Evaluation of the Criteria Affecting the Mental Health of Citizens in Public Spaces from the Perspective of Prospective Studies, Case Study: Tarbiyat and Vali-Asr Pedestrian Walkways in Tabriz

Haghlesan, Masoud

doi:10.22034/aaud.2026.516280.2972

Evaluation of the Criteria Affecting the Mental Health of Citizens in Public Spaces from the Perspective of Prospective Studies, Case Study: Tarbiyat and Vali-Asr Pedestrian Walkways in Tabriz

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Masoud Haghlesan

Associate Professor of Architecture and Urban Planning, Ilkhchi Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ilkhchi, Iran (Corresponding Author).

10.22034/aaud.2026.516280.2972

Abstract

Mental health has become a major concern in today's societies. Public areas such as parks, squares, and cultural and social centers provide the basis for social communication, which can play a decisive role in improving this aspect of life. More precisely, indicators such as design desirability, accessibility, and the diversity of functions offered in these places directly affect the improvement in the satisfaction and quality of life of individuals. The current study was conducted to evaluate the criteria affecting citizens' mental health in public spaces, with a view to future studies. The study area for this research is the two pedestrian walkways, Tarbiyat and Vali-Asr. This research is considered applied in its purpose and follows a descriptive-analytical, qualitative approach in its methodology during the phase of identifying the components. Qualitative data were collected through structured interviews with 25 experts related to the research field. Based on their opinions, four main criteria were identified as influential factors, comprising 24 components. The interaction analysis method in the MICMAC software was used to analyze and analyze the data. Given the rapid pace of social and cultural developments, analyzing these criteria from a prospective perspective, while revealing the challenges and opportunities ahead, provides a basis for practical solutions to improve mental well-being. The research findings show that performance criteria, including components such as accessibility, safety, comfort, visual appeal, diversity of activities, and pedestrianization, have had the greatest impact on the mental well-being of individuals in public spaces in Tabriz. In other words, the results of this study can serve as an efficient tool for urban planners and designers in Tabriz and pave the way for improving the quality of life and mental health of its residents. Finally, paying attention to these influential indicators can be an effective step towards increasing social well-being and shaping a healthier, more sustainable society.

Keywords

Mental Health

Tabriz Citizens

Public Spaces

Futures Studies

Abdolahzade Fard, A., and A. Shamsoddini. 2020. Neighborhood Environmental Quality and Its Role Regarding the Residents’ Spiritual and Mental Health (Case Study of Sang Siyah District, Shiraz Metropolis). Urban Planning Knowledge 4(2): 95-114. doi: 10.22124/upk.2020.14650.1307. [in Persian]
Akkar Ercan, Müge. 2017. ‘Evolving’or ‘lost’identity of a historic public space? The tale of Gençlik Park in Ankara. Journal of urban Design 22(4): 520-543.
Astell-Burt, Thomas, and Xiaoqi Feng. 2019. Association of urban green space with mental health and general health among adults in Australia. JAMA network open 2(7): e198209. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Astell-Burt%2C+T.%2C+%26+Feng%2C+X.+%282019%29.+Association+of+urban+green+space+with+mental+health+and+general+health+among+adults+in+Australia.+JAMA+network+open%2C+2%287%29%2C+e198209.&btnG=
Bandura, Albert. 1997. Self-efficacy: The exercise of control (Vol. 11). Freeman. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Bandura%2C+A.+%281997%29.+Self-efficacy%3A+The+exercise+of+control.+Macmillan&btnG=
Banerjee, Tridib. 2011. The future of public space: beyond invented streets and reinvented places. Journal of the American planning association 67(1): 9-24. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01944360108976352
Bokaieyan, Seyedeh Laya, Mojtaba Rezaei Rad, and Susan Rahimi. 2023. The effect of urban management style on the physical and mental health of citizens. Razi Journal of Medical Sciences 30(5): 285-293. https://iranjournals.nlai.ir/handle/123456789/1094937. [in Persian]
Burton, Libby. 2015. Mental well-being and the influence of place. In The Routledge handbook of planning for health and well-being: Shaping a sustainable and healthy future, edited by H. T. Barton. Routledge. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=-Burton%2C+L.2015.+Mental+well-being+and+the+influence+of+place.+In+H.+T.+Barton.The+Routledge+handbook+of+planning+for+health+and+well-being%3A+Shaping+a+sustainable+and+healthy+future.+Routledge.&btnG=
Carmona, Matthew. 2010. Contemporary public space: Critique and classification, part one: Critique. Journal of urban design 15(1): 123-148. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13574800903435651
Carr, Stephen, Mark Francis, Leanne G. Rivlin, and Andrew M. Stone. 1992. Public Space. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://assets.cambridge.org/97805213/59603/frontmatter/9780521359603_frontmatter.pdf
Choay, Françoise. 1996. Urban planning: Visions and realities. Translated by S. M. Habibi. Tehran: University of Tehran Press. https://yektabook.com/product/6263. [in Persian]
Collins, Damian, and Sophie L. Stadler. 2020. Public spaces. Urban: 103-111. https://cir.nii.ac.jp/crid/1360861295080438144
E. Aghaeizadeh, M. Mirabi Moghaddam, and R. Mohamadzadeh. 2019. “Potentiometric and ranking capabilities of open-air open-air office buildings (Case study: Rasht city)”. Geography and Development 17(55): 133-152. doi: 10.22111/gdij.2019.4597. [in Persian]
Elsamahy, E. M., and R. Abd EL-Fattah. 2018. DESIGNING NON-STRESSED PSYCHOLOGICAL-PUBLIC SPACES, BAU. Health & Well-Being (special edition). 121-132. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Elsamahy%2C+E.+M.+%26+Abd+EL-Fattah%2C+R.2018.+DESIGNING+NON-STRESSED+PSYCHOLOGICAL+-PUBLIC+SPACES%2C+BAU+Journal%3A+Health+%26+Well-Being%2C+special+edition.+121-132.&btnG=
Giddens, Anthony. 1994. Sociology. Translated by M. Sabouri. Tehran: Ney Publishing. https://nashreney.com/product/%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%B9%D9%87-%D8%B4%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C. [in Persian]
Habitat, U. N. 2021. Cities and pandemics: towards a more just, green and healthy future. United Nations Human Settlements Program, UN Habitat, Nairobi, Kenya. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Ticlau%2C+T.+UN+Habitat%2C+Cities+and+Pandemics%3A+Towards+a+More+Just%2C+Green+and+Healthy+Future+%282021%29%2C+125%2C+135-143.&btnG=
Kreibich, R., B. Oertel, and M. Wölk. 2011. Futures studies and future-oriented technology analysis principles, methodology and research questions. In 1st Berlin symposium on internet and society. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2094215
Lang, John. 2002. Creating architectural theory: The role of the behavioral sciences in environmental design. Translated by A. Einifar. Tehran: University of Tehran Press. https://www.gisoom.com/book/11200022. [in Persian]
Lara-Hernandez, J. A., A. Melis, and C. M. Coulter. 2019. Using the street in Mexico City centre: Temporary appropriation of public space versus legislation governing street use. In Temporary Appropriation in Cities: Human Spatialisation in Public Spaces and Community Resilience (pp. 209-235).
Cham: Springer International Publishing. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-32120-8_13
Lynch, Kevin .1960. The image of the city/Lynch Kevin. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=_phRPWsSpAgC&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=Lynch,+K.+(1960).+The+image+of+the+city/Lynch+Kevin.&ots=jJF96c0xlh&sig=j36f2NRo7nwIOZrtoPHCWzQsZ78#v=onepage&q&f=false
Madanipour, Ali. 2008. Public and private spaces of the city (1st ed.). Tehran: Urban Processing and Planning Company of the Municipality. https://archifile.ir/book/public-and-private-spaces-of-the-city/. [in Persian]
Malaska, Pentti. 2000. Knowledge and information in futurology. Foresight 2(2): 237-244. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/14636680010802582/full/html
Maslow, Abraham H. 2013. Toward a psychology of being. Simon and Schuster. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=-+Maslow%2C+A.+H.+%282013%29.+Toward+a+psychology+of+being.+Simon+and+Schuster.&btnG=
McCay, Layla, Ingrid Bremer, Tarik Endale, Marjia Jannati, and Jihyun Yi. 2017. Urban design and mental health. In Mental health and illness in the City (pp. 421-444). Springer, Singapore. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=McCay%2C+L.%2C+Bremer%2C+I.%2C+Endale%2C+T.%2C+Jannati%2C+M.%2C+%26+Yi%2C+J.+%282017%29.+Urban+design+and+mental+health.+In+Mental+health+and+illness+in+the+City+%28pp.+421-444%29.+Springer%2C+Singapore.&btnG=
Memar Dezfouli, Sajjad, Mohsen Taban, Mostafa Masoudinejad, and Mehdi Mohammadabad. 2023. Redefining the identity of urban public spaces in the Ahvaz railway area. Quarterly Journal of Geography Environmental Preparation 16(62): 1-16. https://en.civilica.com/doc/1865665/. [in Persian]
Ministry of Health and Medical Education. 2016. The Comprehensive Program for Promoting Mental Health in the Country. Tehran: Ministry of Health and Medical Education. [in Persian]
Mouratidis, Kostas. 2021. Urban planning and quality of life: A review of pathways linking the built environment to subjective well-being. Cities 115: 103229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2021.103229
Okeke, D. C., and Ifeoma Ukonze. 2019. Conceptualizing urban space (environment) for the delivery of sustainable urban development in Africa: evidence from Enugu City in Nigeria. Land Use Policy: 87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.104074
Parr, Hester. 1997. Mental health, public space, and the city: questions of individual and collective access. Environment and planning D: Society and space 15(4): 435-454. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Parr%2C+H.+%281997%29.+Mental+health%2C+public+space%2C+and+the+city%3A+questions+of+individual+and+collective+access.+Environment+and+planning+D%3A+Society+and+space%2C+15%284%29%2C+435-454.&btnG=
Pourbesat, Vahid, Fatemeh Elti, Maryam Biranvandzadeh, Zahra Yousefzadeh, and Nobakht Sobhani. 2020. The study of cognitive function and mental health of citizens in urban areas (Case study: Boroujerd City). Environmental Science and Technology 22(9): 37-193. https://search.isc.ac/inventory/8/1233227.htm. [in Persian]
Putnam, Robert D. 2000. Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community. Simon and schuster. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=rd2ibodep7UC&oi=fnd&pg=PA13&dq=Putnam,+R.+D.+(2000).+Bowling+alone:+The+collapse+and+revival+of+American+community.+Simon+and+schuster.&ots=G7KfpXolY3&sig=DvbDbn8wd4-Hmt8E5RG6ptAKWTk#v=onepage&q&f=false
Rogers, Carl Ransom. 1995. On becoming a person: A therapist’s view of psychotherapy. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=0yHBXXhJbKQC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=Rogers,+C.+R.+(1995).+On+becoming+a+person:+A+therapist%27s+view+of+psychotherapy.+Houghton+Mifflin+Harcourt.&ots=7v1Rt2Jtk0&sig=FNRWkfLIrgzhtv1cWqNNV0ca4vY#v=onepage&q&f=false
Rohe, William M. 2009. Urban planning and mental health. Prevention in Human Services 4(1-2): 79-110. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10852358509511162
Salimi Bajestani, Hossein. 2009. Comparison of the effectiveness of Adlerian counseling and metaphor-based cognitive. restructuring on mental health, resilience, and hope of university students (Doctoral dissertation). Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran. [in Persian]
Scotland, Greenspace. 2007. The links between greenspace and health: a critical literature review. Scotland, Greenspace, Stirling, Scotland: 23-25. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Croucher%2C+K.+M.+2007.+The+links+between+greenspace+and+health%3A+a+critical+literature+review.+York%3A+University+of+York&btnG=
Shafiabadi, Abdollah, and Gholamreza Naseri. 2009. Theories of counseling and psychotherapy. Tehran: University Publishing Center. https://ravabook.ir/. [in Persian]
Virta, Laura, and Riikka Raisanen. 2021. Three futures scenarios of policy instruments for sustainable textile production and consumption as portrayed in the Finnish news media. Sustainability 13(2): 594. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/2/594