Urban Planning and Subjective Well-Being

Urban planning shapes the physical, social and ecological fabric of cities and exerts a profound influence on subjective well-being, defined as individuals’ self-reported life satisfaction and emotional experiences. Research has identified multiple pathways by which planning interventions affect well-being, including mobility, access to amenities, social cohesion, environmental quality and residential satisfaction. Densification and mixed-use development can foster active travel, reduce commute times and promote social interaction, while green and blue infrastructure contributes to stress reduction and enhanced mood. Design elements such as neighbourhood safety, aesthetic quality and spatial order further modulate both cognitive and affective components of well-being. Equity considerations underline the need to address socio-spatial inequalities in housing, transport and public space provision to ensure that benefits accrue across diverse population groups. Recent global challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, have underscored the importance of resilient, health-oriented urban forms that support mental health, physical activity and social connectivity. By integrating evidence on thresholds and non-linear effects, planners can fine-tune interventions—such as optimal proportions of open space or maximum travel times—to maximise positive outcomes.

Research from Nature Portfolio

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Urban Planning and Subjective Well-Being publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in urban planning and subjective well-being across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Subjective well-being: An individual’s self-evaluation of life satisfaction and emotional experiences.

Built environment: The man-made physical surroundings of urban areas, including buildings, infrastructure and public spaces.

Compact city: An urban form characterised by high density, mixed land use and efficient public transport.

Active travel: Modes of transport involving physical activity, such as walking and cycling.

Green space: Areas of vegetation within urban settings that provide recreational and environmental benefits.

References

1. How Does the Historic Built Environment Influence Residents’ Satisfaction? Using Gradient Boosting Decision Trees to Identify Critical Factors and the Threshold Effects. Sustainability (2023).
2. Urban planning and quality of life: A review of pathways linking the built environment to subjective well-being. Cities (2021).
3. COVID-19 and urban planning: Built environment, health, and well-being in Greek cities before and during the pandemic. Cities (2021).