TY - JOUR
T1 - Underlying relationships between public urban green spaces and social cohesion
T2 - A systematic literature review
AU - Wan, Calvin
AU - Shen, Geoffrey Qiping
AU - Choi, Stella
N1 - Funding Information:
This work is supported by a grant from the Research Grants Council, The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Project Reference No.: UGC/FDS24/H05/16).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2021/3
Y1 - 2021/3
N2 - Research has substantiated the positive role of social cohesion on physical health and psychological well-being, and there is increasing interest in how public urban green spaces (“green spaces” hereafter) promote social cohesion. This review synthesized existing empirical evidence to ascertain the impact of green spaces on social cohesion. 51 published studies met the inclusion criteria were reviewed. Physical characteristics, perceptions, and use patterns of green spaces were found directly influencing social cohesion. Findings also suggested that physical characteristics of green spaces intermingle with environmental perceptions and use patterns to further complicate the impact on social cohesion. A model was proposed to conceptualize the complex relationships between green spaces and social cohesion. The review identified current gaps in the literature which futher research is needed. It also informs interventions for promoting public health and well-being by enhancing social cohesion in urban natural environments.
AB - Research has substantiated the positive role of social cohesion on physical health and psychological well-being, and there is increasing interest in how public urban green spaces (“green spaces” hereafter) promote social cohesion. This review synthesized existing empirical evidence to ascertain the impact of green spaces on social cohesion. 51 published studies met the inclusion criteria were reviewed. Physical characteristics, perceptions, and use patterns of green spaces were found directly influencing social cohesion. Findings also suggested that physical characteristics of green spaces intermingle with environmental perceptions and use patterns to further complicate the impact on social cohesion. A model was proposed to conceptualize the complex relationships between green spaces and social cohesion. The review identified current gaps in the literature which futher research is needed. It also informs interventions for promoting public health and well-being by enhancing social cohesion in urban natural environments.
KW - Environmental perceptions
KW - Green spaces
KW - Physical characteristics
KW - Social cohesion
KW - Use patterns
KW - Well-being
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85102131806&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ccs.2021.100383
DO - 10.1016/j.ccs.2021.100383
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85102131806
SN - 1877-9166
VL - 24
JO - City, Culture and Society
JF - City, Culture and Society
M1 - 100383
ER -
