Submitted Successfully!
To reward your contribution, here is a gift for you: A free trial for our video production service.
Thank you for your contribution! You can also upload a video entry or images related to this topic.
Version Summary Created by Modification Content Size Created at Operation
1
Warawoot Chuangchai
 -- 1262 2023-08-22 12:36:33 |
2 references update
Fanny Huang
 Meta information modification 1262 2023-08-23 07:42:24 |

Video Upload Options

Do you have a full video?
Send video materials Upload full video

Confirm

Are you sure to Delete?
Yes No
Cite
If you have any further questions, please contact Encyclopedia Editorial Office.
Selanon, P.; Chuangchai, W. Urban Green Spaces for People with Disabilities. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/48320 (accessed on 18 May 2024).
Selanon P, Chuangchai W. Urban Green Spaces for People with Disabilities. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/48320. Accessed May 18, 2024.
Selanon, Pattamon, Warawoot Chuangchai. "Urban Green Spaces for People with Disabilities" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/48320 (accessed May 18, 2024).
Selanon, P., & Chuangchai, W. (2023, August 22). Urban Green Spaces for People with Disabilities. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/48320
Selanon, Pattamon and Warawoot Chuangchai. "Urban Green Spaces for People with Disabilities." Encyclopedia. Web. 22 August, 2023.
Urban Green Spaces for People with Disabilities
Edit
This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/buildings13082100

Urban green spaces have been increasingly evidenced to not only improve human health (both body and mind) and well-being but also promote a sustainable way of living for citizens as well as cities. These positive health and sustainable advantages have even greater impacts when applied to people with disabilities, which can ultimately evaluate their quality of life in the long run. 

urban green spaces people with disabilities

1. Introduction

Worldwide rates of mortality and morbidity from extreme heat events have been increasing, and a quantifiable percentage can be attributed to anthropogenic climate change [1]. Problems with social cohesiveness and health are also on the rise in metropolitan areas, and this is occurring simultaneously with the heat crisis [1][2]. Urban green space can help to address these issues, and this is supported by the fact that urban development continues to apply such planning principles to increase natural greenery, including facilities, in cities [3]. Because of the benefits they provide to cities, social opportunities, and the wellness of body and mind for citizens, decent urban green spaces are important in making cities more sustainable and increasing the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.

2. Urban Green Spaces—Global Issues

Urban green spaces can alleviate pollution-related impacts for cities as well as minimize the occurrence of the urban heat island effect, which is associated with heat being trapped in urbanized centers or built-up regions [4]. Urban green spaces are regarded as an effective approach to reducing urban heat islands and promoting natural ventilation for local residents and surrounding areas through the urban green space cooling effect [5][6]. When it comes to the cooling impacts of green spaces in cities, the intensity and density of the cooling are among the most crucial factors to consider [5]. These factors can play a significant part in how city developers and urban architects approach the problem of urban heat islands [4][5]. Based on the outcomes of the recent literature, large urban parks with a size greater than 10 ha have had the strongest cooling impacts in terms of distance and intensity. Rather than the size of green spaces, factors such as climatic conditions, natural qualities, and features also have a significant impact on the cooling effect of urban green space [5][7].
Urban green spaces have a number of elements/features that have a positive impact on the urban microclimate [7]. These features include a high rate of absorption of solar radiation, a lower heat capacity and thermal conductivity in comparison to the structural materials of buildings and urban impervious surfaces, and a reduction in air temperature generated by transpiration [6]. In addition, urban green spaces contribute to the decrease of infrared radiation, the lowering of wind speed in the trunk space below the tree canopy, the retention of dust and pollutants from the air, and the sound protection that the presence of trees gives the environment [6][7].

3. Urban Green Spaces and Issues for the Disabled Population

Urban green spaces provide residents with opportunities to go outside, interact with nature, and participate with others in ways not possible in concrete buildings or other urban environments [2][8]. By gathering people in places, urban green spaces are strongly associated with social cohesiveness, which is an essential component of a sustainable city and is based on the principles of community development, collaboration, and social ties among individuals from various socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds [2][9]. It can also include sentiments of trust, belonging, acceptance, and connectivity, all of which are often associated with pleasant social encounters [2]. For the disabled population, it can be viewed as an opportunity to participate with others, where they can experience a sense of community and help counter the feeling of marginalization [8][9]. Moreover, urban green areas can enhance health and liveability through the coordination of a wide range of recreational, physical, and sporting events [10]. In urban green spaces, people with disabilities can show not only themselves but also everyone else their physical abilities, skill levels, or athletic spirits [11]. Such interaction has the potential to serve as a source of constructive encouragement for other disabled individuals as well as ordinary park users who attend the same sporting venues. It can greatly extend and make a substantial contribution to improving the attitude of the general public toward the capabilities of people with disabilities, especially their ability to participate in physical activities.

4. Urban Green Spaces and the Individual

Several aspects of health benefits have been associated with urban green spaces, including physical, physiological, cognitive, and mental health for people with disabilities [12][13]. Physical activity and exercise in natural settings can maximize the health benefits by providing more support for safety, providing aesthetic pleasure from use, and engaging more with society [3]. Regarding people with impairments, physical health improvement can occur in relation to muscular strength, mobility through a combination of gross and fine motor skills, and movement control based on proprioception and sensory perceptions [12][14]. Physical activity can also promote physiological health via cardiovascular function by improving the heart and circulatory system, which leads to lower cardiovascular mortality and risk of cardiovascular disease [15][16]. Another area where people with disabilities report improvement is in executive function, learning ability, and memory systems, which are related to cognitive health [12][14]. Mental and emotional health, including loneliness, isolation, and stress, has been significantly improved by becoming involved with physical activity as well as urban green spaces [12][13].
Strong evidence suggests that people engaging in urban green spaces, particularly those with disabilities, can reduce stress [13][17]. The stress response experienced by an individual is highly controlled by the function of the autonomic nervous system, whereas the sympathetic branch reacts to stress-related stimuli [18]. The parasympathetic branch reduces the stress response by releasing hormones that calm the mind and body and inhibit or slow down many high-energy physiological functions [18][19]. It is evident from some experimental studies that the parasympathetic system may be dominantly involved as part of the restorative effects of green space [20][21]. For example, a past study found that increased parasympathetic activity during the visual observation of urban green space for at least five minutes could help people recover from stress [18]. In a separate study, participants who spent time walking in the forest environment (for 12–15 min) exhibited an increase in parasympathetic modulation via heart rate and heart rate variability outcomes to alleviate cardiovascular stress, which in turn decreased negative psychological signs such as anxiety levels and mood states when compared to those who walked in the urban environment [22]. These findings strengthen and deepen the growing evidence base for the health benefits of urban green spaces for individuals.
An autonomic investigation recently reported that, by comparing viewing green and constructed landscapes, the parasympathetic function was induced while observing green images, whereas the sympathetic function found no differences between those two observations [23]. Additional research conducted within the same team discovered that visualizing green views before a stressor raised parasympathetic function in the recovery phase, as evaluated by vagus-mediated heart rate variability (the root mean square of the successive differences) [24]. In the second study, there was no evidence that sympathetic function changed during the recovery phase. Other studies have reported reduced sympathetic activity during or after exposure to green space, as indicated, for example, by decreased blood pressure, skin conductance, salivary cortisol, and muscle tension [25][26][27]. According to certain studies, being in or following exposure to green spaces resulted in decreased blood pressure, skin conductance, and salivary cortisol, which was associated with a decline in sympathetic function [26][27]. Furthermore, when compared to hearing transportation and its surrounding noises after a stressful event such as finishing arithmetic assignments, paying attention to natural ambient sounds decreased levels of skin conductance, which is a biomarker of sympathetic responses. However, parasympathetic responses via heart rate variability did not increase [28].

References

  1. Kosanic, A.; Petzold, J.; Martín-López, B.; Razanajatovo, M. An inclusive future: Disabled populations in the context of climate and environmental change. Curr. Opin. Environ. Sustain. 2022, 55, 101159.
  2. Jennings, V.; Bamkole, O. The Relationship between Social Cohesion and Urban Green Space: An Avenue for Health Promotion. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 452.
  3. World Health Organization. Urban Green Space Interventions and Health: A Review of Impacts and Effectiveness; World Health Organization: Geneva, Switzerland, 2017; p. 25.
  4. Yılmaz, S.; Mumcu, S. Urban green areas and design principles. In Environmental Sustainability and Landscape Management; St. Kliment Ohridski University Press: Sofia, Bulgaria, 2016; pp. 100–118.
  5. Aram, F.; Higueras García, E.; Solgi, E.; Mansournia, S. Urban green space cooling effect in cities. Heliyon 2019, 5, e01339.
  6. Georgi, J.N.; Dimitriou, D. The contribution of urban green spaces to the improvement of environment in cities: Case study of Chania, Greece. Build. Environ. 2010, 45, 1401–1414.
  7. Semeraro, T.; Scarano, A.; Buccolieri, R.; Santino, A.; Aarrevaara, E. Planning of Urban Green Spaces: An Ecological Perspective on Human Benefits. Land 2021, 10, 105.
  8. Colley, K.; Irvine, K.N.; Currie, M. Who benefits from nature? A quantitative intersectional perspective on inequalities in contact with nature and the gender gap outdoors. Landsc. Urban Plan. 2022, 223, 104420.
  9. Elias, P. Inclusive City, Perspectives, Challenges, and Pathways. In Sustainable Cities and Communities; Leal Filho, W., Azul, A.M., Brandli, L., Özuyar, P.G., Wall, T., Eds.; Springer International Publishing: Cham, Switzerland, 2019; pp. 1–11.
  10. Lafrenz, A.J. Designing Multifunctional Urban Green Spaces: An Inclusive Public Health Framework. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 10867.
  11. World Health Organization. Health and Development through Physical Activity and Sport; World Health Organization: Geneva, Switzerland, 2003.
  12. Saitta, M.; Devan, H.; Boland, P.; Perry, M.A. Park-based physical activity interventions for persons with disabilities: A mixed-methods systematic review. Disabil. Health J. 2019, 12, 11–23.
  13. Zhang, G.; Poulsen, D.V.; Lygum, V.L.; Corazon, S.S.; Gramkow, M.C.; Stigsdotter, U.K. Health-Promoting Nature Access for People with Mobility Impairments: A Systematic Review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 703.
  14. Chanbenjapipu, P.; Chuangchai, W.; Thepmalee, C.; Wonghempoom, A. A Review Article: Fall Incidents and Interior Architecture—Influence of Executive Function in Normal Ageing. J. Archit./Plan. Res. Stud. 2023, 20, 139–151.
  15. Martin Ginis, K.A.; van der Ploeg, H.P.; Foster, C.; Lai, B.; McBride, C.B.; Ng, K.; Pratt, M.; Shirazipour, C.H.; Smith, B.; Vásquez, P.M.; et al. Participation of people living with disabilities in physical activity: A global perspective. Lancet 2021, 398, 443–455.
  16. Martinez-Gomez, D.; Guallar-Castillon, P.; Higueras-Fresnillo, S.; Garcia-Esquinas, E.; Lopez-Garcia, E.; Bandinelli, S.; Rodríguez-Artalejo, F. Physical Activity Attenuates Total and Cardiovascular Mortality Associated with Physical Disability: A National Cohort of Older Adults. J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. 2018, 73, 240–247.
  17. Jabbar, M.; Yusoff, M.M.; Shafie, A. Assessing the role of urban green spaces for human well-being: A systematic review. GeoJournal 2022, 87, 4405–4423.
  18. Van den Berg, M.M.H.E.; Maas, J.; Muller, R.; Braun, A.; Kaandorp, W.; Van Lien, R.; Van Poppel, M.N.M.; Van Mechelen, W.; Van den Berg, A.E. Autonomic Nervous System Responses to Viewing Green and Built Settings: Differentiating between Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Activity. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12, 15860–15874.
  19. Elsadek, M.; Liu, B.; Lian, Z. Green façades: Their contribution to stress recovery and well-being in high-density cities. Urban For. Urban Green. 2019, 46, 126446.
  20. Tsunetsugu, Y.; Lee, J.; Park, B.-J.; Tyrväinen, L.; Kagawa, T.; Miyazaki, Y. Physiological and psychological effects of viewing urban forest landscapes assessed by multiple measurements. Landsc. Urban Plan. 2013, 113, 90–93.
  21. Jo, H.; Song, C.; Miyazaki, Y. Physiological Benefits of Viewing Nature: A Systematic Review of Indoor Experiments. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 4739.
  22. Lee, J.; Tsunetsugu, Y.; Takayama, N.; Park, B.-J.; Li, Q.; Song, C.; Komatsu, M.; Ikei, H.; Tyrväinen, L.; Kagawa, T.; et al. Influence of Forest Therapy on Cardiovascular Relaxation in Young Adults. Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med. 2014, 2014, 834360.
  23. Gladwell, V.F.; Brown, D.K.; Barton, J.L.; Tarvainen, M.P.; Kuoppa, P.; Pretty, J.; Suddaby, J.M.; Sandercock, G.R.H. The effects of views of nature on autonomic control. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. 2012, 112, 3379–3386.
  24. Brown, D.K.; Barton, J.L.; Gladwell, V.F. Viewing Nature Scenes Positively Affects Recovery of Autonomic Function Following Acute-Mental Stress. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2013, 47, 5562–5569.
  25. Shuda, Q.; Bougoulias, M.E.; Kass, R. Effect of nature exposure on perceived and physiologic stress: A systematic review. Complement. Ther. Med. 2020, 53, 102514.
  26. Park, B.J.; Tsunetsugu, Y.; Kasetani, T.; Kagawa, T.; Miyazaki, Y. The physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing): Evidence from field experiments in 24 forests across Japan. Environ. Health Prev. Med. 2010, 15, 18.
  27. Van Den Berg, A.E.; Custers, M.H.G. Gardening Promotes Neuroendocrine and Affective Restoration from Stress. J. Health Psychol. 2011, 16, 3–11.
  28. Alvarsson, J.J.; Wiens, S.; Nilsson, M.E. Stress Recovery during Exposure to Nature Sound and Environmental Noise. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2010, 7, 1036–1046.
More
© Text is available under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
Upload a video for this entry
Information
Subjects: Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Contributors MDPI registered users' name will be linked to their SciProfiles pages. To register with us, please refer to https://encyclopedia.pub/register :
Pattamon Selanon
,
Warawoot Chuangchai
View Times: 236
Revisions: 2 times (View History)
Update Date: 23 Aug 2023
Table of Contents
    1000/1000
    Hot Most Recent
    Feedback