The Role of Utilizing Urban Spaces in Increasing Mobility and Its Effect in Reducing Mortality Rates (Case Study of Mashhad Urban Parks)

Subject Areas :

رستم صابری فر ¹ (هیات علمی)

Received: 2021-01-21 Accepted : 2021-07-28 Published : 2023-01-21

Keywords: Mashhad, Mortality, Urban Parks, Access, sedentary,

Abstract :

Mobility, walking, and sports in today's urban spaces are at least very difficult, if not impossible. The increase in the crowded spaces often means eliminating the necessary facilities for physical activity, depriving citizens of walking and the use of adequate and suitable open spaces. Such a process endangers the physical and mental health of citizens. Parks are among the most important urban spaces in this regard. Proper design and rational distribution of these spaces affect the mobility of citizens, and it is assumed that increasing mobility has a direct impact on reducing mortality. The current research was conducted in Mashhad to examine this hypothesis regarding the use of parks and green spaces. This descriptive and analytical study was started in mid-2008 and completed in the fall of 2018 in Mashhad. The required data were collected by a questionnaire from a sample of 800 people who were divided into four different groups. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that most visits to parks occurred within a radius of 500 meters and the mortality rate of people who use the parks and have the necessary mobility in these spaces is 50% lower than others. It was also found that if immobility increases threefold, the mortality rate quadruples, and if the duration of sedentism increases from 10 minutes to 40 minutes, the risk of death doubles. Therefore, urban planners must provide and distribute green spaces in such a way that citizens have access to these centers with a minimum distance, while equipment and designs should be in a way that makes them more mobile.

References:

1. Ali-Alhesabi, A., Rafiei, F. (2012). Assessing the needs of the elderly in urban spaces, a case study: Khaldabrin Park, Shiraz, Armanshahr Architecture and Urban Planning, Issue 9, PP: 257-247.


2. Aliyasi, Z., Qaraei, M. (2016). The role of proximity and physical characteristics in the use of parks in neighborhoods, New research in architecture and urban planning, Issue 1, PP: 8-1.


3. Barbarossa, L. (2020). The Post Pandemic City: Challenges andOpportunities for a Non-Motorized UrbanEnvironment. An Overview of Italian Cases, Sustainability, Issue 17, PP: 1-19.


4. Bauman, A., Bull, F. (2007). Environmental correlates of physical activity and walking in adults and children: a review of reviews, In National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, Public Health Guidance 8, London.


5. Bird, W. (2004): NATURAL FIT, Can Green Space and Biodiversity Increase Levels of Physical Activity? A report produced for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Logman, United Kingdom


6. Coombs, E., Jones, A. P., Hillsdon, M. (2010). The relationship of physical activity and overweight to objectively measured green space accessibility and use, Social Science and Medicine, Issue 70, PP: 816–822.


7. Diaz, K. M. (2017). Patterns of sedimentary behavior and mortality in US, Middle-aged and older adults: A national cohort study, Annals of Internl Medicine, Issue 167, PP: 465-75


8. Ellaway, A. (2005). In National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Promoting and creating built or natural environments that encourage and support physical activity, Public Health Guidance 8. London


9. Fathi, F., Sajadzadeh, H., Mohammadi Sheshkal, F., Aram, F. (2020). The Role of Urban Morphology Design on EnhancingPhysical Activity and Public Health, Int. J. Environ., Issue 17, PP: 1-29.


10. Filner, B., Williams, T. F. (1979). Health Promotion for the Elderly: Reducing Functional Dependency, In the US Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Public Health Service Publication, Healthy people, US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.

• Goodwin, J. S. (2000). Glass half full attitude promotes health in old age, J. Amer Geriatrics Society, Issue 48, PP: 473 – 478.

11. Gullone, E. (2000). The biophilia hypothesis and life in the 21st century: increasing mental health or increasing pathology? Journal of Happiness Studies, Issue 1, PP: 293–321.


12. Kaplan, R., Kaplan, S. (1989). The Experience of Nature: A Psychological Perspective, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, New York.


13. Liberman, D. E. (2020). Exercised: why something we never evolved to do is healthy and rewarding, Pantheon Books, London.


14. Maller, C., Townsend, M., Ptyor, A., Brown, P., St.Leger, L. (2005). Healthy nature healthy people: contact with nature' as an upstream health promotion intervention for populations, Health Promotion International, Issue 21, PP: 45-54.


15. McMichael, T. (2001). Human frontiers, environments and disease, Past patterns, uncertain futures, UK University Press, Cambridge.


16. Morris, N. (2003). Health, well-being and open space. Literature review, College of Art and Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.


17. Moslehi, M., Rafati, M., Ahmadi, A. (2014). The effects of green space on human societies: physical activity, physical and mental health and accident reduction, Journal of Human and Environment, Vol. 12, Issue 3, PP: 13-26.


18. Motefaker, M., Sadrbafghi, S.M., Rafiee, M., Bahadorzadeh, L. (2007). Epidemiology of physical activity; a population based study in Yazd City, Tehran University Medical Journal; Vol. 65, Issue 4, PP: 77-81.


19. Mueller, N., Rojas-Rueda, D., Khreis, H., Cirach, M., Andrés, D. (2020). Changing the urban design of cities for health: The superblock model, Environment International, Issue 134, PP: 1-13.


20. National Heart Forum (2007). Building Health: Creating and Enhancing Places for Healthy, Active Lives: Blueprint for Action, National Heart Forum, London.


21. Nowruzi, M., Bemanian, M. (2020). Analysis of the effect of urban green infrastructure on the promotion of environmental sustainability components, Bi-Quarterly Journal of Architectural Thought, Vol. 3, Issue 6, PP: 25-40.


22. Ostir, G. V., Markides, K. S., Peek, M. K., Goodwin, J. S. (2001). The association between emotional well-being and the incidence of stroke in older adults, Psychosomatic Med, Issue 63, PP: 210-215.


23. Pourmohammadi, M. R. (2017). Urban Land Use Planning, Samat, Tehran.


24. Pourali Kouikhi, M., Dogonchi, S. (2016). The role of urban parks in improving the quality of life of the city and the mental health of citizens Case Study: Quds Park (Mohtasham) Rasht, The First National Conference on Upcoming Architecture and Urban Planning Approaches, Kermanshah.


25. Regional Public Health (2010). Healthy open spaces, A summary of the impact of open spaces on health and wellbeing, Pareti, Wellignton.


26. Richard, A., Plunza, Y., Zhoua, Maria, I., Carrasco, V., Kathleen, M. (2019). PaolaSutto Twitter sentiment in New York City parks as measure of well-being, Landscape and Urban Planning, Issue 189, PP: 235-246.


27. Saberifar, R. (2018). The study of the relationship between different functions of urban parks with the mental health of the elderly, health-oriented research, Vol. 4, Issue 3, PP: 289-300.


28. Saberifar, R., Roshanas, A., Pahlavani, Z. (2014). Investigating and Determining the Desirability and Capacity of Urban Parks and Green Spaces and Its Role in People 's Satisfaction (Case Study of Mellat Zabol Park) Second National Conference on Medicinal Plants and Sustainable Agriculture, Environment, Hamedan


29. Sazandeh, M., Yazdanfar, A., Feizi, M. (2018). Components of urban landscape cohesion on increasing the desire to walk in urban parks (case study; Shiraz urban parks), Urban Research and Planning, Vol. 9, Issue 34, PP: 93-104.


30. Shottun, L. (2003). The Role of Older People in Our Communities, Nurse Ethics, Vol. 10, Issue 4, PP: 123-147.


31. Travlou, P. (2006). Edinburgh College of Art and Heriot-Watt University, for open spaces, Heriot-Watt University.