Urban Green Spaces and Mental Well-Being: A Study of Metropolitan Dhaka, Bangladesh
Keywords:
Urban Green Space, Mental Health, Urban PlanningAbstract
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.
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
Versions
- 07/12/2025 (2)
- 07/12/2025 (1)
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Asian Journal of Arts, Business and Social Sciences

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Copyright and Licensing
- Authors retain copyright.
- All published articles are under a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0), allowing free distribution with proper attribution.