Urban Green Spaces and Mental Well-Being: A Study of Metropolitan Dhaka, Bangladesh

Authors

Keywords:

Urban Green Space, Mental Health, Urban Planning

Abstract

Urban green spaces (UGSs) play a significant role in enhancing mental well-being, especially in densely populated cities. This study investigates the relationship between accessibility to UGSs and the mental well-being of residents in metropolitan Dhaka. Using a mixed-methods approach that includes spatial mapping, surveys (n = 400), and in-depth interviews (n = 20), we found that residents living within a 10-minute walk of green spaces reported significantly lower stress and anxiety levels. This study highlights the urgent need for urban planners to prioritize green infrastructure to improve quality of life in rapidly urbanizing cities like Dhaka.

Author Biographies

  • Dr. Shahriar Kabir, Senior Lecturer

    School of Environment and Development
    University of Manchester, UK

  • Sadia Akter Mim, Urban Health Specialist

     BRAC Urban Development Programme

  • Dr. Nusrat Jahan, Lecturer

    Department of Public Health
    North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

References

Alvarsson, J. J., Nilsson, M. E., & Haga, A. (2010). Greenery indoors and mental recovery. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 9(4), 245-252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2010.01.001

Bratman, G. N., Hamilton, J. P., & Daily, G. C. (2015). The impacts of nature experience on human cognitive function and mental health. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1249(1), 118-136.

Cox, D. T. C., Shanahan, D. F., Hudson, H. L., et al. (2017). Doses of neighborhood nature: The benefits for mental health of living with nature. BioScience, 67(2), 147–155.

Gascon, M., Triguero-Mas, M., Martínez, D., et al. (2015). Mental health benefits of long-term exposure to residential green and blue spaces: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 12(4), 4354–4379.

Islam, M. M., Rahman, M. M., & Billah, M. (2018). Environmental pollution and urban health in Dhaka: A review. Journal of Urban Management, 7(2), 70-77.

Kabisch, N., & Haase, D. (2014). Green justice or just green? Provision of urban green spaces in Berlin, Germany. Landscape and Urban Planning, 122, 129–139.

Rahman, M. M., Ahmed, R., & Alam, M. J. (2019). Urban green space: A case study of environmental injustice in Dhaka city. Environment and Urbanization ASIA, 10(2), 263–278.

Ulrich, R. S., Simons, R. F., Losito, B. D., et al. (1991). Stress recovery during exposure to natural and urban environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 11(3), 201–230.

van den Bosch, M., & Sang, Å. O. (2017). Urban natural environments as nature-based solutions for improved public health – A systematic review of reviews. Environmental Research, 158, 373–384.

World Health Organization (WHO). (2016). Urban green spaces and health: A review of evidence. WHO Regional Office for Europe.

Downloads

Published

07/12/2025 — Updated on 07/12/2025

Versions

Issue

Section

Original Research

How to Cite

1.
Urban Green Spaces and Mental Well-Being: A Study of Metropolitan Dhaka, Bangladesh. AJABSS [Internet]. 2025 Jul. 12 [cited 2025 Oct. 6];1(1):31-42. Available from: https://ojs.academypg.org/ojs/index.php/AJABSS/article/view/3