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Volume 36, Issue 1 (2026)
IJAUP 2026, 36(1) |
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Mohajer E, Movahed K. Healing Cycles in Therapeutic Landscapes for Well-being: A Causal Model of Urban Green Spaces for Promoting Physical, Social and Mental Health. IJAUP 2026; 36 (1)
URL: http://ijaup.iust.ac.ir/article-1-892-en.html
URL: http://ijaup.iust.ac.ir/article-1-892-en.html
1- Department of Architecture, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran., Shiraz, Iran , ellie.mohajer@gmail.com
2- Department of Architecture and Urban Sustainability, University of the District of Columbia, Washington DC, USA
2- Department of Architecture and Urban Sustainability, University of the District of Columbia, Washington DC, USA
Abstract:
Urban residents increasingly face high levels of stress and limited access to natural environments, raising concerns about the impact on physical, mental, and social well-being. While the benefits of urban green spaces (UGSs) are widely acknowledged, the specific design elements that contribute to these benefits and their causal relationships remain unclear. This study proposes a causal model of therapeutic landscape design components in UGSs, focusing on the synergistic interactions that enhance residents’ health. A mixed-methods approach was employed in three stages: a review of existing literature and expert interviews using the Delphi method to identify health-related design indicators; administration of a user survey assessing architectural qualities of UGSs; and factor analysis combined with covariance structural equation modeling (CSEM) to validate the proposed model. Six key design components were identified, Environmental Safety and Security, Spatial Vitality, Space Adaptability, Spatial Legibility, Spatial Sociality, and Space Diversity, that work together to support healing. Among these, Space Adaptability exhibited the strongest effect, explaining 93% of its variance, while Spatial Vitality accounted for 68% of its variance. Three primary synergy cycles emerged, illustrating how these components reinforce one another over time to create vibrant, inclusive, and health-promoting environments. The findings offer practical guidance for urban planners and landscape designers seeking to enhance the therapeutic potential of UGSs.
Keywords: Therapeutic landscapes, Urban green spaces, Health promotion, Wellbeing, Structural equation modeling
Type of Study: Research Paper |
Subject:
Landscape Architecture
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