaction, reduced environmental stress, and increased physical activity. However, the magnitude and direction of these effects are context-dependent, particularly in developing countries, where urban poverty, overcrowding, and inadequate infrastructure may amplify negative outcomes. The available evidence underscores the need for people-centered urban policies that integrate mental health considerations into planning processes, promote equity through inclusive design, and ensure community participation, thereby advancing both preventive mental health strategies and sustainable urban development.