Physical Environment and Wellbeing

The physical environment is where individuals live, learn, work, and play. People interact with their physical environment through the air they breathe, the water they drink, houses they live in, and the transportation they access to travel to work and school. A poor physical environment can affect our ability and that of our families and neighbors to live long and healthy lives.

While the socio-economic factors most certainly play a large hand in access to quality health and wellbeing resources and also to strategies for families, the physical environment factors have a more direct link to immediate health disparities such as air and water quality. The quality of housing can also have immediate effects on one’s health issues such as asthma, mold, brain and nervous system damage, and infectious diseases to name a few. Lastly, access to transportation to get to the necessary medical treatments could mean life and death for some individuals. I feel that both are important considerations in the overall picture of someone’s health. Thus, I think the physical environment should be a little more heavily weighted and the social and economic factors could be reduced slightly to balance the 4 categories more evenly.

 Along with the typical built environmental strategies to make the physical environment a healthier place and encourage wellbeing, I feel that increased access to safe green spaces would increase wellbeing for many. The Woods in and About Town study showed that increased access to and more engaging outdoor spaces can lead to less stress and worry. I honestly believe we push ourselves to the brink of burnout every single day regardless of age and it is wearing on our society as a whole. Kids don’t have enough outdoor time at school or sometimes outdoor spaces at home are not safe enough for them to go out and enjoy after school, as well. They can also be so wrapped up in the many other activities that they lack the time to just be. Students of all ages are addicted to electronics and would rather fully immerse themselves in a device than hang with friends outdoors or talk a walk. Adults tend to be so busy making ends meet and keeping the family schedule going to take time to themselves and work on their own mental wellbeing. That burnout is causing physical damage to our bodies in so many ways.

Like the WIAT study suggested, natural places can be very restorative. The findings of this research are aimed at researchers, policymakers, planners, and managers in public health, environmental studies, urban design, landscape architecture, forestry, and natural resources, geography, and economics. Evidence suggests that being in nature for more than 120 - 150 minutes a week is related to the best possible physical as well as mental health and wellbeing. I would encourage the powers that be to consider these findings and invest in physical environments for increased health and wellbeing.

 

Sources

https://www.open.edu/openlearn/health-sports-psychology/mental-health/the-benefits-outdoor-green-and-blue-spaces
https://www.sei.org/projects-and-tools/projects/assessing-forestry-commission-scotlands-woods-in-and-around-towns-wiat-programme-on-community-wellbeing/
https://vimeo.com/297952996
https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/explore-health-rankings/measures-data-sources/county-health-rankings-model/health-factors/physical-environment